EPA agrees with NAFA’s recommendations

When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought feedback on biodiesel, NAFA Fleet Management Association recommended the cutoff percentage be set at B20 (twenty percent biodiesel to eighty percent petroleum diesel).

The EPA agreed with NAFA’s recommendation.

Last month, the agency presented guidelines for its parameters, requirements and storage, recognizing that B20 is more commonly used for vehicle fleets (while B5 is more commonly available at retail facilities), and that field experience with B20 has been positive.

The EPA had requested feedback on what biodiesel blend would be appropriate as a threshold. The agency sought to find out what blend level of biodiesel was the most accommodating to UST equipment, in terms of similarity to the compatibility of petroleum diesel with UST equipment.

Further, at what blend level do the known incompatibilities and the unknown risks require further assurance of compatibility?

Having established B20 as the ceiling-level percentage, the EPA issued guidance on the compatibility of underground storage tanks (UST) with diesel containing more than twenty percent biodiesel.

The established guidance is intended to assist UST owners and operators in meeting existing federal UST compatibility requirements.

To be in compliance with EPA’s UST regulations, owners and operators of UST systems storing biodiesel-blended fuels greater than twenty percent biodiesel must have compatible equipment, identified by the following: tank or internal tank lining; piping; line leak detector; flexible connectors; a drop tube; spill and overfill prevention equipment; submersible turbine pump and components; sealants, fittings, gaskets, o-rings, bushings, couplings, and boots; containment sumps; release detection floats, sensors, and probes; fill and riser caps; and product shear valve.

Fuel pump labeling and other requirements for gasoline blends containing more than ten and up to fifteen percent ethanol, known as E15, were also issued. Ethanol-blended fuels greater than ten percent ethanol must also use compatible equipment.

According to the agency, a labeling requirement is needed to help ensure that shipments of E15 and other fuels are delivered into the appropriate storage tanks at retail and fleet fueling facilities and not improperly commingled.

The new orange and black label must appear on fuel pumps that dispense E15. This label will help inform consumers about which vehicles can use E15.

This label will also warn consumers against using E15 in vehicles older than model year 2001, motorcycles, watercraft, and gasoline-powered equipment such as lawnmowers and chainsaws.

“As the premier association for fleet managers, NAFA is the legislative voice for fleet management advocacy,” said NAFA’s Executive Director, Phillip E. Russo, CAE. “Our Legislative Counsels are here to represent the concerns and views of our Members to the legislature in order to assure that fleet concerns are considered when laws and regulations are being discussed.

NAFA encourages our Members and all fleet managers to communicate regularly with lawmakers and regulators.”

NAFA is the world’s premier non-profit association for professionals who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe.