Impacts of recent environmental regulations on pipeline systems
- ERM-Southwest, Inc., Metairie, LA (United States)
In recent years pipeline facilities have been subjected to an increasing variety of interpretations by state and regional agencies concerning agency jurisdiction over the regulation of environmental activities at breakout tanks, pump stations, and terminals. The focus of agency interpretation is not on the pipelines themselves, but on loading and unloading activities and on auxiliary tankage. Loading and unloading activities can be to truck, railcar or barge. Tanks are used in a variety of pipeline operations. Tanks are used to collect from gathering lines and transport to a refinery. Tanks can be used to gather and offload to a truck, railcar or vessel. Other tanks are receipt for unloading by ship or barge, which is then transferred by pipeline to a refining or distribution facility. Pipelines, like other industries, were regulated solely by a single agency prior to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Until recently, pipelines and their connecting tankage were regulated as transportation facilities under the Department of Transportation (DOT). Although the prevention of pollution of surface water by oil and petroleum products is one of the earliest environmental regulations, dating back to 1970, most of the pipeline facilities remained exempt from most environmental regulation by EPA until very recently. Within the last decade, and accelerating within the last five years, pipeline facilities have been increasingly affected by several burgeoning environmental regulations. A summary of the effects and consequences, as well as suggestions for avoiding unnecessary regulation, are presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 176024
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950152-; TRN: IM9606%%167
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Petro-Safe `95 conference and exhibition, Houston, TX (United States), 31 Jan - 2 Feb 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Petro-Safe `95: 6. Annual environmental, safety and health conference and exhibition for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. Book 2: Pipelines, terminals and storage `95 and Reformulated fuels `95 conference papers; PB: 310 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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