Newsletter

The International Liquid Terminals Association held its annual Operating Conference and Trade Show over May 22-24 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Texas. This year’s event featured keynote presentations and conference sessions from industry experts, scholars, and public leaders such as NASA astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly and Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Dr. David Mussington.

Washington, D.C., May 4, 2023—Following the release of Senator Cynthia Lummis's (R-WY) new bill amending the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) is pleased with the progress being built around PFAS remediation.

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.

ILTA’s annual spring Environment, Health, Safety & Security Committee meeting was held in Savannah, Georgia over March 13-15. The three-day event began with a tour of the local Colonial Terminals facility on Monday, hosted by ILTA Vice Chairman Pratt Summers of the same company.

On Tuesday, attendees convened for an opening discussion lead by Thomas Balazik with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on its missions related to cybersecurity and what resources it provides for terminal owners and operators. Afterwards, the Security Subcommittee co-chairs Jerry Jerdine of Ergon, Inc. and Andrea Simonin of Vopak lead an interactive discussion on physical and cybersecurity best practices. The morning was capped with a presentation from Lieutenant Bill Gasperetti, USCG on the TWIC reader rule extension, next steps, and how ILTA members can look to partner with USCG on the rule’s implementation going forward.