Newsletter

EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the creation of a national environmental justice and civil rights office on September 24.   The new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will merge three existing programs — the Office of Environmental Justice, External Civil Rights Compliance Office, and Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center.  According to the EPA press release, It will be tasked with providing technical assistance to communities and enforcing civil rights laws, among other duties. The objective is to infuse equity and environmental justice principles into everything the agency does.  The office will be placed at the same high level within the agency as offices that regulate air and water pollution, and like these offices, will be led by a Senate-confirmed assistant administrator. 

ILTA and its member companies are dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, efficient, and reliable storage and logistics services for bulk liquids. In July 2021, our Board of Directors adopted our organization’s first Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. One of these principles affirms our industry’s commitment to continually reviewing new technologies and procedures that might improve emissions monitoring and yield emissions reductions. 

ILTA has put this pledge into action by engaging with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a technology review of gasoline distribution equipment and facilities, focused on emissions on hazardous air pollutants. Since EPA initiated this technology review and rulemaking in Spring 2021, ILTA and its members have been in dialogue with EPA officials, providing detailed information about the proper operations of gasoline storage tanks and loading facilities.  

On September 6, 2022, EPA published its long-awaited proposed designation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The hazardous substance designation triggers a reporting requirement to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed the reportable quantity of 1 pound or more in a 24-hour period. The proposed rule is likely to impact a wide range of entities including manufacturers (including importers and importers of articles), processors, other downstream product manufacturers and users, and waste management and wastewater treatment facilities. 

For 20 years, Desiree Cromwell, Gulf Coast Region Manager at Phillips 66, has had the privilege to be a part of an industry she says provides energy and improves the lives of many people across the world.

“The energy industry has transformed the fundamental way people interact daily, which is aligned with my personal core values to make a difference,” Cromwell said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had many opportunities to grow, develop and increase my business acumen by working in several business functions at Phillips 66.”

The EPA issued a proposed rule on August 26 that would list two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA. The proposed ruling would allow the EPA to hold companies financially liable for the cleanup of these PFAS that they released into the environment. It would also require stricter reporting of any environmental releases of these PFAS that exceed the default level (one pound or more over a 24-hour period).The EPA issued a proposed rule on August 26 that would list two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) as “hazardous substances” under CERCLA. The proposed ruling would allow the EPA to hold companies financially liable for the cleanup of these PFAS that they released into the environment. It would also require stricter reporting of any environmental releases of these PFAS that exceed the default level (one pound or more over a 24-hour period).