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July
2010
On July 16, five companies were ordered to pay a total of $14.5 million
in fines and court costs relating to the December 2005 explosion and
fire at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in the U.K. Despite setting a
record for the highest pollution-related penalty in the U.K., this
ruling was modest compared to the overall damage caused by the incident.
To date, the accident remains the most costly industrial accident in
Britain with damage exceeding $1.5 billion. For more information,
click here.
June 2010
In June, the
Department of Homeland Security approved and adopted three standards for
the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and
Certification Program (PS-PREP). The program, which was recommended by
the 9/11 Commission, aims to enhance nationwide resilience in an
“all-hazards” environment through the voluntary implementation of plans
that would reduce the impact of a disaster or other emergency. By
statute, DHS cannot impose these requirements on any private sector
entity.
Click here
to download the PS-PREP standards.
On June 18, the EPA
released its
draft 2011-2015 strategic plan. The draft
includes several regulatory objectives designed to reform EPA’s chemical
management program, address climate change, improve water quality, and
boost environmental clean-up efforts across the country. Comments are
due July 30.
On June 21, a new
Department of Labor rule went into effect that requires many federal
contractors and subcontractors to post a notice that describes the right
of employees to unionize and collectively bargain with their employers
about wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The
notice must be posted by federal contractors who have a single covered
federal contract of at least $100,000. The poster can be found on the
DOL website.
May 2010
ILTA
presented the 2010 ILTA Safety Awards on Tuesday, May 25, during the
30th Annual Operating Conference in Houston, TX. Fourteen terminal
member companies were recognized for their exceptional safety
performance.
2010
Platinum Safety Award Recipients:
2010 Safety
Excellence Award Recipients.
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Buckeye
Terminals, LLC
-
Hess
Corporation
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Houston
Fuel Oil Terminal Company
-
Intercontinental Terminals Company
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International Raw Materials, Ltd/
-
Marathon Petroleum Company LLC
-
Motiva
Enterprises – New Jersey Complex
-
Murphy
Oil Company
-
NuStar
Energy, LP
-
Oiltanking Houston, L.P.
-
Petro-Diamond Terminal Company
-
U.S.
Oil Co., Inc.
Thirty-eight companies participated in ILTA’s 2010 Safety Survey and
Recognition Program, a 10 percent increase from 2009. This is on top of
the 20 percent increase from 2008. For additional information on the
safety survey or award program, contact Katie Vassalli at
kvassalli@ilta.org.
April 2010
As reported
in the April issue of ILTA News, ILTA submitted comments to
Connecticut,
New York and
Pennsylvania on proposals
that would reduce the allowable sulfur content in home heating oil.
ILTA’s comments expressed the terminal industry’s support of a 500 ppm
limit, provided that ample time is provided to make appropriate
modifications throughout the supply chain. ILTA stressed the importance
of deferring any evaluation of need for further reductions until this
interim reduction is met. ILTA further noted that a minimum sulfur
level of 50 ppm for home heating oil would ensure that any distillate
marginally exceeding the EPA’s 15 ppm standard could be placed without
penalty into an allowable, though limited, market.
March 2010
During
March, ILTA submitted
comments
to DHS expressing the terminal industry’s opposition to a DHS rule that
would regulate gasoline terminals under its Chemical Facility Terrorism
Standards (CFATS. The comments were in response to a January 15
Federal Register notice inviting comments on issues raised in ILTA’s
May 12, 2009 Petition for Declaratory Order. For more information,
click here.
On March
15, ILTA co-signed a
letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
requesting a second public comment period on the introduction of
mid-level ethanol blends into commerce. The letter, initiated by the
National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, was signed by 42
associations representing the fuel and chemical supply chains, engine
manufacturers, food and agriculture companies, and environmental
protection groups.
February 2010
As reported
in the February issue of ILTA News, ILTA submitted
comments to the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on a
proposed rulemaking that would reduce the maximum sulfur content and
sulfur dioxide emissions standards for fuel oil over the next six
years. ILTA supports the initial reduction in sulfur content in heating
(No. 2) oil to 500 ppm because it could assist the state in complying
with federal air quality standards. However, ILTA does not support any
further reduction. For more information,
click here.
January 2010
On January
4, ILTA launched its 2010 Safety Survey and Recognition Program.
The survey solicits terminal member data on
reportable incident rates at facilities. Participation is voluntary;
however, ILTA strongly urges all terminal members to participate,
regardless of company size or incident rate. A high level of
participation among member companies results in more accurate reporting
of the terminal industry’s overall safety performance record. All
information will remain confidential. Survey participants will be
considered for an ILTA Safety Recognition Award. As in 2009, this year’s
program will include two levels of awards: the “Excellence Award” and
the “Platinum Award.” For more information
click
here.
As
referenced in the January issue of ILTA News, EPA published a
notice in the
December 15, 2009
Federal Register declaring that greenhouse
gas emissions endanger public health and welfare and therefore are
subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. For more information,
click here.
The
Process Safety Leadership Group
recently issued a final report entitled
Safety and Environmental Standards for Fuel
Storage Sites. The purpose of the report is to
specify the minimum standards of control that should be in place at all
U.K. facilities storing large volumes of gasoline.
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