Changes Coming at Chicago Area Gas Pumps

June 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Pacific, MO – Motorists in the Chicago area may be in for a change at the gas pump. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that Stage II vapor recovery systems, in place for two decades and designed to keep gas vapors from escaping into the atmosphere when you fill up, are no longer required. As a result, the Illinois EPA will hold a public hearing June 5, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Room N-505, Chicago, IL on a proposal to phase out the Stage II systems at gasoline dispensing facilities in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area beginning in 2014.

http://www.ipcb.state.il.us/COOL/external/CaseView.aspx?referer=results&case=14584

The proposal affects approximately 2,420 gas stations in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, Aux Sable and Goose Lake townships in Grundy County, and Oswego Township in Kendall County.

The Illinois EPA has determined that allowing Stage II requirements to be phased out will not result in increased emissions and proposes that on January 1, 2014 new gasoline stations will not be required to install Stage II equipment. Also on that date, existing gas stations with Stage II equipment may begin to decommission Stage II systems and complete the process no later than December 31, 2016.

The U.S. EPA ruled last year that Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery Systems (ORVR), technology in all new vehicles sold since 2006 that captures gas vapors during refueling, are in widespread use and effectively render Stage II systems obsolete. In addition, the Illinois EPA found 86 percent of Stage II systems in the Chicago nonattainment area are incompatible with ORVR, which causes the emission reduction benefits of the two systems acting together to be less than the emission reduction from either system alone.

Husky Corporation, the industry leader in developing innovative fuel nozzles, safe-t-breaks, and accessories, has developed a preassembled solution so fuel marketers can easily decommission Stage II systems. Husky’s EZ Connect allows fuel marketers to replace the old hose assembly in one step with high quality conventional hardware components that are professionally assembled and which surpass factory inspections for pressure, continuity, and thread conformity to assure safety and top performance.

http://husky.com/husky/ez-connect/decommissioning  

“Since Husky is the only company that manufactures all the components needed to decommission Stage II systems, customers asked us to develop this professionally assembled package to make the decommissioning project as easy as possible,” said Husky Corporation Executive Vice President Brad Baker.

For consumers, some Stage II nozzles are bulky and less flexible than their conventional equivalent. For fuel marketers, they are complex, expensive to maintain and more prone to failure than conventional systems.

“Approval will be needed to decommission Stage II systems. So it’s a good idea for fuel marketers to be proactive in planning to replace them,” Baker said.

Decommissioning involves properly shutting down the Stage II equipment that collects gas vapor and transfers it to the underground storage tanks.  Fuel marketers are advised to check with the proper agency in their region to learn about the status of the Stage II vapor recovery program.

Regulations require facilities to decommission their entire existing Stage II system by following the applicable steps listed in the Petroleum Equipment Institute’s Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle-Fueling Sites, PE/RP300-09, Section 14, Decommissioning Stage II Vapor Recovery Piping. All Stage II hanging hardware must be replaced with conventional hanging hardware.

Link to PEI Vapor Recovery Resource Document (http://www.pei.org/Portals/0/resources/documents/RP/PEI%2...)

Contact Husky Corporation toll-free at 800-325-3558 or at the Husky Corporation web site (http://www.husky.com/ez-connect) for more information.

About Husky Corporation: A Breed Apart
For 65 years, Husky Corporation has served as a trustworthy guide, developing breakthrough, American-made fuel nozzles, safe-t-breaks, and accessories, plus relentlessly providing the most dependable customer service in the industry. Headquartered in Pacific, Missouri (in the metro St. Louis area), Husky is committed to provide petroleum-dispensing products that meet or exceed our customer’s expectations and reinforce the fact that we are a reliable partner that is with our valued clients every step of the way. Husky continues to grow its reputation as a special-breed innovator with an acquisition strategy designed to add more products and services worthy of the Husky name. In addition to our legendary line of nozzles for vapor recovery, conventional fueling, truck and high volume, farm and commercial, and convenience stores, we now feature curb and farm hoses, oil lube products, plus aviation hoses.