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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a data-rich, interactive map Oct. 1 on underground storage tanks (USTs) and leaking USTs (LUSTs) in the U.S. Developed in cooperation with the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), the UST Finder application provides:

• UST and LUST locations;
• UST status (open, closed or temporarily out of service);
• UST installation and decommission dates, construction types and substances stored;
• LUST release date(s), cleanup status and substances released;
• Information on nearby population centers, land uses, private wells, water protection areas, floodplains and water treatment facilities;
• Nationwide LUST release trends;
• Cross-state contamination boundaries.

The UST Finder can help regulators, owners, operators, contractors and emergency personnel:

• Identify at-risk sites;
• Protect facilities from extreme weather events;
• Respond more quickly to floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other emergencies;
• Prioritize cleanups and inspections;
• Protect public health and the environment;
• Restart LUST cleanups disrupted by catastrophic events.

Launch data came from 2018 and 2019 state reports. The EPA will update the data as new information becomes available. The UST Finder application includes a quick start guide and user manual.  

EPA Launches UST Finder

EMV Forecourt Installations Lag

Free Economic Insight Webinars

Business Survey, Virtual Convention & Expo

Heavy-Duty Trucks

EPA Updates Biofuels, Flood Resources

EV Interest Grows

Respond to this Newsletter

by e-mail to the editor, Rick Long at rlong@pei.org

To introduce the UST Finder’s functions, features and benefits, the EPA and ASTSWMO will host an informational webinar from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Central, Tuesday, Oct. 13. Learn more and register at register.gotowebinar.com/register/1739856614520832013.

CONEXXUS: EMV FORECOURT INSTALLATIONS LAG
A recent Conexxus survey of U.S. convenience retailers shows slow progress in the push to install EMV forecourt payment systems before the April 2021 liability shift. Although 69% of survey participants have begun EMV contact payment upgrades (up from 48% in the spring), only 14% have completed the work at all of their sites.

In response to COVID-19 safety concerns, 81% also plan to install contactless EMV payment systems at their fuel islands.

Survey findings reflect responses from owners and operators of 18,819 retail sites. Download the complete results here.

FREE ECONOMIC INSIGHT WEBINARS
PEI is offering free monthly webinars through March 2021 to show members how key economic factors can guide business strategies.

Made possible by the 35 members of the PEI Priority Club, the interview-style sessions will be 35 minutes long. Ian Heller, founder and senior partner of Distribution Strategy Group, will moderate the series with economist and forecasting expert Alex Chausovsky, senior business advisor at ITR Economics.

The first webinar is at 2 p.m. Central, Wednesday, Oct. 14. Learn more and register here.

PEI BUSINESS OUTLOOK SURVEY, VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXPO
Earlier this week, PEI emailed 2020 Business Outlook Survey questionnaires to official representatives of PEI manufacturer, distributor and service contractor members. PEI Executive Vice President Rick Long’s State of the Industry address during the 2020 PEI Virtual Convention & Expo will draw heavily from the survey results. If you are an official representative and did not receive a questionnaire, email Julie Shank at jshank@pei.org. The deadline to submit responses is Thursday, Oct. 15.

The PEI Virtual Convention & Expo also includes education sessions on convenience retail disruptions, regulatory developments, succession planning, forecourt modernization, electric vehicles (EVs), COVID-19 safety practices and the economy. For a short video interview with Alan Beaulieu, president of ITR Economics, who will present “Economic Foresight in the COVID-19 Era” click here.

Registered attendees can watch the sessions live Nov. 10-12 and on demand at their convenience through Dec. 31. Learn more about the event and register here. 

MORE SCR-EQUIPPED TRUCKS ON THE ROAD
The U.S. Department of Energy reported that heavy-duty trucks with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology were 43% of the nation’s heavy-duty fleet in 2019, up from 25% in 2015.

Since 2011, the EPA has required that all new heavy-duty (classes 3-8) trucks be equipped with SCR technology, which injects diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) into the exhaust stream to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matter.

EPA UPDATES BIOFUELS, FLOOD RESOURCES
The EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) updated its UST System Compatibility With Biofuels booklet. Revisions include:

• 100% biodiesel, pipe dope and sealant details;
• Renewable diesel and other new fuel updates;
• A revised and easier-to-use compatibility checklist.

EPA OUST also revised the 24-page Underground Storage Tank Flood Guide. The reference provides helpful information on flood preparation, post-disaster actions and financial assistance. At OUST’s request, PEI staff reviewed and made several suggestions for this new edition.

CONSUMER EV INTEREST GROWS
Nearly 41% of U.S. consumers would prefer something other than gasoline or diesel power for their next vehicle, according to the 2020 Deloitte Global Automotive Consumer Study. That’s up from 29% in 2019. Interest in non-liquid-fueled vehicles is even more pronounced in Canada (54%) and Mexico (64%).

In the U.S., hybrid electric vehicles (41%) were the top alternative power preference. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were the first choice of 8% of consumers.

Despite these numbers, the study noted that market factors reduce the likelihood of preferences turning into purchases. For example, 34% of U.S. consumers would not pay any more for an EV than for a comparable internal combustion vehicle. Only 12% are willing to pay $3,000 more.

BRIEFLY NOTED
“In August 2020, cumulative U.S. plug-in vehicle sales reached 1.6 million units. Plug-in vehicles consist of both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Cumulative BEV sales reached one million units while cumulative PHEV sales were about 600,000. Since June of 2015, BEV sales have outpaced PHEV sales and for the last year, BEVs accounted for 60% or more of all plug-in vehicle sales.” — DOE Vehicles Technologies Office, Sept. 28

“Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles. In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big — an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.” — Green Car Reports, Sept. 25

PEI MEMBER NEWS
Blue1 Energy Equipment appointed two representative agencies. Rice-Christ Inc. will represent Blue1 Energy Equipment in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and western Tennessee. Rocky Mountain Rep Agency will provide representation in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Mike Long & Associates Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary Oct. 1. Founder Mike Long is a past president and board member of the Manufacturers’ Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF).

DEATHS
Norman "Gene" Eugene Schober II, 64, of Clermont, Florida, died Sept. 23. Schober had worked with Modern Welding Co. for the past 22 years.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
New Hampshire consulting company. Mongoose Power Solutions LLC, 44 Pine Crest Drive, Spofford, NH 03462, applied for affiliate division membership. Michelle Hilger is president, chief connector and power advocate for the firm, which was established in April 2019. Mongoose Power Solutions LLC is an on-site power industry advocate that bridges the gaps among independent service providers, manufacturers, regulatory agencies and end users. Sponsored for PEI membership by Wayne Geyer, STI/SPFA, Lake Zurich, Illinois. www.mongoosepowersolutions.com

South Carolina service company. Parliament Petroleum Services LLC, 3277 Neely Ferry Road, Laurens, SC 29360, applied for service and construction division membership. Robert Gay is co-owner of the company, which was established in July 2019. Parliament Petroleum Services LLC is a full-service installer and service company for petroleum equipment and automotive lift equipment. Sponsored by Mike Vegeais, Freedom Electronics LLC, Kennesaw, Georgia.

MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER REQUEST
Accent Environmental Services Inc., 523 FM 1819, Pollock, TX 75969, requested that its PEI membership be transferred from the affiliate division to the manufacturer division. The company sells its products primarily through distributors. Accent Environmental Services Inc. has been a PEI member since 2008.

ADMITTED TO PEI

• Randy Swain, Love’s, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (operations and engineering)
• Brady Eudy, Love’s, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (operations and engineering)
• Dylan Schwarz, Love’s, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (operations and engineering)

The TulsaLetter is published two or three times each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Richard C. Long, Editor. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the Editor.