[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70241-70246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28968]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0651; FRL-9227-8]
Compatibility of Underground Storage Tank Systems With Biofuel
Blends
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of proposed guidance and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks intends to issue
guidance that would clarify EPA's underground storage tank (UST)
compatibility requirement as it applies to UST systems storing gasoline
containing greater than 10 percent ethanol and diesel containing an
amount of biodiesel yet to be determined. Today's Federal Register
notice solicits comment on the proposed guidance, which provides owners
and operators of underground storage tank systems greater clarity in
demonstrating compatibility of their tank systems with these fuels.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 17, 2010, 30
days after publication in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
UST-2010-0651, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency,
[[Page 70242]]
Underground Storage Tank (UST) Docket, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-UST-
2010-0651. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the UST Docket, EPA/
DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC.
The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the
UST Docket is (202) 566-0270.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Barbery, Office of Underground
Storage Tanks, Mail Code 5402P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703)
603-7137; e-mail address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this action apply to me?
This action applies to owners and operators of underground storage
tank systems regulated by 40 CFR Part 280, who intend to store gasoline
blended with greater than 10 percent ethanol. It may also apply to
owners and operators storing a to-be-determined percentage of biodiesel
blended with diesel fuel.
B. What should I consider as I prepare my comments for EPA?
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this information to EPA through
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. Clearly mark the part or all of the
information that you claim to be CBI. For CBI information in a disk or
CD-ROM that you mail to EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD-ROM as
CBI and then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the
specific information that is claimed as CBI). In addition to one
complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as
CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information
claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments,
remember to:
Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and
page number).
Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives
and substitute language for your requested changes.
Describe any assumptions and provide any technical
information and/or data that you used.
If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be
reproduced.
Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and
suggest alternatives.
Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the
use of profanity or personal threats.
Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period
deadline identified.
II. Background
A. Statutory Authority
This proposed guidance discusses EPA's underground storage tank
(UST) compatibility requirement that was promulgated under the
authority of Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), as
amended. 42 U.S.C. 6991b et seq. This requirement, which is referenced
and discussed in the guidance, is found in 40 CFR 280.32.
B. Underground Storage Tank Compatibility Requirement
To protect groundwater, a source of drinking water for nearly half
of all Americans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulates UST systems storing petroleum or hazardous substances under
authority of Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended.
Ethanol and biodiesel are not regulated substances under EPA's UST
program; however, tanks storing gasoline or diesel mixed with ethanol
or biodiesel are regulated by EPA. For the purposes of this guidance,
EPA considers an ``ethanol blend'' to be any amount of ethanol mixed
with petroleum gasoline, and a ``biodiesel blend'' to be any amount of
biodiesel mixed with petroleum diesel.
EPA regulations address the prevention and detection of releases
from UST systems; one particular provision in the federal UST
regulations that aims to prevent releases specifically requires
compatibility of stored substances with UST system components. As the
U.S. moves toward an increased use of biofuels, such as ethanol and
biodiesel, compliance with the UST compatibility requirement becomes
even more important, since ethanol and biodiesel blends can compromise
the integrity of some UST system materials. Today's Federal Register
notice solicits comment on proposed guidance and associated issues that
will clarify how owners/operators of UST systems storing fuels
containing greater than 10 percent ethanol or a to be determined
percent of biodiesel can demonstrate compliance with the UST
compatibility requirement.
As of March 2010, there are approximately 607,000 regulated USTs
[[Page 70243]]
at 221,000 facilities nationwide. States and territories (hereafter
referred to as states) are the primary implementers of the UST program
because they are in the best position to implement UST program
requirements, based on the size and diversity of the regulated
community. In order for EPA to approve a State's program, that state's
regulations must be at least as stringent as the Federal UST
regulations.
An UST system includes the underground storage tank, connected
underground piping, underground ancillary equipment, and any
containment systems. Fuel dispensers are not part of the UST system,
and therefore this guidance does not apply to dispensers.
C. Discussion
The federal UST regulations require that ``[o]wners and operators
must use an UST system made of or lined with materials that are
compatible with the substance stored in the UST system'' (40 CFR Sec.
280.32). Because the chemical and physical properties of ethanol and
biodiesel can make these fuel blends containing them more degrading to
certain UST system materials than petroleum, it is important to ensure
that all UST system components in contact with the biofuel blend are
materially compatible with that fuel. Industry practice has been for
owners and operators to demonstrate compatibility by using equipment
certified by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL). However, many UST system components in use today,
with the exception of most tanks and piping, have not been tested by UL
for compatibility. Without certification from a third party that these
equipment are compatible with anything beyond conventional fuels, the
suitability of these particular components for use with ethanol and
biodiesel blends comes into question.
Compatibility of Ethanol-Blended Fuel
Gasoline containing low percentages (10 percent or less) of ethanol
has been used in parts of the country for many years. Many tanks and
piping have been tested and are listed by UL for compatibility with
higher-level ethanol blends. Many other components of the UST system,
including leak detection devices, seals, and containment sumps (for
example) may not be listed by UL for compatibility with ethanol blends.
EPA expects recent federal and state laws encouraging increased use of
biofuels to translate into a greater number of UST systems storing
biofuels, as well as a greater number of UST systems storing higher
percentages of biofuel blends. EPA is aware of material compatibility
concerns associated with some UST system equipment storing higher
ethanol blends, such as E85 (gasoline containing up to 85 percent
ethanol), which is an alternative fuel used in flexible fuel vehicles.
EPA understands that in order to avoid compatibility issues with E85,
many tank owners who currently store E85 either installed all new
equipment designed to store high level ethanol blends or upgraded
certain components to handle the higher ethanol content. Because the
typical lifespan of an underground storage tank is about 30 years, most
UST systems currently in use are likely to contain components that were
not designed to store ethanol blends beyond 10 percent. These older
systems may not be certified by UL or another independent testing
laboratory for use with these blends.
Although very little data exists pertaining to the compatibility of
UST equipment with ethanol blends, literature suggests that mid-level
ethanol blends may have the most degrading effect on some UST system
materials. For example, ``Underwriters Laboratories Research Program on
Material Compatibility and Test Protocols for E85 Dispensing
Equipment,'' which evaluated the effect of 85 percent ethanol and 25
percent ethanol blends, indicates that some materials used in the
manufacture of seals were degraded more when exposed to the 25 percent
ethanol test fluid than when exposed to the 85 percent ethanol test
fluid (Underwriters Laboratories, 2007). Further, ``Compatibility and
Permeability of Oxygenated Fuels to Materials in Underground Storage
and Dispensing Equipment'' (State Water Resources Control Board's
Advisory Panel, 1999) confirms that alcohol fuel blends are ``more
aggressive toward polymers than any of the neat constituents in the
fuel,'' and points specifically to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline as
being the blend at which the maximum swelling occurs in polymeric
materials. Both of these documents are available in the UST Docket
under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0651.
In March 2009, EPA received a Clean Air Act (CAA) waiver
application to increase the allowable ethanol content of a gasoline-
ethanol blended fuel from 10 volume percent ethanol to 15 volume
percent ethanol.\1\ Please note that this action under the CAA has no
bearing on an UST owner or operator's requirement to comply with all
applicable EPA UST regulations, including the UST compatibility
requirement in 40 CFR 280.32. Specifically, in order to ensure the safe
storage of higher ethanol and biodiesel blends under EPA's UST program,
owners and operators must meet the compatibility requirement for UST
systems. Recently, EPA conditionally granted a partial waiver that
allows gasoline-ethanol blends that contain greater than 10 volume
percent ethanol up to 15 volume percent ethanol (E15) to be introduced
into commerce for use in 2007 and newer model year light-duty motor
vehicles, which includes passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-
duty passenger vehicles such as some sport utility vehicles (SUVs).\2\
If other State, Federal, and industry practices also support such
introduction, E15 may become available in the marketplace. Thus, EPA
anticipates that some UST system owners and operators may choose to
store higher percentages of ethanol in their UST systems. For those who
intend to store E15 or other amounts of ethanol greater than 10 volume
percent, EPA is proposing this guidance to clarify the compatibility
requirement with regard to these blends and provide greater flexibility
for owners and operators who intend to store E15, including those whose
equipment may not be certified as compatible by an independent testing
laboratory.
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\1\ See 74 FR 18228 (April 21, 2009).
\2\ See 75 FR 68043 (November 4, 2010).
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Compatibility of Biodiesel-Blended Fuel
In addition to ethanol, biodiesel is becoming increasingly
available across the U.S., though its total use is significantly less
compared to that of ethanol-blended gasoline. EPA understands that
owners and operators are storing biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends in
UST systems, ranging from two percent biodiesel (B2) to 99 percent
biodiesel (B99). In this guidance, EPA proposes to include biodiesel
blends, based on the fact that many states that already have
compatibility policies in place address both ethanol blends and
biodiesel blends. At least one state developed a compatibility policy
to apply to biodiesel blends greater than B5, meaning owners and
operators of UST systems containing biodiesel/petroleum diesel blends
greater than 5 percent biodiesel must meet the requirements in the
state's guidance. Other states have selected to use B20 as the
threshold, since B20 is commonly used in government and military
fleets.
EPA is aware that there may be material compatibility issues with
some UST system equipment in biodiesel service, but the Agency lacks
sufficient
[[Page 70244]]
data on the compatibility of various biodiesel blends with UST system
equipment currently in use across the country. EPA also acknowledges
that no UST equipment has a UL-listing for use with biodiesel blends.
UL has issued a statement indicating that biodiesel blends up to B5
will not require special investigation by UL, meaning that these fuels
may be considered the same as conventional petroleum fuels. According
to UL, biodiesel blends greater than 5 percent may have a significant
effect on materials. For these reasons, EPA is seeking comment on what
percentage of biodiesel in biodiesel blends should be used for
including these fuels in the scope of today's proposed guidance.
Testing on Ethanol and Biodiesel Blends
The U.S. Department of Energy is currently performing testing on
the compatibility of some UST system materials with mid-level ethanol
blends. Depending on results of DOE's research, EPA may change its
guidance. EPA is not aware of a testing program to evaluate the
compatibility of UST system equipment with biodiesel blends.
Applicability of Proposed Guidance
This guidance clarifies how owners and operators of underground
storage tanks (USTs) can comply with EPA's compatibility requirement
(40 CFR 280.32) when storing certain biofuels (ethanol-blended fuels
greater than 10 percent and biodiesel-blended fuels greater than [TBD]
percent). UST owners and operators, as well as other affected
stakeholders should be aware that, when final, EPA's proposed guidance
will apply in Indian country and in States that do not have State
program approval (SPA). States that have SPA must, in 40 CFR 281.32,
have a compatibility requirement that is similar to the Federal
requirement. Therefore, SPA states could also find this guidance to be
relevant and useful to them as well.
Owner and Operator Demonstration of Compatibility
EPA considers the following three methods as effective options for
demonstrating compatibility:
Certification or listing by an independent test
laboratory;
Equipment manufacturer approval; or
Another method determined by the implementing agency to
sufficiently protect human health and the environment.
Implementing agencies may determine there are other acceptable
methods for demonstrating compliance with the compatibility
requirement, as long as they sufficiently protect human health and the
environment. EPA will work with states as they evaluate other
acceptable methods.
Some states have developed policies similar to EPA's proposal
published today. Some examples of state policies regarding
compatibility of UST equipment with biofuels include:
Iowa: http://www.iowadnr.gov/land/ust/technicalresources/ethanol.html.
Wisconsin: http://test.commerce.wi.gov/ER/pdf/bst/Forms_FM/ER-BST-FM-9-AlternativeFuels.pdf.
South Carolina:http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/forms/d-3885.pdf.
Colorado: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251616370465&ssbinary=true.
These documents are also available in the UST Docket under Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0651.
Currently, a note in the Federal UST regulations allows owners and
operators to use the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended
Practice 1626, an industry code of practice, to meet the compatibility
requirement for ethanol-blended fuels. The original version of API 1626
(1st ed. 1985, reaffirmed in 2000) applies to up to 10 percent ethanol
blended with gasoline and is not applicable to meet the compatibility
requirement for ethanol blends greater than 10 percent. In August,
2010, API published a second edition of API 1626. The second edition
does address ethanol blends greater than 10 percent, and may also be
used as a method for demonstrating compatibility.
D. Request for Comments
EPA requests public comment on the following issues as well as the
proposed guidance that immediately follows:
1--UST Components That May Be Affected by Biofuel Blends--A UST
system comprises many components that can be affected by the fuel
stored. Some of these components may or may not come into contact with
fuel or lead directly to a release. However, the failure of these
components could either directly or indirectly lead to a release if
they are not compatible. To help owners ensure compatibility, EPA
proposes listing the following equipment, at a minimum, to be included
in today's proposed guidance to clarify what UST system components may
be affected by biofuel blends:
Tank or internal tank lining;
Piping;
Pipe adhesives and glues;
Line leak detectors;
Flexible connectors;
Fill pipe;
Spill and overfill prevention equipment;
Submersible turbine pump and components;
Fittings, gaskets, bushings, couplings, and boots;
Containment sumps (including submersible turbine sumps and
under dispenser containment);
Release detection floats, sensors, and probes.
This list of components is consistent with lists used by states with
compatibility policies, though it is somewhat less inclusive, since the
federal UST program does not have authority to regulate dispensers or
fuel quality.
Although release detection equipment and overfill prevention
equipment do not contain product and failure of these components will
not directly lead to a release, EPA proposes including these categories
because failure of these equipment may lead indirectly to releases. For
example, a failed leak detection device may not detect a release that
has occurred; similarly, a malfunctioning overfill prevention device
may lead to overfilling of a tank.
Questions for commenters:
Are there components that should be added to or removed
from the list?
Is it possible to demonstrate compatibility for these
components?
2--Methods To Demonstrate Compatibility--Many tanks and piping have
been tested and are listed by UL for compatibility with ethanol blends.
EPA considers this to be an effective method for demonstrating
compatibility. However, many other components of the UST system may not
have been tested with ethanol and are not listed by UL for
compatibility with ethanol blends. In addition, no UST equipment is UL-
listed for use with biodiesel blends. Some existing UST system
components might be compatible with ethanol or biodiesel blends,
although the equipment may not have a certification or listing from an
independent testing laboratory specific to the fuel blend. As a result,
EPA is proposing manufacturer approval as another acceptable method for
demonstrating compatibility. Also, states may believe that there are
other reasonable ways to demonstrate compatibility. With that in mind,
EPA is considering providing flexibility for states who wish to take a
different approach for demonstrating compatibility, as long as that
approach sufficiently protects human health and
[[Page 70245]]
the environment. EPA proposes to recommend the following methods for
demonstrating compatibility:
Certification or listing by an independent test
laboratory;
Equipment manufacturer approval; or
Another method determined by the implementing agency to
sufficiently protect human health and the environment. EPA will work
with states as they evaluate other acceptable methods.
Although some states allow a professional engineer (P.E.) to make a
compatibility determination, EPA does not believe a blanket acceptance
of P.E. certification is a good approach. There are numerous types of
P.E.s, any one of which is not likely to cover all aspects of materials
science and UST equipment compatibility. Further, states that allow
this option indicated that it is not being used. If additional states
consider allowing a P.E. to make a compatibility determination for UST
equipment, EPA will discuss that option with those states.
Questions for commenters:
Are the methods for demonstrating compatibility, as
described above, appropriate?
Are these options feasible for UST owners?
Are there other reasonable methods EPA should include?
3--Criteria for Equipment Manufacturer Approval as a Compatibility
Method--EPA understands that an independent testing laboratory
certification may be the most standardized, consistent, and
recognizable way to demonstrate compatibility. However, EPA wants to
provide flexibility and is also considering relying on a statement of
compatibility by the manufacturer as a secondary method for owners and
operators, and to demonstrate compatibility of their UST equipment. EPA
is considering numerous forms for manufacturer approvals. For example,
EPA is considering items such as product warranties, brochures, or
letters from manufacturers as acceptable equipment manufacturer
approvals. EPA believes manufacturer approvals should include these
three criteria in order to adequately demonstrate compatibility:
Be in writing;
Indicate affirmative statements of compatibility; and
Be from the equipment manufacturer, not another entity
(such as the installer or distributor).
Questions for commenters:
Are these three criteria appropriate?
Are manufacturers willing and able to produce this
approval?
Are there other tools which might assist UST owners to
obtain this information?
4--Applicability to Biodiesel Blends--EPA proposes to include
biodiesel blends in its guidance because of the increased use of
biodiesel across the U.S., as well as the fact that many states already
address biodiesel blends in their compatibility policies. EPA
understands compatibility issues with biodiesel-blended fuels may be
different than those experienced with ethanol-blended fuels and
acknowledges that determining a percentage threshold in the absence of
compatibility data may be either unnecessarily stringent or not
sufficiently protective. However, lack of compatibility information for
biodiesel and biodiesel blends makes it difficult to determine whether
UST system materials and equipment are compromised by storing biodiesel
blends and at what approximate blend percentage compatibility problems
occur. EPA seeks input about the percentage of biodiesel where
compatibility becomes a potential concern.
Questions for commenters:
Should EPA include biodiesel blends in the guidance?
What biodiesel blend percentage should EPA use in the
guidance? Please provide data to support the percentage.
5--Ability To Demonstrate Compatibility Using the Proposed
Guidance--Due to the long expected lifetime of USTs and the high
turnover rate of owners and operators, EPA understands it will be
difficult for many owners and operators to locate documentation for
much of their equipment. Without knowing what equipment is installed at
the site, demonstrating compatibility may be difficult for those who
wish to store and sell biofuel blends. In addition, some equipment may
simply not be compatible with some biofuel blends.
Based on the list of UST components and methods described above in
issues 1 and 2, respectively, EPA requests comment on the following:
How difficult will it be for owners and operators to
demonstrate compatibility for each of these components?
How many UST facilities will not be able to demonstrate
compatibility based on these criteria?
What would be necessary for these facilities to come into
compliance (for example, replace seals, replace release detection
probes, replace the entire UST system, etc.)?
6--Other Options That Sufficiently Protect Human Health and the
Environment--In light of the discussion under issue 5 above, EPA
recognizes that some owners and operators of UST system components may
not be able to demonstrate compatibility or may find it difficult to do
so. Because of this, EPA is seeking input on alternatives that would
sufficiently protect human health and the environment, even though they
are outside the scope of the proposed guidance. For example, there
might be additional activities owners and operators could perform in
the absence of being able to demonstrate compatibility that would
result in sufficient protection of human health and the environment.
Question for commenters:
Without documentation, are there alternative methods UST
owners and operators could rely on or activities they could perform
that would sufficiently protect human health and the environment?
Please be specific and provide data to support your alternative.
Proposed Guidance
Guidance on the Compatibility of Underground Storage Tank Systems With
Ethanol Blends Greater Than Ten Percent and Biodiesel Blends Greater
Than [To Be Determined (TBD)] Percent [Insert Date]
This guidance clarifies how owners and operators of underground
storage tanks (USTs) can comply with EPA's compatibility requirement
(40 CFR 280.32) when storing certain biofuels (ethanol-blended fuels
greater than 10 percent and biodiesel-blended fuels greater than [TBD]
percent). EPA promulgated this requirement (and all other UST
requirements) under the authority of Subtitle I of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended.
In March 2009, EPA received a Clean Air Act (CAA) waiver
application to increase the allowable ethanol content of a gasoline-
ethanol blended fuel from 10 volume percent ethanol to 15 volume
percent ethanol.\3\ EPA recently conditionally granted a partial waiver
that allows gasoline-ethanol blends that contain greater than 10 volume
percent ethanol up to 15 volume percent ethanol (E15) to be introduced
into commerce for use in 2007 and newer model year light-duty motor
vehicles, which includes passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-
duty passenger vehicles such as some sport utility vehicles (SUVs).\4\
If other state, federal, and industry practices also support such
[[Page 70246]]
introduction, E15 may become available in the marketplace. Thus, EPA
anticipates that some UST system owners and operators may choose to
store higher percentages of ethanol in their UST systems.
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\3\ See 74FR18228 (April 21, 2009).
\4\ See 75FR68043 (November 4, 2010).
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Please note that this action under the CAA has no bearing on an UST
owner or operator's requirement to comply with all applicable EPA UST
regulations, including the UST compatibility requirement in 40 CFR
280.32. Specifically, in order to ensure the safe storage of higher
ethanol and biodiesel blends under EPA's UST program, owners and
operators must meet the compatibility requirement for UST systems.
40 CFR 280.32 states that ``[o]wners and operators must use an UST
system made of or lined with materials that are compatible with the
substance stored in the UST system.'' Because the chemical and physical
properties of ethanol and biodiesel blends may make them more
aggressive to certain UST system materials than petroleum, it is
important to ensure that all UST system components in contact with
biofuels are materially compatible with that fuel.
UST System Components That May Be Affected by Biofuel Blends
To meet Sec. 280.32, owners and operators of UST systems storing
ethanol-blended fuels greater than 10 percent ethanol or greater than
[TBD] percent biodiesel must use compatible equipment. At a minimum,
the following UST system equipment must be compatible:
Tank or internal tank lining;
Piping;
Pipe adhesives and glues;
Line leak detectors;
Flexible connectors;
Fill pipe;
Spill and overfill prevention equipment;
Submersible turbine pump and components;
Fittings, gaskets, bushings, couplings, and boots;
Containment sumps (including submersible turbine sumps and
under dispenser containment);
Release detection floats, sensors, and probes.
Options for Meeting the Compatibility Requirement
Currently, EPA believes that the most effective options for owners
and operators of UST systems storing ethanol-blended fuels greater than
10 percent ethanol and biodiesel-blended fuels greater than [TBD]
percent biodiesel to ensure compatibility under this requirement are:
Use components that are certified or listed by an
independent test laboratory for use with the fuel stored (for example,
Underwriters Laboratories);
Use components approved by the manufacturer to be
compatible with the fuel stored. EPA considers acceptable forms of
manufacturer approvals to be:
[cir] Be in writing;
[cir] Indicate an affirmative statement of compatibility; and
[cir] Be from the equipment manufacturer, not another entity (such
as the installer or distributor); or
Use another method determined by the implementing agency
to sufficiently protect human health and the environment. EPA will work
with states as they evaluate other acceptable methods.
Note About Using API 1626 To Meet the Compatibility Requirement
Currently, a note in the federal UST regulations allows owners and
operators to use the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended
Practice 1626, an industry code of practice, to meet the compatibility
requirement for ethanol blended fuels. The original version of API 1626
(1st ed. 1985, reaffirmed in 2000) applies to up to 10 percent ethanol
blended with gasoline and is not applicable to meet the compatibility
requirement for ethanol blends greater than 10 percent. In August 2010,
API published a second edition of API 1626. The second edition does
address ethanol blends greater than 10 percent, and may also be used as
a method for demonstrating compatibility.
Please note that state underground storage tank program regulations
may be more stringent than the federal UST regulations, so owners and
operators should always check with their states about state program
requirements. Also, this guidance will apply in Indian country and in
states that do not have state program approval (SPA). Because states
with SPA must have a compatibility requirement that is similar to the
federal compatibility requirement, SPA states could find this guidance
relevant and useful to them as well.
If you have questions about this guidance, please contact Andrea
Barbery at [email protected] or (703) 603-7137.
Dated: November 8, 2010.
Mathy Stanislaus,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 2010-28968 Filed 11-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P