April 12, 1999 

Jeff Crawford 

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 1 

JOHN F. KENNEDY FEDERAL BUILDING 

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETIS 02203-0001 

Bureau of Air Quality Control 

Department of Environmental Protection 

State House, Station No. 17 

Augusta, ME 04333 

Dear Mr. Crawford: 

Previously, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection 

(DEP) proposed revisions to its Chapter 111 "Petroleum Liquid 

Storage Vapor Control 11 regulation and EPA provided comments to 

DEP in a letter dated August 14, 1998. DEP subsequently 

conducted an additional 30 day public comment period on a revised 

draft of Chapter 111. EPA reviewed that draft and informed DEP, 

in a letter dated January 22, 1999, that we did not have any 

comments. 

DEP is currently conducting another 30 day public comment period 

on still another draft of Chapter 111. EPA has reviewed the 

current draft rule and does not have any comments. 

If you have any questions on this issue, please contact Anne 

Arnold at (617) 918-1047. 

Sincerely, 

<;DJ 0 

David B. Conroy, anager 

Air Quality Planning Unit 

cc: Carolyn Wheeler, ME DEP 

Internet Address (URL) • http://www.epagov 

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DEP~MENT OF ENViRONMENTAL PROTE~ON P.02/05 

06-096 

Chapter 111: :f.ETROLEUM LIQUID STORAGE VAPOR CONTROL 

1. Scope 

SUMMARY: This regulation requires all owners of fixed roof storage tanks, 

storing gasoline, crude oil or any petroleum liquid whose vapor pressure is 

greater than 1.52 psia (10.5 kilo pascals) to install floating roofs to reduce the 

hydrocarbon vapors lost to the atmosphere. 

A. This regulation shall be apPiisable applies in all ambient air quality regions of the State of 

Maine. 

B. This regulation shall apply applies to all fixed roof storage vessels with capacities greater than 

150,000 liters (39,000 gallons) containing volatile petroleum liquids whose true vapor pressure is 

greater than 10.5 kilo pascals (1.52 psia) or a Reid vapor pressure of 4 psi. Such fixed roof 

storage vessels are subject to New Source Performance Standards as of the dates specified in and 

in accordance with the requirements contained in 40 CFR, Part 60, Subparts K, Ka, and Kb. 

C. Section 5(8) of this regulation shall apply to all fixed roof storage vessels with capadties greater 

than 150,000 liters (39,000 gallons) containing volatile petroleum liquids whost~ true vapor 

pressure is greater than 1.0 psia but less than 1.52 psia. 

2. Prohibition. No owner or operator of a fixed roof storage vessel shall permit or sufft~r the usc of 

such vessels unless: · 

A. The vessels have been retrofitted with an intemal floating roof equipped with a closure seal, or 

seals, to reduce the visual space between the roof edge and tank wall; or the vessels have been 

retrofitted with equally effective alternative control as approved by the Commissi•)ner and the 

United States Environmental Protection Agency; 

B. The vessel is maintained such that there are no visible holes, tears, or other openings in the seal 

or any seal fabrir~ or materials; 

C. All openings except stub drains are equipped with covers, lids, or seals such that: 

( 1) the cover, lid, or seal is in the closed position at all times except when in actual use; aRd 

(2) automatic bleeder vents are closed at all times except when the roof is being floated off or 

being landed on the roof leg supports; and 

(3) rim vents, if provided, are set to open only when the roof is being floated off the roof leg 

supports or at the manufacturer's recommended setting; 

D. Routine visua] inspections are conducted through roof hatches once every siK (6) lll•mtRs month; 

and 

E. A complete inspection of cover and seal is soodHGted at least once iJer )'e&F perfOJ'llled at least 

once every ten (1 0} years and each time the vessel is emptied and degassed. Thes·~ inspections 
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06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

shall be conducted by visually inspecting the floating roof deck. deck fittings, and rim seals from 

within the stora&e vessel. The inspection may be performed entirely from the top side of the 

f!nating roof. as long as there is visual access to all deck components. A vessel may not be 

emptied and degassed for the purpose of performing a complete jospection between June J and 

AUflUSt 31. 

3. Emission Testing. The determination of compliance under this section may be made by visual 

inspection of the floating cover through the roof hatches by Department staff or other qualified 

representatives of the Department. The source shall be found in compliance if: 

A. The seal has no visible holes, tears, or other openings and is uniformly in place: around the 

circumference of the cover between the cover and tank well; 

B. The cover is uniformly floating on or above the liquid and there are no visible holes, tears, Of 

other openings in the surface of the cover and no liquid is accumulated on the cover; and 

C. All records are being properly maintained. 

4. Transition Schedule. The owner or operator of fixed-roof petroleum storage vessels located in Air 

Quality Control Regions lll, IV and V shall have until July 1, 1991, to comply with the requirements 

under subsection 2, paragraph A. In Air Quality Control Regions ITI, IV and V, the owner or 

operator of a fixed-roof petroleum storage vessel without a floating roof or other acceptable volatile 

organic compound emission control equipment shall adhere to the increments of progress contained 

in the fol1owing schedule and shall report to the department within 15 days of the prescrilbed deadline 

the status of compliance with the each increment of progress. 

A. Final plans for the floating roof, other necessary modifications or other acceptable volatile 

organic compound emission control equipment shall be submitted before November 1, 1989. 

B. Contracts for installation of the floating roof, other modifications or other acceptable volatile 

organic compound emission control equipment or purchase orders for component parts shall be 

issued before March I, 1990. 

C. Initiation of on-site construction or installation of acceptable volatile organic compound emission 

control equipment shall begin before July I, 1990. 

D. Final compliance shall be achieved before July I, 1991. 

5. Records 

A. The owner or operator of a fixed roof storage vessel eovefed ttH€1eF the seepe ef gove:rned by this 

regulation shall assure the following records are maintained for a minimum of two years. These 

t·ecords shall be available for inspection during normal business hours and copies shall be 

provided to the Commissioner or his representative upon request: 

(1) Reports of the results of inspections conducted under paragraphs {2)(D) and (2)(E); 

Chapter Ill: Petroleum Liquid Storage Vapor Control 

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06-096 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

(2) A record of the monthly throughput quantities and types of volatile petroleum liquids for 

each storage vessel and period of storage; and 

(3) Records of the average monthly storage temperatures and true vapor pressures of volatile 

petroleum liquids stored. 

B. The owner or operator of a fixed roof storage vessel with capacity greater than 150,000 liters 

(39,000 gallons) containing volatile petroleum liquids whose true vapor pressure is greater than 

1.0 psia but less than 1.52 psia_ shall assure the following records are maintained for a minimum 

of two years. These records shall be available for inspection during normal business hours and 

copies shall be provided to the Commissioner or his representative upon request: 

(I) Records of the average monthly storage temperatures, the type of petroleum liquid, and 

maximum true vapor pressures of volatile petr(lleum liquids stored. 

AUTHORITY: 38 M.R.S.A., Section 585, 585-A 

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 7, 1979 

Amended: September 21, 1988 

Amended: October 3, 1989 

Amended: November 3, 1990 

Amended: 

BASIS STATEMENT 

Gasoline is a hydrocarbon vapor that aids the formation of ozone in the atmosphere. It is :necessary to 

control such hydrocarbon vapors present in the ahnosphere because Maine is violating the ft~deral ozone 

ambient air quality standard. This regulation controls the maximum amount of gasoline emissions so to 

reduce the ozone formed_ 

BASIS STATEMENT FOR AMENDMENT OF AUGUST 10, 1988 

This amendment expanded the scope of the regulation to include all Ambient Air Quality Control 

Regions in the State. Uncontrolled gasoline storage terminals in the Downeast and Central Maine 

Ambient Air Quality Control Regions have been estimated as emitting over 800 tons of hydrocarbons 

annually. The use of floating roofs and vapor control systems (Chapters 111 and 112) for bulk gasoline 

terminals is considered Best Practical Treatment and will reduce emissions by about 94 percent. 

BASIS STATEMENT FOR AMENDMENT OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1989 

This amendment corrected certain minor deficiencies identified by the u_s_ Environmental Protection 

Agency in the State Implementation Plan and for consistency with State statute. The U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency also commented on requiring facilities which store more than 39,000 gallons of 

petroleum products with a true vapor pressure greater than 1.0 psi to maintain records of the average 

monthly temperature and the maximum true vapor pressure_ The Department agrees with the comment. 

Chapter 111: Petroleum Liquid Storage Vapor Control 

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06-096 

41./26 ~ 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

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This will enable the Department to determine if storage tanks storing liquids with vapor pressuTe close to 

1.52 psi are subject to the regulation. 

BASIS STATEMENT )~OR AMENDMENT OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1990 

During the 114th Session of the Maine Legislature, the Board of Environmental Protection was given the 

authority under 38 M.R.S.A. 585 and 585-A to establish and amend emission standards and n:gulations to 

implement ambient air quality standards and emission standards. This rule was amended to reflect the 

new authority under statute. No request for public hearing nor comments were received on the 

reauthorization. 

BASIS STATEMENT FOR AMENDMENT OF 

The Environmental Protection Agency requires petroleum storage vessels to be inspected every ten years. 

Decreasing the inspection frequency from annually to every ten years reduces the overall voJa,tilc organic 

compound (VOC) emissions from this activity. · 

Chapter Ill: Petroleum Liquid Storage Vapor Control 

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