Government Affairs Brief

President George W. Bush will be the closing keynote speaker for the International Operating and Trade Show held by the International Liquid Terminals Association in Houston next May.

Again working with Conn Maciel Carey LLP (CMC), ILTA joined a multi-industry working group on OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Representative Rulemaking. The rule would expand the circumstances when non-employees, particularly union representatives at non-union workplaces, can accompany OSHA inspectors during enforcement inspections. For example, union representatives, other labor or community activist groups, and even plaintiffs’ attorneys (or their expert witnesses) could gain direct and early access to non-union workplaces and employees, potentially as a front for organizing campaigns where they otherwise would not have access or to advance personally injury lawsuits. Similarly, the rule could allow competitors, contractors, or others onsite to employers’ detriment.

On September 20th, ILTA hosted its second Energy Transition webinar, focused on the work being done at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to foster a hydrogen economy and how liquid terminals fit into their strategy. The webinar kicked off with a detailed presentation by Dr. Asha-Dee Celestine, representative for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) at DOE, and was followed by a lively conversation between her and Christopher Hessler, Founding Partner at AJW Inc.

The International Liquid Terminals Association (“ILTA”) understands that EPA is involved in the development of a new 40 CFR Part 60 regulation for storage tanks to be designated Subpart Kc, and that one item under consideration is a requirement to control emissions during tank degassing events.  ILTA would like to share some of the more significant concerns with this potential requirement, namely cost and availability.

Last week, the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) filed comments with the Environmental Protection Agency on a proposal to regulate PFAS-containing aqueous-film forming foam (AFFF) under the under the nation’s Superfund law (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act of 1980).