PA Environment Digest

The PA Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association Friday joined with other vehicle fuel distributors in the Northeast United States urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue fuel waivers to allow for the timely distribution of fuel during the Hurricane Irene emergency.

The letter said in part--

"It is estimated that more than 80 million people along the Eastern Seaboard will be impacted by Hurricane Irene over the next four days. PMAA and its affiliated state association members in the path of the storm are urgently working to develop a coordinated plan to ensure that the supply distribution network for gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and heating oil fuel will be maintained before during and after Hurricane Irene passes through the region.

"PMAA anticipates that numerous federal fuel waivers authorized under the Clean Air Act Section 112(c)(4)(C), will be necessary during this period in order to meet demand, particularly for emergency responders and other vital services such as hospitals and utility crews.

It is essential that the EPA move quickly with sufficient regulatory flexibility to ensure the uninterrupted distribution of petroleum as a result of the storm.

"First, the EPA must take proactive measures to ensure that the region is fully prepared for Hurricane Irene. PMAA is urging the agency to issue a fuel waiver today that would allow heating oil to be used in emergency generators and back-up equipment that ordinarily requires 15 ppm diesel fuel.

"Information from PMAA state associations in the region indicate that petroleum marketers are being inundated with calls from emergency responders and vital service providers for fuel to power emergency generators and back up equipment due to anticipated prolonged power outages.

"Marketers across the region are reporting urgent fuel supply requests for emergency equipment from from local fire, police and DPW departments, hospitals and nursing homes, water and sewage facilities, public utilities, the National Guard and 911 emergency centers, to name a few.

"Fuel for emergency generators and back-up equipment is in high demand because supply tanks are typically left close to empty to prevent fuel spoilage while not in use. The logistical problem of meeting the current unprecedented demand is due to a lack of 15-ppm supply at local bulk storage facilities which are currently filled with heating oil in anticipation of the upcoming winter heating season.

"Consequently, in order to obtain adequate supply of 15-ppm fuel for emergency equipment, multiple trips back and forth to distant terminal facilities are required. Demand cannot be met in this way because there is simply not enough time, trucks or drivers available to make these multiple, time consuming runs.

"On the other hand, marketers have ample heating oil on hand at their bulk storage facilities that could easily substitute for 15ppm product and ensure that emergency responders and vital service providers receive the fuel they need prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irene. For this reason a proactive waiver of the 15ppm requirement for emergency generators and equipment is absolutely essential at this time.

"Second, the EPA must move quickly in the aftermath of the storm to ensure that adequate supplies of gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene and heating oil remains available. PMAA anticipates that Hurricane Irene will knock out power to refineries and terminal facilities and require the shutdown of vital petroleum supply pipelines. If this occurs, the EPA must be ready to waive RVP, RFG, and ULSD fuel requirements across the area affected by Hurricane Irene.

"The nation learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that proactive preparedness is essential to prevent avoidable catastrophic consequences of killer storm. Hurricane Irene is a very dangerous storm headed towards the nation’s most populated region. For this reason PMAA and its member associations urge the EPA to move quickly on the requests presented in this letter."

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