The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending a comment period to February 8, 2007, on a proposal for emission standards that would, if adopted, apply to bulk gasoline terminals, pipeline facilities, bulk gasoline plants, and gasoline dispensing facilities.
EPA made the proposal in November 2006, which includes requiring that cargo tank loading rack emissions at bulk gasoline terminals be reduced to a level of 80 milligrams, or less, per liter of gasoline loaded into cargo tanks. Bulk terminal owners and operators also must not allow the loading of cargo tanks that do not have the appropriate vapor tightness testing documentation.
Before loading at an affected bulk terminal, the owner or operator of a cargo tank must present documentation of passing the vapor tightness test to demonstrate, using EPA Reference Method 27 or equivalent, that they meet a maximum pressure or vacuum decay rate of three inches of water, or less, during a five-minute test period. Some states have other practices or requirements to ensure that vapor tight cargo tanks are vapor tested and those alternative requirements will be allowed, as specified, under this proposed rule as well.
The proposed rule (40 CFR Part 63) would require that emissions from storage tanks that meet the applicability criteria at area source bulk gasoline terminals and pipeline breakout stations be reduced by 95 percent, either through the use of specified floating roofs and seals or through an alternative technology such as a closed vent system and control device.
This proposed rule would require the implementation of a monthly equipment leak inspection at bulk terminals, bulk plants, pipeline breakout stations, and pipeline pumping stations. The standards allow a sight, sound, and smell inspection of all equipment components in gasoline liquid or vapor service. Any leaking equipment components would have to be repaired within a specified time period. At bulk plants in all counties nationwide this proposed rule would require the use of submerged filling of gasoline storage tanks and cargo tanks.
To see the deadline extension for comments published in the Federal Register January 8, 2007, click here.
To see the November 9, 2006, proposal, click here.