Government Affairs Brief

On April 17, ILTA attended a conference convened by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), International Association of Fire Fighters, and the United States Chamber of Commerce to discuss aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), commonly referred to as PFAS-based firefighting foams. Additional stakeholders in attendance included the firefighting communities, airports, petrochemical industries, farming stakeholders, chemical producers, and liquid storage and terminaling industry.

DoD shared its perspective on compliance with the AFFF transition, indicating extensions would be needed. Specifically, DoD said the military was unlikely to meet the target transition dates and would likely exercise two of the 1-year extensions under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The primary reason for anticipating the needed extensions is the various Air Force facilities and vehicles and officials indicated that foam producers’ supplies are of concern, too, given the massive quantity needed by DoD to address foam needs for all DoD facilities.

ILTA President Dr. Kathryn Clay and VP of Marketing and Member Experience Leakhena Swett recently traveled to San Antonio to visit two of ILTA's terminal members, NuStar Energy and Howard Energy Terminal. Both ILTA staff members were eager to learn more about the companies' operations and have a listening session on how ILTA can better serve their members.

During the visit, Dr. Clay and Ms. Swett were warmly welcomed by the staff at both terminals, who took them on tours and shared insights into the challenges and successes of their operations. In addition, the ILTA representatives had an open and honest discussion with the members on how ILTA can be a better partner to them, listening to their feedback and suggestions.

The visit to San Antonio was an excellent opportunity for ILTA to strengthen its relationships with its members and gain insight into their challenges. By actively listening to the members, ILTA can better understand their needs and tailor its services to better support them. Dr. Clay and Ms. Swett expressed their gratitude to the members for their engagement and emphasized ILTA's commitment to supporting the industry.

As they departed San Antonio, Dr. Clay and Ms. Swett felt energized and motivated by the trip. They recognized that their representation of the members was making a significant impact. They looked forward to the future, eager to continue their work and strengthen relationships with their members. ILTA remains committed to providing value to its members and creating a community of like-minded professionals who can work together to overcome industry challenges.

Looking to expand your knowledge and enhance your career in the dynamic terminals industry? Then look no further than Terminals 101 - the ultimate two-day program that covers all the fundamentals of liquid terminal operations and facility components.

Our industry experts will guide you through a comprehensive overview of the terminals industry, from the vital role of terminals in the supply chain to operational safety, product handling, tank design and maintenance, marine terminal operations, regulatory compliance, and industry standards.

But that's not all! You'll also get valuable insights into facility equipment, aboveground storage tank and roof designs, and tank components - everything you need to know to succeed in this critical industry.

The day-and-a-half long Conference portion of ILTA’s 2023 Operating Conference & Trade Show, May 22-24 in Houston, Texas, will feature four tracks along the topics of Environment; Operations & Engineering; Health, Safety, & Security; and Leadership. Here is another sample of the fascinating educational content we have in store:

PFAS: Mitigating Risks at Liquid Terminals

For decades, the liquid terminal industry has relied on PFAS-based firefighting foams to ensure the safety of their facilities, their workers, and their neighboring communities.  In recent years, concerns about the environmental and health related impacts of these chemicals have led to questions about risk and remediation.  In this timely and important session, our experts will present an overview of the information they are providing to terminal industry clients, including the development of PFAS sampling programs, strategies for risk identification and tools for mitigation.

Our experts will also address the challenge of identifying sources of PFAS beyond aqueous film forming foam (AFFF).  PFAS is integral to many products, making it difficult to know where to start looking for sources and manage business risks. This session will identify the five major challenges to addressing PFAS at liquid terminals that you need to know to identify sources and manage your risks.

Jerry Jerdine’s involvement in the liquid terminal industry began when he was hired at Ergon, Inc. as a Security Specialist shortly after the enactment of the 2002 Maritime Transportation Security Act to provide physical and program security support to the company’s refineries, petrochemical terminals, marine operations and trucking terminals. His role also included managing federal grants that were funded to support improving physical security infrastructure at maritime facilities and vessel operations. 

Jerdine’s journey with Ergon has led him to his current role as a Corporate EHSS Systems and Security Officer, where he finds enjoyment in a variety of aspects of his day-to-day responsibilities.