News from PEI

EPA Officially Ends Stage II Vapor Recovery

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the phasing out of gas station pump systems that capture gasoline vapors while refueling.

In 1998, automobile manufacturers began installing onboard refueling vapor recovery technologies, as required by the Clean Air Act. That Act stipulates that once these systems were in “widespread use,” the requirement to implement Stage 2 at retail would be eliminated.

The recent ruling to end Stage II stems from EPA's decision that 70 percent of vehicles today that are equipped to capture those emissions. Stations may begin phasing out the vapor recovery systems immediately. The rule will affect 31,000 refueling sites.

The ruling addresses a number of the concerns previously expressed by NACS and other retailer representatives, including: The EPA has accelerated the date at which vehicles equipped with onboard vapor recovery equipment will be considered in "widespread use,” thus eliminating the federal requirement for retailers to install and operate Stage 2 vapor recovery systems.

Instead of the proposed date of June 30, 2013, the designation takes effect immediately, allowing states to begin revising their regulations to eliminate Stage 2 requirements from their clean air implementation plans.

Report: Alternative Fuel Stations Could Hit 10,000

Wed, 02 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT

A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) suggests that although gasoline remains by far the dominant transportation fuel, a variety of alternative fuels are currently in use, primarily by government and private fleets. These fuels include electricity, propane, higher ethanol-gasoline blends (E85), hydrogen, and natural gas. In aggregate, there are currently about 10,000 alternative fuel stations in the United States, compared to approximately 160,000 gasoline stations in the country.

Several alternative fuels have been developed for use in motor vehicles. Most alternative fuels require vehicles specifically made to handle that fuel, such as electric vehicles. Other fuels such as E85 may be used in flex-fuel vehicles. The use of alternative fuels often requires new refueling station infrastructure.

Biodiesel blends differ in the proportion of petroleum diesel and bio-based fuel. More than half of the stations are private access (for government or private fleets only). Of the 347 private access stations, nearly a third are in North Carolina.

Natural gas can be compressed and stored in tanks at pressures up to 3,600 pounds per square inch to be used as transportation fuel. More than half of the compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel stations in the nation are private access.

There are more than 3,000 existing electric charging stations across the country, more stations than for any other alternative fuel. Of these, nearly 85% are publicly accessible. In total, there are more than 8,000 electric charging units available at these stations. This does not include residential electric charging units.

Nearly all gasoline sold in the United States is blended with 10% ethanol content. There is a major concentration of E85 stations in the corn-producing Midwest region of the United States.

Use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel requires reducing its volume by compressing the fuel (at pressures up to 10,000 pounds per square inch), cooling to very low temperatures (-423°F) to produce liquid hydrogen, or chemically bonding hydrogen to other compounds. Of the alternative fuels discussed here, hydrogen has the fewest number of fuel stations.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is produced by purifying and condensing natural gas to a liquid state by cooling to -260°F. Because it needs to be stored at such cold temperatures, LNG vehicles require specialized vacuum-insulated pressure vessels. LNG is typically only used in heavy-duty vehicles. Compared to the number of existing LNG fuel stations, there is a large network of stations planned along interstate highways.

Propane has the second-highest number of fuel stations among alternative fuels. Over 90% of the existing stations are publicly accessible. Of the private access stations, nearly 60% are located in Indiana.

Updated RP600 Now Available

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Updated Document for Aboveground Storage Tank Overfill Prevention now available: RP600

A delivery driver from Florida Rock & Tank Lines was refilling an aboveground storage tank at the 5th Wheel BP gas station in St. Augustine, Florida, on August 18, 2011. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the tank had a broken liquid level gauging system. Gasoline overflowed from the tank. Vapors then combined with heat from the running delivery truck to trigger an explosion. Click here for pictures of the accident. According to published reports, the resulting fire took several hours to put out. The delivery driver suffered third-degree burns and spent several weeks in the hospital.

Following a six-month investigation, OSHA proposed a $70,000 fine against Florida Rock & Tank Lines, along with a citation for a willful violation for "failing to provide a means for the delivery driver to determine if the storage tank had enough capacity for additional gasoline." Coomes Oil was cited for one serious violation with a proposed penalty of $7,000 for "failing to provide employees and delivery drivers a means to determine the gasoline levels in the aboveground storage tank."

The fire, injuries and property damage would not have happened if PEI's Recommended Practices for Overfill Prevention of Shop-Fabricated Aboveground Tanks (PEI/RP600) had been followed. Published first in 2007 and just now revised, the document continues to fill the need for a comprehensive reference guide that the industry and regulators can use to minimize aboveground tank overfill incidents.

The second edition of PEI/RP600 has been reviewed and revised to provide better clarity to some provisions of the document. The 27-page document supersedes and replaces the previous edition of PEI/RP600. All comments solicited since 2011 and submitted by industry representatives were considered by the committee at its meeting earlier this year.

The recommended practices are the consensus recommendations of the PEI Aboveground Storage Tank Overfill Prevention Committee: Sonny Underwood (chairman), Mid-South Steel Products; John Albert, Missouri Department of Agriculture; Tracy Barth, MFA Oil Company; Chris Collura, JMP Solutions; Terry D. Cooper, Acterra Group; Brad Holmes, Clay & Bailey Mfg. Co.; Alfred Reid, Broward County Environmental Protection Department; Dana Schmidt, Steel Tank Institute; and Jeff Smith, Liquid Automation, LLC.

If you install, maintain, own, fill, regulate or manage aboveground storage tanks, you should have a copy of this publication. PEI/RP600-12 is copyrighted and may not be photocopied or otherwise reproduced. Learn more and order online ($40 for members; $95 for nonmembers) at www.pei.org/rp600.

Report: EPA Approves E15 in Gasoline

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday announced that it has approved the first applications for registration of ethanol for use in making gasoline that contains up to 15% ethanol.

EPA said that for more than 30 years ethanol has been blended into gasoline, but the law limited it to E10 for use in gasoline-fueled vehicles. “Registration of ethanol to make E15 is a significant step toward its production, sale, and use in model year 2001 and newer gasoline-fueled cars and light trucks,” notes the agency.

The announcement follows an extensive technical review required by law. Registration is a prerequisite to introducing E15 into the marketplace. Before it can be sold, manufacturers must first take additional measures to help ensure retail stations and other gasoline distributors understand and implement labeling rules and other E15-related requirements. EPA is not requiring the use or sale of E15.

After extensive vehicle testing by DOE and other organizations, EPA issued two partial waivers raising the allowable ethanol volume to 15% for use in model year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks. E15 is not permitted for use in motor vehicles built prior to 2001 model year and in off-road vehicles and equipment such as boats and lawn and garden equipment.

Registration and Housing Now Open

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

PEI Convention at the NACS Show Registration and Housing Now Open

Housing and registration opens today, April 2, for the 2012 PEI Convention at the NACS Show in Las Vegas, Oct. 7-10. Register and reserve housing now to get the biggest discounts and best hotel options.

Full registration includes admission to all education sessions, all three days of the trade show, the PEI Industry Reception and the NACS Welcome Reception.

Full early-bird registration is only $295 for PEI and NACS members and $495 for non-members. Early-bird rates are available for a limited time. If your company brings five or more employees to the convention you are eligible for extra group discounts. Spouses also qualify for group registration.

The LVH—Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton)—is the PEI headquarters hotel. Other hotels with PEI room blocks include Harrah’s and Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. You can reserve housing online, or call 800-262-9974 or 404-842-0000. Please be sure to identify yourself as a PEI member.

If you need assistance with registration don’t hesitate to call us at 918.236.3967.

Don’t delay. Register now—and save! We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

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