The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule that would limit air toxics emissions from area source gasoline distribution bulk terminals, bulk plants, pipeline facilities, and gasoline dispensing facilities (such as service stations, convenience stores, rental, and fleet gasoline tanks).
EPA said in a November 2 news release that most facilities already comply with this proposal, but estimates about 3,000-5,000 facilities will need additional controls, and that the proposed standards would cost $60 to $65 million in capital at mostly large bulk facilities. There would be an annual benefit of about $6 million for either of the proposed alternatives. The value of the recovered gasoline and gasoline not allowed to evaporate will more than pay for the annual cost of the capital expenditures and the operation and maintenance of the equipment.
EPA said the air toxics standards would cover small facilities that store gasoline and load it into trucks for delivery to gas stations nationwide. It would also cover the loading of the storage tanks at gas stations in highly populated areas.
The proposal addresses:
•The EPA action proposes two alternatives. The first alternative proposes controls only on the bulk gasoline distribution facilities (terminals and bulk plants, and pipeline facilities). The second alternative proposes controls at the gasoline service stations in urban areas as well as area source bulk gasoline distribution facilities nationwide.
•The first alternative would require the following for bulk distribution facilities: best seals on storage tanks at terminals and pipeline facilities; use of submerged fill pipes when loading storage tanks at bulk plants; vapor processors to control tank truck loadings at bulk terminals; use of submerged fill pipes to control tank truck loading emissions at bulk plants; leak testing of tank trucks and railcars; and checking for leaks and using good housekeeping procedures to prevent evaporation of gasoline.
•EPA also is taking comment on a control option that requires the installation of the best seals on storage tanks at terminals and pipeline facilities and installation of vapor processors to control tank truck loadings at bulk terminals.
•Under the second alternative, the proposal would also require use of submerged fill pipes when loading storage tanks at service stations.
•Area sources are those that have the potential to emit less than 10 tons per year of a single toxic air pollutant or less than 25 tons per year of any combination of toxic air pollutants. If sources emit more than these amounts, they are called "major" sources. In 1994, EPA issued final rules for the larger "major source" bulk terminals and pipeline facilities.
•At gasoline distribution terminals and the smaller bulk plants, gasoline is stored and loaded into trucks for delivery to gasoline stations. Pipeline facilities pump gasoline along the pipeline, sometimes temporarily storing it until it is re-injected into the pipeline for distribution to gasoline terminals. Today's proposal covers all smaller facilities nationwide.
•Gasoline dispensing facilities are covered by the November 2 proposal in just urban areas. The proposal requires control of the loading of the storage tank only. Vehicle refueling emissions are controlled under a separate air toxic national standard.
•EPA also requests comment on the need for additional controls, called vapor balancing, at gasoline service stations in more populated urban areas.
EPA will take public comment on this proposed action for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. (EPA did not say in the news release when the proposal will be published.) The agency will hold a public hearing if requested to do so and will take final action by December 20, 2007.