WASHINGTON, DC�The US Environmental Protection Agency has launched a program, the Storage Tank Emission Reduction Partnership, to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from above-ground petroleum and organic liquid storage tanks.
Developed in cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute, the program targets VOC emissions from slotted guide poles, used to prevent the roof from rotating and to sample tank contents.
EPA said a single guide pole can emit more than 10 tons/year of smog-causing VOCs, roughly equal to the emissions from 380 cars and trucks. The agency previously said slotted guide poles have observable emission pathways that violate federal new source standards under the Clean Air Act.
Under the program, EPA will not assess penalties against companies that install controls on the guide poles. They must elect to join the program by June 12 and file a standard participation agreement by Dec. 11.
