5 Reasons Fuel-Site Water Intrusion Is Increasing

It is a pretty well known fact that most of the Earth’s surface is covered by water so to say it permeates our existence is an understatement.

While this liquid is essential to our existence, it also wreaks havoc on many man-made systems it comes in contact with and in our world of petroleum, it would be classified as a super villain!

And while our industry has been reacting to the havoc water causes for more than a century to develop better ways to keep it out of refueling systems, water intrusion has INCREASED in refueling systems!

Ed KammererThe following is an excerpt, written by Ed Kammerer that appeared in the September, 2018 edition of the Fuel Market News.  Ed is the Director of Global Product Management for OPW, based in Cincinnati, OH, USA. He can be reached at ed.kammerer@opwglobal.com. OPW is leading the way in fueling solutions and innovations worldwide. OPW delivers product excellence and the most comprehensive line of fueling equipment and services to retail and commercial fueling operations around the globe. For more information on OPW, please go to OPWGlobal.com.

Below are some of the highlights pulled from Ed’s article.

OPW War on Water Intrusion

Why the increase??

Here are some explanations:

  • Changes In Fuel Chemistry
  • Changes In The Fuel Distribution Infrastructure
  • Installation Procedures

OPW is Waging War on Water Intrusion

By offering:

  • Composite Multiports with Watertight Lids and Covers
  • Composite Manhole Covers
  • Sealable Cover Spill Containers
  • No-Drill Dispenser Loop Sumps
  • No-Drill Tank Sumps

You can read Ed’s full article by clicking here.

 

JWK Shop By ImageIn our ongoing efforts to simplify finding and buying retail petroleum refueling equipment and replacement parts, nothing quite does it like image driven content to help guide your selections. If you are on a desktop or laptop, use your mouse to scroll around the image below to discover the links to many of OPW’s watertight and other line of products found in our online store.
JWK Blog Editor’s Note: OPW is constantly adding products to their line and we are always adding and removing products from our web store.  While the below image is tied to hundreds of OPW products in our webstore, we are still linking products to the various categories represented in the below graphic and have not linked any OPW Fuel Management Products as of this writing. Product offerings linked to this grpahic will continue to expand over time. Thank you.

If you have any further questions about water intrusion, OPW ‘s line of watertight products or would like to place an order, do not hesitate to contact us at 1.800.451.4021.

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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Responding to a Leak in an Underground Storage Tank

In our previous blogs, we discussed in detail how to prevent and detect UST leaks at gas stations and other UST facilities.

But what should you do if a leak happens?

What immediate actions should you take? Who should you contact? How should you proceed to managing and controlling the leak? Continue reading

OPW New England UST EVR Certification Class – Official Invitation ( December 12, 2018 )

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OPW UST EVR Training Certification

OPW invites you to attend their UST EVR Training Certification class.

Description: The OPW EVR live certification course provides attendees a hand’s on opportunity to install and service all of the OPW UST EVR Phase One System Components listed on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order. Attendees will use the tools provided in class while performing basic installation and routine maintenance of phase one components. There is no experience necessary and the class is free. There will be an open book test at the conclusion of the class and with a passing grade you will receive a 2 year certification.

When: Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Where: Hilton Garden Inn  – 800 Hall of Fame Ave. – Springfield, MA 01105

 

IMPORTANT:  Please contact us at 1.800.451.4021 or email us here ASAP to reserve a spot with the attendee name, company name & email address. Please note: all (3) bits of information are needed in order to officially register the attendee for the training class.

Enrollment will be on a first come first serve basis. If registration is low there is a possibility that training sessions may be cancelled.

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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3 Things Every Retailer Needs to Know about the 2018 EPA Regulations

Our friends at OPW would just like to kindly remind everyone that the EPA’s new Environmental Testing Regulations go into full effect on October 13, 2018, and OPW has a full line of products that are compatible with the 4 major regulatory requirements for new and existing Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems.

Watch the video below and learn more at opwglobal.com/epa-regulations!

 

Check out our blog post from August 2018, Are You Ready?? The Cost of Non-Compliance: You Can’t Afford It, containing OPW’s infographic that covers the history of UST Regulations.

You can find many of OPW’s great products in our web store and if you don’t find what you are looking for there or have any questions, feel free to contact us at 1.800.238.1225. 

Click on the logos below to explore OPW products online:

Fiberlite

 

 

 

 

OPW Retail Fueling Components

 

 

 

OPW Fuel Management Systems
 

 

 

 

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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What you need to know to be EPA compliant by the Oct. 13, 2018 Deadline

OPW - EPA CompliantOPW’s Guide To 2018 EPA Regulations

Get compliant and avoid fierce penalties!

OPW has put together a quick reference guide for everything you need to know to be compliant with the new EPA testing requirements.

Download OPW’s EPA Regulations guide to gain access to information from brochures, videos and articles to help you prepare for the October 13, 2018 compliance deadline.  Please be sure to indicate the specific OPW EPA-Compliant testable products for which you would like to receive additional information.

7 Ways Your Underground Fueling System can Save You MoneyAside from getting some background on why the new regulation exists, who and what it affects, specifics about testing and what happens for non-compliance, it also includes 7 Ways Your Underground Fueling System Can Save You Money.

So download your copy of OPW’s EPA Regulations guide today!

Please feel free to contact us at 1.800.451.4021 with any questions about compliance, OPW’s guide or to order OPW products!

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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NJDEP Outlines UST Training Requirements for Class A & B Operators

UST / AST Examination
NJDEP UST Training for Class A & B Operators

The EPA has established new minimum training requirements for designated Class A, Class B, and Class C operators to ensure that those who own and operate regulated underground storage tanks understand how to operate and maintain their UST systems properly. The federal regulations dictate that all operators must be trained by October 13, 2018.

How can you become a Class A or Class B Operator?

 In order to become a Class A or Class B operator you will need to attend a class at Rutgers  that will be administered by the NJDEP and pass an ICC examination.  Click here to see view the NJ State’s document for details and links for the Rutgers’ classes and ICC examination.

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

 

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Questions And Answers About The 2015 Underground Storage Tank Regulation As Of May 2017

EPA

Check out the May 2017 updated version of the EPA’s  PDF document :

Questions and Answers about the 2015 Underground Storage Tank Regulation

And please be sure to call us at 1.800.451-4021 for all your underground storage tank needs.

We appreciate your continued business and support!

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OPW Announces New FibreTite Multiport Spill Container

opw-fibretiteOPW has announced their new FibreTite Multiport Spill Containment System, which is now CARB EVR approved.  These containers are designed with a lightweight composite cover for long-term water tight performance and meet all CARB and EVR requirements, as well as being certified for use on all existing standard gasoline Phase 1 Vapor Recovery Certification Phase 1 EVR Executive Orders.  Among the features included are an integrated inspection port system, a removable flange in the container base, and a composite lift cover and optional levered plumber seal covers for easy access.

 

For additional information, check out the distributor bulletin and the official part brochure.

 

 

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

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OPW UST EVR Training Certification Courses 2016

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On October 26 and 27, OPW will be holding a pair of enhanced vapor recovery (EVR) training and certification courses in the Worcester, MA and Springfield, MA areas, respectively.  These courses, which are free to attend and require no experience, will allow attendees to install and service all OPW EVR Phase One System Components listed on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order.  At the conclusion of the course, there will be a test which, if passed, will grant a 2-year certification.

If you are interested in attending, contact OPW District Manager Tim Andersen with the attendee name, company name, attendee email address, and preferred course location.  Attendance is limited to 20 people, and enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis, so those interested should enroll as soon as possible.

Tim Andersen: tim.andersen@opwglobal.com

 

The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!

 

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10 Things You Need to Know About the Revised EPA UST Rules

The following has been reproduced from an article posted by Joel Hershey on http://www.ecsconsult.com

Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks

USTs_cropped

Late last month, the USEPA published the long-awaited revisions to the Underground Storage Tank (UST) rules under 40 CFR 280 and 281.  The full 120-page rule is available on the EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks website (http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/revregs.html) and has just been published to the Federal Register.  If you do not have the time to delve into the document, we have put together this summary of 10 key things you need to know about the 2015 rule rewrite.  This is not an exhaustive list, and the full rule text should be consulted for a comprehensive understanding and evaluation of owner/operator obligations.

  1. OPERATOR TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE – The Energy Policy Act of 2005 only required training for operators in states that received monies from the EPA.  This change ensures that all operators across the country and in states without operator training requirements, and in Indian Country, have training. The EPA is attempting to ensure that all operators across the country are trained to prevent and respond to releases.  The EPA has provided a 3 year timeframe for implementation.
  2. WALKTHROUGH INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL FACILITIES – Monthly (30) day inspections are required for all facilities that consist of a visual evaluation of spill prevention equipment and release detection equipment. Containment sumps such as for STPs, piping must be viewed at least annually.  The purpose is to ensure that owners are looking regularly at their equipment to catch problems early and prevent releases.  The EPA is allowing a 3 year adoption period for these inspections.
  3. TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SPILL PREVENTION EQUIPMENT, OVERFILL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT, CONTAINMENT SUMPS, AND RELEASE DETECTION – Owners/operators are required to test spill prevention equipment, containment sumps used as secondary containment for piping  and overfill protection equipment every three years, and release detection devices must be tested annually.  This testing will ensure that all components of a UST system that are designed to detect and prevent a discharge are operating properly.  Some components, such as spill buckets, will fail. This rule modification will help operators catch issues early. The EPA is requiring testing within 3 years of the adoption of the rule.
  4. EMERGENCY GENERATORS ARE NO LONGER EXEMPT FROM PERFORMING RELEASE DETECTION MONITORING – With technology now available to monitor tanks and detect releases at remote locations, the EPA has lifted the deferral on this requirement.  Owners/operators of emergency generator tanks are now required to equip tanks with release detection monitoring.  The EPA is allowing 3 years for the upgrades to take place.
  5. FIELD CONSTRUCTED TANKS AND AIRPORT HYDRANT FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS MUST PERFORM RELEASE DETECTION – The 1988 UST Regulations deferred release detection for hydrant systems and field constructed tanks because there was not sufficient technology or information available to effectively test these systems.  With technology changes in the marketplace, methods are now available to monitor and detect releases at alternative leak rates and frequencies.  To address the uniqueness of these systems, EPA has added in an entirely new subsection (Subpart K) that outlines the general requirements and exceptions.  As for an adoption timeframe, various provisions are phased in anywhere from immediately to over a seven year period.
  6. VENT LINE FLOW RESTRICTORS ARE NO LONGER AN OPTION TO MEET OVERFILL REQUIREMENTS – UST systems used to be able to rely on flow restrictors on vent lines (ball floats) as a means to meet the overfill prevention requirements of the 1988 UST rule.  Several inherent weaknesses had been identified with the use of this technology, which included in the over-pressurization of tanks.  Owners/operators are required to use alternate overfill prevention measures listed in the rule (Subpart B) on all new systems and replaced vent lines.  This portion of the rule goes into effect immediately.
  7. INTERNAL LINING NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE AS A SOLE MEANS OF CORROSION PROTECTION  -In the past, UST systems that relied on an internal lining as the sole method of corrosion protection could add another internal lining, cathodic protection, or both when internal lining failed a periodic inspection and could not be repaired. The new rule requires tanks using internal lining as the only method of corrosion protection to be permanently closed if the internal lining fails inspection and cannot be repaired according to a code of practice.  This portion of the rule is effective immediately.
  8. OWNER NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO SWITCHING TO REGULATED SUBSTANCE CONTAINING >10% ETHANOL, 20% BIODIESEL, OR THAT MEETS COMPATIBILITY CONCERN REQUIREMENTS – With the increased use of biofuels in the marketplace, there is an increasing concern regarding tank material compatibility.  The rule revision addresses this concern by requiring owners/operators to notify the regulatory agency at least 30 days prior to switching to a regulated substance containing greater than 10 percent ethanol, greater than 20 percent biodiesel, or any other fuel that the agency identifies as a concern.  The owner/operator must demonstrate material compatibility through a listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, equipment manufacturer approval, or other method that the agency deems to be no less protective.  This change is effective immediately.
  9. INTERSTITIAL MONITORING RESULTS NOW REPORTABLE – As interstitial monitoring becomes a more widely used method of release detection, the EPA has clarified the rule to include its use.  Specifically, interstitial alarms are now considered an unusual operating condition under release reporting.  EPA adds an option to test secondary containment when present as a means of investigating and/or confirming a release.  The rule also adds an option for system closure if a test confirms a leak.   This portion of the rule revision is effective immediately.
  10. STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS – States that receive monies from the EPA are required to address the changes made to 40 CFR 280 within 3 years of adoption.  Specifically, states must meet the delivery prohibition, operator training, and groundwater protection requirements contained within the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

As stated at the beginning of this article, this list is not a comprehensive or complete summary of the rule changes.  There are other key provisions and clarifications that are contained in the rule text and preamble.  Should you have any questions regarding your tank system and whether or not your facility is in compliance with the new rule, we suggest you contact our Eclipse Division for an evaluation and consultation.

Joel Hershey is the Director of Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS’) Eclipse Fuel System Management Division.  He has worked exclusively in the field of petroleum liquid storage systems since 1989.  His expertise includes compliance testing, diagnostics, petroleum construction, maintenance, and upgrades for both UST and AST systems.  During his career, Joel has held various positions, including Senior Petroleum Specialist, Operations Manager, and four years as Senior Vice President for Tanknology.  There he managed and executed upgrades for more than 6,800 facilities to meet the 1998 federal UST systems upgrades. He can be reached at (800) 789-3530 or jhershey@ecsconsult.com.

As always, feel free to contact us at 1.800.451.4021 with any questions.


We appreciate your business and thank you for your continued support!

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