HB327,
sponsored by Representative Henry Rizzo, and SB310, sponsored by Senator
Ed Quick, would extend the operation of the Fund to 2010 and give
the Board of Trustees the authority to raise the transport load fee
as needed, up to $60 per transport load (defined as 8,000 gallons).
The bills were developed by the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience
Store Association in response to the plan approved by the PSTIF Board
of Trustees last fall. Support from those in the petroleum industry
who pay the fee to finance this program, and from those tank owners,
property owners and citizens who benefit from the program, will be
crucial to passage of the bill during the 2001 legislative session.
"Hold"
on Remedial Claims Continues
Since
the Board of Trustees stopped committing funds to new remedial projects
in March 2000, an additional 159 property owners have approached the
Fund asking for money to conduct cleanups. A few of those projects
have proceeded without a funding commitment from PSTIF, but most are
waiting until funds are available. Claims costs for the period July-December
exceeded projections; thus, it is not expected that the Board of Trustees
will release any funds for new remedial projects any time soon. By
law, anyone whose project is "on hold" must be notified at least annually
of the status of their request and the estimated date that funds will
be available. Letters will be sent in March-April to all such persons.
Board
Funds MTBE Work
As a
result of increased interest in MTBE, the Missouri Legislature authorized
the PSTIF Board of Trustees to spend up to $3 million from the Fund
for costs "related to MTBE activities, includingŠ cleanup of MTBE
contaminationŠ." From July 1 through December 31, 2000, $357,809 had
been spent from this special appropriation for characterization and
cleanup of PSTIF-eligible sites where MTBE either has already contaminated
drinking water wells, or poses a threat to wells. In addition, at
its meeting in November, the Board voted to spend $36,000 on a research
project being conducted by the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR).
The project, also partially funded by DNR's Public Drinking Water
Program, will analyze the cost and effectiveness of various water
treatment methods on removing MTBE from drinking water. It is scheduled
for completion in summer 2001. The Board also agreed to spend an estimated
$162,000 on a project intended to better identify groundwater aquifers
and recharge areas which are most vulnerable to MTBE contamination.
The project involves assembling existing data on geologic features,
subsurface materials, wells, MTBE distribution, reported releases,
and other data into a layered map, developed in a Geographic Information
System (GIS) format. It is being done by the Department of Natural
Resource's Division of Geology and Land Survey, using student help
from UMR, and is scheduled for completion in fall 2002.
Interest
in Tanks
It seems
lots of people are interested in establishing standards for tank construction,
installation and operation. The American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) has a committee known as its E50 Committee that deals with
environmental issues. The E50 Committee is studying MTBE and developing
guidance on managing MTBE risk. It is also writing a "Standard Guide
for the Environmentally Sound Management of Tank Systems Storing Hazardous
Substances or Petroleum," that would apply to both USTs and ASTs.
Finally, it is drafting a "Guide for Evaluating AST Bottoms." Meanwhile,
the Steel Tank Institute recently issued a new document, titled "Standard
for Inspection of In-service Shop Fabricated Aboveground Tanks for
Storage of Combustible and Flammable Liquids." The standard was developed
at EPA's request, and includes information on inspection techniques
for all types of shop fabricated ASTs, including horizontal cylindrical,
vertical and rectangular. It addresses ASTs that rest directly on
the ground, ASTs that are elevated on supports, and both single wall
and double wall tanks. The US EPA has also recently published two
guidance documents on the proper operation of underground storage
tanks.. The bottom line is, there's certainly no dearth of information
on tanks! New NACE Method for Testing Cathodic Protection on USTs
It will come as no surprise to UST owners that the requirement to
install cathodic protection systems on unprotected steel tanks and
lines that are underground was an idea that proved to be more difficult
in practice than in theory. The recognized expert on cathodic protection
is NACE, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. When the
deadline for upgrading USTs arrived, a lot of folks looked to NACE
for guidance on how to install and test cathodic protection systems
on USTs. Unfortunately, NACE had no written methodology or advice
on how to properly monitor a cathodic protection system on underground
tanks or piping. After much discussion, NACE is expected to release
such a document soon. Titled, "Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria
for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Tank
Systems," it will contain several test methods that can be used on
UST systems. It will also describe troubleshooting procedures to use
if the cathodic protection system "fails" the test. Our view is, better
late than never. This has been a problem for UST owners for years,
and should have been addressed by EPA before the December 1998 upgrade
deadline. Thankfully, NACE is finally providing some helpful guidance.
Latest
Leaks is a newsletter of the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank
Insurance Fund.
Board
of Trustees
William
"Bart" Creech III, Chairman
Bob Abernathy, Vice Chairman
John Boehm
Sam Carter
Gary D. Collins
Neal A. Gibbons, Sr.
Ron Hooker
Robert "Bob" Jackson
Steve Mahfood
Don Shaikewitz
Katherine "Katie" Wesselschmidt
Executive
Director
Carol R. Eighmey
PO Box 836
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-522-2352
Third
Party Administrator
Williams & Company Consulting, Inc.
1-800-765-2765
Send
address changes to:
PSTIF, PO Box 104116
Jefferson City, MO 65110
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