Category: Special Topics in Environmental Management

SPCC: What Are Your Security Requirements

Standard SPCC plans must describe security procedures for their operation (excluding oil production facilities). The security requirements are meant to prevent oil discharges that result from vandalism or other unauthorized access to oil containers or equipment. Security procedures must include provisions to: Secure and control access to each facility’s handling, processing, or storage areas. Secure […]

SPCC: Tips for Tank Inspections

The following Table outlines the inspection requirements for tanks and associated piping at onshore nonproduction facilities that store petroleum and nonpetroleum oils—except animal fats and vegetable oils, which have their own set of inspection requirements. Note: The SPCC rule also contains integrity testing provisions for tanks, which are not included in this table.  In addition, […]

Tips for Storing Used Oil in an AST

Used oil generators include all persons who produce used oil through commercial or industrial operations and vehicle services. The regulations exempt household “do-it-yourselfers,” farmers under certain conditions, vessels at sea or at port, and mixtures of used oil and diesel fuel under certain conditions. If used oil is mixed with hazardous waste, it must be managed […]

Go Beyond Compliance to Prevent AST Spills

The federal regulations you should consider when developing management practices for ASTs include: Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations for tank vapor control, air toxics, and pollution reduction The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) hazardous substance reporting requirements The Clean Water Act (CWA)-incorporated OPA that […]

Are You Leakproof? 12 Tips for Avoiding Equipment Leak Fines—Part 2

5 Additional Best Practices for LDAR Programs These best management practices for LDAR programs follow up on the 7 we discussed yesterday. Maintain a “Delay of Repair” list. Any component that cannot be repaired during the specified repair interval must be placed on a “Delay of Repair” list to be repaired during the next shutdown […]

Are You Leakproof? 12 Tips for Avoiding Equipment Leak Fines

The Agency has estimated that approximately 70,367 tons per year of VOCs and 9,357 tons per year of HAPs have been emitted from equipment leaks. Many federal regulations under New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) at 40 CFR 60 and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) at 40 CFR 61 and 40 CFR 63 […]

March 22 is World Water Day—What’s on Tap for 2015?

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating March 22, 1993, as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The theme for 2015 is Water and Sustainable […]

4 Points to Consider About Using Reclaimed Water

There are many points to consider when deciding whether to use recycled water for your facility operations. These include: The cost of water Quality constraints when reusing on-site wastewater Growing recognition of the value of reclaimed water Community and employee outreach  Join us on Tuesday, March 3, for a webinar that will help you decide […]

Managing Water at Your Facility: Pros and Cons of Recycling and Reuse

Industrial reuse Reclaimed water can be used in industrial applications and facilities, power production, and extraction of fossil fuels. When reclaimed water was first used for industrial purposes (dating back to the first pulp and paper industries), it was generally treated and reused on-site. As water resources in the arid states have become increasingly stressed […]

EPA Targets Oil and Gas Industry Methane Emissions

EPA Targets Oil and Gas Industry Methane Emissions Methane is a potent GHG that represents a global warming potential that is more than 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. It is also the primary constituent of natural gas, and according to the EPA, almost 30 percent of U.S. methane emissions originate in the […]