Spill and Overfill Prevention

Alaska

Spring 2004

The Basics

Spill Prevention Device

Overfill Prevention Device

A Caution about Ball Float Valves and Alarms

Fuel Deliveries

Periodic Maintenance

18 AAC 78.040

Spill and Overfill Control. (a) To prevent spilling and overfilling associated with the transfer of petroleum to a UST, the owner or operator of a UST system shall, subject to (e) of this section, use the following spill and overfill prevention equipment.

(1) spill prevention equipment, such as a spill catchment basin, that will prevent release of the petroleum to the environment when the transfer hose is detached from the fill pipe; and

(2) overfill prevention equipment that will (A) automatically shut off flow into the tank

when the tank is no more than 95 percent full; or

(B) alert the transfer operator when the tank is no more than 90 percent full by restricting the flow into the tank or by triggering a high-level alarm.

Spill Prevention Device

See Operation Inspection Form, Section 4a Spill Device

Spill Bucket – required (#1)

Bucket clean and free of debris and water. (#2)

Bucket has no cracks or holes. (#3)

Periodic Maintenance

A spill bucket full of water, fuel or junk is the second-most common operational violation in Alaska.A spill bucket full is not really a spill bucket.Cleanout your buckets periodicallyADEC recommends spring and fall.Check seal around bucket lid.

Overfill Device Options

Overfill Alarm set at 90%

Overfill Shut-Off set at 95%

Ball Float Valve set at 95%

A Caution about Overfill Alarms

Operators tend to silence them

Or ignore them

Probes can go bad

Alarms might not be situated where the driver can see or hear them.

Vent Restriction Devices

Vent restriction devices are also called “ball-float valves”

The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) added language in 2000 that highlights the incompatibility of ball float valves with certain UST applications and issued warnings.See PEI/RP 100-2000, 6.3.3 Vent Restriction Devices

A Caution about Ball Float Valves

May actually cause an overfill

Incompatible withSuction PipingRemote FillsPressurized DeliveriesEmergency Generators

Emergency GeneratorsPEI/RP 100-2000 edition, Page 13, Section 6.3.3 issues this warning:

A vent restriction device should not be installed on emergency generator or heating oil tanks.

ADEC decided to adopt this restriction to prevent overfills with 18 AAC 78.040(e).

Spill and Overfill Control - 18 AAC 78.040 (e)

If a UST system has one or more of the following, the owner or operator of the system shall not use a ball float valve or vent restrictor shut-off device on that system:

(1) A tank that receives a pumped delivery(2) Suction piping with air eliminators(3) Remote fill pipes and gauge openings(4) An emergency generator

Vent Restriction Devices & Emergency Generators

Vent restriction devices should not be installed on emergency generator or heating oil tanks. The reason is that typically, these tanks are filled by the gravity method.  So, when the vent restriction device (ball-float valve) closes it creates a static head from the transport/fuel oil or heating oil delivery truck and forces product up the suction line. The liquid is seeking the same level as that in the transport. For more information, contact PEIBYoung@pei.org

Fuel Deliveries

Owners and Operators must ensure the following: the tank is measured immediately before

each delivery to make sure there is enough room in the tank

the entire transfer is monitoredoverfills do not occur if overfills do occur, they are reported and

cleaned up.

Fuel Delivery Checklist

Post the DEC checklist.

“What To Do Before, During and After a Fuel Delivery.”

A copy of this checklist is in your packet.