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California Water Board

Issues Advisory on Ethanol Blend Gasoline and UST's

 

The underground storage tank section of the State Water Resources Control Board has issued an advisory to tank owners about the need to make sure that their tanks are compatible with ethanol-blend fuels. The advisory is being given now due to the gradual phase out of MTBE and its probable replacement by ethanol as an oxygenate in many fuel blends. According to the Board, gasoline supplied to some parts of California already has ethanol added at concentrations as high as 10% by volume, and some tank systems may not be compatible with such a blend. The Board advisory suggests that the compatibility of the following UST system components with ethanol-blend fuels should be "verified."

 

  • Single-wall fiberglass tanks installed prior to 1/1/1984;
     
  • Single-wall fiberglass and flexible piping installed prior to 1/1/1984;
     
  • Lining material used to line old single-wall tanks for repairs or up-grade;
     
  • Adhesives, glues, sealants, and gaskets used around the piping and other parts of the UST system (more of a concern for older systems, but may be an issue for the new installations as well if the contractor failed to use the proper material);
     
  • Pump heads and other auxiliary equipment, including certain metals (e.g. aluminum, copper, some brasses/ bronzes etc.) that come in contact with the product;
     
  • Older models of some leak detection equipment that may not operate properly or whose parts may wear out with exposure to ethanol-blend fuels.

 

The Board suggests that if an owner/operator does not have compatibility records in its files, it should ask the manufacturer for a written statement that the equipment is compatible with ethanol-blend fuels. An owner/operator should also ask for information about the maximum concentrations of ethanol to which the system can be exposed, the industry testing standard, and the testing process by which the manufacturer supports the above information. All of this information should then be retained.

Owners/operators who have trouble obtaining this information from the manufacturer in writing, can seek assistance from the local implementing agency (e.g. CUPA). Further information can be obtained from Shahla Farahnak at (916) 227-4350.