PMAA, NATSO, NACS and FMI Request UST Compliance Testing Delay

On June 20, PMAA, along with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO), requested a short delay in the 2015 UST final rule compliance deadline for the testing of sumps, spill buckets and overfill prevention devices until October 13, 2024. The associations argued, “In light of the 10-year compliance period provided by OUST for the initial 1988 UST upgrade requirements, we believe a six-year deadline extension for the specific UST equipment mentioned above is both reasonable and necessary for small business UST operators to adequately comply in an orderly manner.” Click here to read the letter.

“This letter represents a unified front among our associations which demonstrates that delaying the compliance deadline for these specific UST system components is necessary to help small business petroleum marketers,” said PMAA President Rob Underwood. Late last year, PMAA sent a letter to the EPA asking for the delay. Click here to read the letter.

Earlier this month, members of the U.S. Senate sent a bipartisan letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt requesting that the compliance deadline in the 2015 underground storage tank amendments for containment sumps, spill buckets and overfill prevention equipment operability testing be delayed until October 13, 2024. The letter was led by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). Meanwhile, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee spearheaded by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) also sent their own letter. PMAA supported both letters which would allow tank owners and operators adequate time to acquire the capital needed to pay for the compliance costs associated with the initial testing requirements.

Click here to read the House letter and here to read the Senate letter.