Phase Out of Vapor Recovery Systems At Gas Stations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the systems used at gas station pumps to capture gasoline vapors while refueling cars can be phased out. Modern vehicles are equipped to capture those emissions. This final rule is part of initiatives to ensure that regulations protect public health and the environment without being unnecessarily burdensome.

Beginning later this year, states may begin the process of phasing out vapor recovery systems at the pump since approximately 70% of all vehicles are equipped with on-board systems that capture these vapors. This final rule will ensure that air quality and public health are protected while potentially saving the approximately 31,000 affected gas stations located in mostly urban areas more than $3,000 each year when fully implemented.

Since 1994, gas stations in areas that do not meet certain air quality standards have been required to use gasoline vapor recovery systems. The systems capture fumes that escape from gasoline tanks during refueling. However, as required by the Clean Air Act, automobile manufacturers began installing onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) technologies in 1998, making gas stations’ systems increasingly redundant. Since 2006, all new automobiles and light trucks (pickups, vans and SUVs) are equipped with ORVR systems.

The final rule responds to public comments on EPA’s July 2011 proposal, and will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.
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Methyl Bromide Use Agreement With CDPR

U.S. EPA has entering into an agreement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) to resolve a civil rights complaint filed in 1999 under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Title VI prohibits intentional discrimination and discriminatory effects on the basis of race, color, and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. The complaint alleged that CDPR’s annual renewal of the registration of methyl bromide in 1999 discriminated against Latino school children based on the health impacts of this pesticide. The Office of Civil Rights’ analysis of pesticide use in California from 1995 to 2001, raised concerns that there was an unintentional adverse and disparate impact on Latino children resulting from the use of methyl bromide during that period. This concern was based on the high percentage of Latino children in schools near fields where methyl bromide was applied for the period from 1995-2001. EPA communicated its concerns to CDPR on April 22, 2011.

CDPR has agreed through this Agreement to expand on-going monitoring of methyl bromide air concentrations by adding a monitor at or near one of the Watsonville, CA area schools named in the original complaint. The purpose of the additional monitor is to confirm that there will be no recurrence of earlier conditions. CDPR will share the monitoring results with EPA and the public and will also increase its community outreach and education efforts to schools that are in high methyl bromide usage areas.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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EPA Approves South Coast and San Joaquin Valley PM 2.5 Plans

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve California's air quality plans for fine particles (PM2.5) in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley. These plans will reduce particulate emissions to the level required by the health based 1997 PM2.5 standard by 2015.

Over the past 10 years, PM2.5 has improved by 14% in the San Joaquin Valley and by 43% in the South Coast. Diesel mobile sources such as trucks, construction equipment and marine vessels are the largest source of PM2.5 in California. Trucks and buses account for about 40 percent of diesel emissions from all mobile sources.

In November 2010, EPA proposed to disapprove the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 air quality plans because the agency believed they relied heavily on emissions reductions from several State diesel and marine vessel rules that had not been finalized or submitted to the EPA for review. Since then, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has finalizing these rules,including the In-Use Diesel Truck and Bus rules, the Drayage Truck Rules and the Ocean Going Vessels Clean Fuels rule.

In addition, CARB has revised the plans that were originally submitted to EPA to account for the original overestimation of activity and emissions from trucks and construction equipment as well as the economic recession. As a result, future emissions are forecasted to be lower and fewer emissions reductions are needed to meet the standard. For the San Joaquin Valley, the effect is that about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to the recession and about 18% fewer reductions are needed because of better emissions estimates. For the South Coast, about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to the recession and about 5% fewer reductions are needed due to better emissions estimates.

However, EPA is proposing to disapprove the plans’ contingency measures because the agency believes they do not provide sufficient emissions reductions. EPA is continuing to work with the State to demonstrate and deploy near zero emitting technologies.

The proposed actions will be published in the Federal Register and will include a 30-day public comment period from the date of publication

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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California Toxic Release Inventory TRI Reporting Summary 2009

Toxics managed, treated or released into the environment from facilities operating in California decreased by 14% in 2009 when compared to 2008, according to the latest data available from the U.S. EPA. The 6 million pound decline reflects reported decreases in air, water, and land disposals, releases and off-site transfers. California releases were better than the national average, where there was a 12% decrease in total reported releases into the environment from 2008 to 2009. The number of facilities reporting chemical releases decreased 7% nationally.

Data from 2009 in California shows:

• Total reported on-site and off -site disposals and releases decreased 21% due primarily to decreases across all media—air, water and land releases and off-site transfers, with the exception of an increase in underground injections
• Air releases decreased by 25% (3.2 million pounds)
• Water releases decreased by 24% (523,491 pounds)
• California reported an increase in underground injection releases of 267% (279,802 pounds since 2008)
• The top five released chemicals are lead, zinc and zinc compounds, ammonia, and asbestos.
• In California, 7 million pounds of total releases of persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs) were reported, a 16% decrease or 1.3 million pounds. Lead and lead compounds top the list.
  

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients in California in the preparation of EPCRA 313 Toxic Release Inventory reports, developing chemical tracking procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

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California GHG Permit Program Update Required

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with its plan to require certain states to update their Clean Air Act implementation plans to cover greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These updates are required to ensure that beginning in January 2011 the largest industrial GHG emissions sources can receive permits. This action is part of EPA’s “Tailoring Rule”.

California is one of 13 states that EPA has identified need to make changes to their plans, allowing them to issue permits that include GHG emissions. These states include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.

The Clean Air Act requires states to develop EPA-approved implementation plans that include requirements for issuing air permits. When federal permitting requirements change, as they did after EPA finalized the GHG tailoring rule, states may need to modify these plans.

In January 2011, industries that are large emitters of GHGs, and are planning to build new facilities or make major modifications to existing ones, will work with permitting authorities to identify and implement the most efficient control technologies to minimize their GHGs. This includes the largest GHG emitters, such as power plants, refineries and cement production facilities. Emissions from small sources are not covered by these GHG permitting requirements.

Related links:
Proposed EPA GHG Tailoring Rule

Additional background on greenhouse gas GHG permitting requirements

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website