EPA today announced a compliance agreement program, The Storage Tank Emission Reduction Partnership, to reduce, at little or no cost to industry, smog-causing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from above-ground petroleum and organic liquid storage tanks. Developed in cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute (API), the program targets VOC emissions from slotted guide poles located in the tanks.
The purpose of a slotted guide pole is to allow samples to be taken of the tank’s contents. A single guide pole can emit more than 10 tons of VOCs annually — roughly equivalent to the emissions from 380 cars and trucks. EPA previously determined that slotted guide poles have observable emission pathways that violate federal new source standards under the Clean Air Act. Under the terms of the agreement, companies that agree to install controls on these guidepoles will not pay penalties but will obtain protection from federal enforcement. Companies wishing to participate in this program must provide a notice of intent to participate by June 12. Details of this partnership program were published in the April 13 Federal Register.
From the Daily Regulatory Reporter
