MAY 2018                                   Volume 33, Number 2
Steel and Fuel Compatibility Top
The NREL is reaching out to steel tank manufacturers to share information on a new gasoline blend additive, isobutanol. Oak Ridge Laboratories has researched its compatibility with steel and other materials, details can be read here.  State regulatory agencies such as AZ DEQ, are concerned with aging tanks, and the tanks ability to store fuels in the future, and after years of service storing yesterday's petroleum fuels, and today's biofuels. AZ DEQ recently inspected the inside of 79 underground storage tanks located at AZ school systems. 

Tank conditions were graded, with a few of the photos from that study included here.  These two seemingly unrelated topics are tied together in a short article discussing fitness of service with motor vehicle fuels of yesterday, today, and tomorrow in the downstream market. Read the full article...
ASTSWMO EFTF State Compatibility Compendium
The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) EFTF State Compatibility Compendium provides information on which states have UST tanks with an average age over 20 years old. Click on the image below to discover statistics for different states. 


2017 Product Award Winners
Winners were recognized in 14 product categories for the 2017 Steel Fabricated Product of the Year Award during the STI/SPFA annual meeting in Chandler, Arizona. There were 64 entries, a record number, from STI/SPFA member companies for the 2017 Product Awards. Winners of the Steel Water Pipe awards were previously announced in a release on February 6, 2018. The entries utilized a total of 33,037 tons of steel. More information on the award winners can be found here  

The Aging Tank Population and Financial Responsibility - "How Old is Too Old"
By: Keith Cannon - CEI Environmental Insurance

It's been over 30 years since the EPA's underground storage tank (UST) requirements (40 CFR Part 280) were first promulgated, and 20 years since the final compliance deadline of December 22, 1998. During the ten-year phase-in period, a majority of the nation's USTs were upgraded (replaced or retrofitted) to meet the new construction and leak detection standards. Now, over a quarter century later, we are facing new emerging risks and compliance issues surrounding the nation's aging tank population and changes in the industry.

Figure 1 presents 2015 information on the average ages of the underground tanks in eight states. Fifty-nine percent of the tanks in these states are more than 20 years old. Seventy-nine percent are less than 30 years old and less than 1% are older than 50 years.
In October 2015, the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) published a report entitled "An Analysis of UST System Infrastructure in Select States". The report attempted to ascertain how aging tanks might pose a higher risk of leaks for insurance companies, state tank funds and other financial responsibility (FR) mechanisms. While the work group's report presented great information regarding the average age of USTs (and piping), there was no conclusive data that could be used to predict at what age a storage tank might present an increased risk of failure. The report admittedly raised more questions than it provided answers. 
Read more...

STI/SPFA Awards Hall of Fame Recipients
On April 14, Charles A. Frey Jr., Vice President of Highland Tank and Manufacturing and Rich Horn, Regional Sales Manager, Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I), were presented with the Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI/SPFA) Hall of Fame Award during the 2018 Annual Meeting in Chandler, Arizona. STI/SPFA's Hall of Fame Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the organization. Read more...  

Mike Stateczny, CEO of New Castle Stainless Plate Gives Testimony Before Section 301 Committee
On May 15, Mike Stateczny testified on behalf of CEEM before the Section 301 Committee in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the hearing was to discuss whether certain finished products should be included on the list of goods for increased tariffs on China.  

Fuel in the News
Three New Staff Join STI/SPFA to Fill Retirement Voids
STI/SPFA is pleased to announce three new team members to their staff in Lake Zurich, IL.  The staff additions fill voids as a result of retirements, completed and upcoming.
 
In August 2017 David Reed joined the STI/SPFA staff as Controller. Katie Bruce started in March 2018 as Communications Manager and Steve Pollock is transitioning into the role as Manager of Technical Services. Pollock, the association's newest addition will replace Lorri Grainawi. Grainawi will retire in late June after 28 years with the organization. Read more...


IN THIS ISSUE
Steel and Fuel Compatibility
UST Average Age in US
2017 Product Award Winners
Aging Tank Population
STI/SPFA Hall of Fame
Testimony by Mike Stateczny
Fuel in the News
New Staff Join STI/SPFA
STI/SPFA By the Numbers
Utah PST Loan Fund Changes

Have you been thinking about removing or replacing your old tanks or performing an upgrade on your UST system? Consider a loan from the State PST Loan Fund. More details...
Find all the right resources on the STI/SPFA website.
KEEP THE WATER OUT!
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Tank Talk is provided without representations or warranties, express or implied.  In particular, STI/SPFA does not warrant the accuracy of information presented from external sources. 

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