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2009 QC Meeting
STI licensed tank manufacturers convened on May 1 and 2 at the Hyatt on Capitol Square in Columbus, OH for the STI/SPFA Quality Control meeting. This compulsory meeting for the STI/SPFA Shop Fabricated Atmospheric Tank Members provides UST and AST companies with technical updates and training on the latest in recommended procedures and fabricating techniques. The more than 120 representatives from the U.S. and seven countries received the latest code and specification requirements, and over 30 STI/SPFA member plants were recognized for their QC achievements. A list of QC Award recipients th at were honored at the meeting is available on the STI/SPFA website.
Hamilton Tanks, LLC of Columbus was this year's member host. STI/SPFA extends its sincere thanks to Steve Meeker of Hamilton Tanks for the April 30 training session at its Permatank® jacketing facility. It was obvious that everyone at Hamilton Tanks worked to make the two plant tours a great success, and their efforts were most appreciated.
Safety presentations on topics ranging from fall protection to rigging inspections and the proper operation of chains and forklifts were also covered at the meeting. Rounding out the program were product updates from The Sherwin-Williams Company, GMAW (Mig welding) by ESAB Welding & Cutting Products and The Strong Company. STI/SPFA extends a special thanks to meeting sponsors Clay & Bailey Mfg. Co., Phoenix Forging Company, Morrison Bros. Co., and The Sherwin-Williams Company for their generosity and support.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions
California Approves First U.S. Low-Carbon Fuel Rule
On April 22, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted a first-in-the-nation mandate requiring low-carbon fuels as part of the state's wider effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). CARB's proposed standard is expected to create a new market for alternative fuels and could serve as a model for a national policy. Further, according to CARB Chair Mary Nichols, the low-carbon mandate would reduce California's dependency on petroleum by 20 percent.
Industry Reactions
Representatives of the ethanol industry have criticized the rule based on the belief that state regulators overstated the environmental effects of corn-based ethanol. They also disapproved of the Board's intention to tie global deforestation and other land conversion efforts to biofuel production in the U.S. The ethanol industry further objects and believes it is unfair to penalize it for agricultural land changes abroad.
Representatives of BP and Chevron Corp. said their companies support the standards but with the qualification that CARB review the standards periodically. The new standard requires petroleum refiners to blend fuel and distributors must increase the cleanliness of the fuels they sell in California beginning in 2011.
Growth in Wind Power Capacity
In 2008, the 29 percent growth in U.S. wind power capacity resulted in America surpassing Germany as the world's largest wind power generator. Texas and Iowa are the leading producers in America. In 2008, nearly 12,000 MW were generated globally, 55 percent of which was produced in Europe.
EPA Renewable Fuels Proposed Rulemaking
EPA's RFS2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was announced on May 6. The Office of Management and Budget has given EPA the green light to seek public comments on the proposal. It is expected to include an analysis of GHG emissions produced indirectly by land-use changes that result from the use of corn to produce ethanol. The lifecycle GHG emissions analysis is opposed by the ethanol industry on the basis that indirect land-use analysis has questionable scientific merit and could seriously impact the industry.
The National Biodiesel Board, the American Soybean Association and others think that EPA's proposed ruling for the implementation of RFS2 could potentially damage soy and virgin vegetable oil-based biodiesel. Charles Neece of FUMPA BioFuels in Redwood Falls, MN indicated, "I think it's wonderful that waste grease performs so well under this ruling, but it seems like they aren't giving us any other options."
EPA's RFS2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was signed and announced on May 6. For additional information, please visit the EPA website. A 60-day public comment period will open when the rule is published in the Federal Register.
Overall Petroleum Consumption
EPA's analysis of the impacts of RFS2 on petroleum consumption estimates that "36 billion gallons of renewable fuel mandated by the RFS2 rules will increase renewal fuel usage by approximately 22 billion gallons over the 2022 base volume scenario." Further, EPA estimates that "about 11 percent of annual gasoline and diesel consumption will be displaced in 2022."
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Infrastructure at a Turning Point
Aging water mains are bursting with alarming frequency and offer a vivid reminder of the fragility of the nation's drinking water systems, according to this April 17 article in The New York Times. This particular article touches upon wood water pipes that remain in service.
The number of failures that do not meet today's construction standards are increasing at a surprising rate with sometimes life-threatening results. In just minutes, unsuspecting motorists were trapped when a 66-inch diameter water main broke in Maryland in late-December 2008. Drivers found themselves surrounded by rising, rock-laden waters that prompted dramatic helicopter rescues in 17 degree temperatures. An investigation of the pipe installation is underway.
On May 13 of this year, traffic was halted when an 8-inch water main broke in Pittsburgh. That failure resulted in the collapse of an underground sewer and opened a sinkhole 25 feet long and 15 feet deep.
The American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Water Industry Technical Action Fund sponsored a study that analyzed 20 utilities' needs for repair and replacement of drinking water infrastructure. The 2001 study, Dawn of the Replacement Era: Reinvesting in Drinking Water Infrastructure, is available for purchase at www.awwa.org. U.S. water utilities face significant economic challenges: the oldest underground infrastructure (some is more than 100 years old) is at or very near the end of its expected life span and must be replaced within the next 30 years. AWWA reports that cast iron water pipes have a 120-year useful life.
Steel remains in use in durable products and infrastructure for long periods of time. It is strong and resistant to breakage, and the ductibility of steel sets it apart from more brittle cast iron. A small, no-frills steel fuel tank pictured below testifies to the serviceability and longevity of steel. When a UST installed in the UK in 1924 was removed in April after more than 84 years, it showed no breach from external corrosion.
However, the most basic steel tank installations require compliance with safety and regulatory standards, a fact that the installer of the AST fuel tank system below ignored (hopefully, not at his peril). Steel's low cost, strength, durability, design flexibility and adaptability continue to make it the material of choice for a growing number of applications. No doubt it will play a pivotal role in the infrastructure replacement.
The last photo at below right incorporated special construction to speed transport and delivery. The water-borne tank is a remarkable example of design flexibility and adaptability.
UK Steel UST Installed 1924 AST Fuel Tank Installation That is One Big Catch!
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EPA's OUST Publication
The U.S. EPA published a booklet in March 2009 celebrating the 25 years of the work it has done with its partners to protect our environment. The publication is available on the EPA website.
On the evening of May 14, severe storms rolled through south Texas producing plentiful lightning strikes. One such lightning strike ignited oil tanks at a Lamesa, TX facility at 11 p.m. Local fire-fighters were battling the blaze when, one hour later, the tanks exploded. Follow this link to access the dramatic video footage of the fire and explosion (now posted on YouTube). Fortunately, there were no casualties; however, the video attests to the importance of installing emergency venting on aboveground shop-fabricated fuel storage tanks to prevent such catastrophic failures.
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Tank Talk is published by STI/SPFA and is
available to subscribers at no charge. Please
contact STI/SPFA if you have a question about
the newsletter or its contents. Please contactreasterling@steeltank.com or call 847/438-8265,
ext. 223.
Wayne Geyer
Lorri Grainawi
Contributing Editors
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