UST Compliance Violations Cost Chevron More than $25 Million

“This area of litigation is a very unique, complicated area of litigation,” Scully said. ......” It was a long-term investment.”

This is a quote from Sacramento County, CA district attorney Jan Scully following her victory in prosecuting a UST compliance litigation against Chevron and Shell and receiving a settlement of over $25 million dollars.  The lawsuit, alleging damages to groundwater from MTBE from 580 stations across Sacramento County, was first initiated in 2003.  As state coffers dwindle in these challenging economic times, this type of “investment” strategy is expected to provide a blueprint for similar actions by state and local governments across the country.

While Chevron admitted no fault in the groundwater contamination claim, Scully’s complaint alleged a laundry list of violations, such as failure to perform monthly tests, maintain records, and a number of other UST compliance deficiencies which could have easily been prevented if the Fuel-View UST management system from Synergy Environmental, Inc. had been in place.

Want to make sure you’re protected?  For a free consultation with one of our UST experts and a demonstration of how Fuel-View can help you avoid Chevron’s fate, CONTACT US
We can also provide a complete copy of the settlement agreement if you wish to read it for yourself.

Autumn Sessions for UST Operator Training announced - October 20th - November 17th - December 15th

Synergy has announced session dates for our UST Operator Training Class for the remainder of 2011.  See information below for details:

Synergy Environmental, Inc. and Tanksurance have developed one of the first training courses certified by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection for UST Operator Training.  We hope you are able to attend one of our courses soon.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedures. The class satisfies this requirement.

Details of the courses being offered are listed below:
Class A and B Operator Training -
3 hour interactive classroom instruction
Registration is open NOW – choose from any of the following dates:
A) Thursday, October 20th -    9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
B) Thursday, November 17th -    9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
C) Thursday, December 15th - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Registration cost - $225 (Discounts available for multiple company personnel)

Course Location:
Synergy Environmental, Inc.

155 Railroad Plaza
Royersford, PA 19468

For directions: http://www.synergyenvinc.com/index.php/contact/

Register via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or by phone: (717) 303 - 3065

Please indicate the preferred date in your email, along with contact information.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at your training session.

New Spill Plan (SPCC) Requirements - What Facility Buyers Need to Know

An SPCC Plan is a Federal (US EPA)  regulatory requirement for certain oil storage facilities.  The facility need not be in the business of distributing petroleum, it may in fact be a golf course, educational facility, or a family farm, or any number of other types with oil storage on premises. 

The historical distinguishing feature of a facility which determines a requirement for an SPCC plan are:

-  individual on site oil storage container size greater than or equal to 55 gallons
- aggregrate above ground capacity of greater than 1320 gallons of oil
-  and/or 42,000 gallons of underground volume (only if not otherwise regulated as a UST)*

*as an example, a facility has 3 - 15,000 gallon UNDERGROUND tanks that contain heating oil for consumptive use.  These tanks are not regulated as underground storage tanks, so therefore the facility would be required to have an SPCC plan.

Beginning in November of 2011 ,  some major changes take effect which will affect facility operators’ SPCC requirements.

1) All underground storage tanks as well as above ground tanks must be included in the facility drawing.  This applies whether your UST’s are reportable under the SPCC plan or not.  In other words, while regulated UST’s don’t necessarily create an SPCC requirement, if a plan is required (for the reasons stated above), then all UST’s must be depicted in the facility drawing.  The purpose for this is so that emergency responders can be made aware of all bulk storage in critical situations by referencing the SPCC diagram.

2)  Facilities are no longer automatically required to have a third party professional engineer prepare the SPCC plans.  If a facility has not had a reportable release in two years,  the owner can self perform or designate their own representative to prepare a plan, according to the somewhat precscriptive SPCC guidelines.

SPCC regulations can be confusing, and you may still be unclear about whether you need one our not.  For a free evaluation of your SPCC needs, feel free to Contact Synergy

UST Class A and B Operator Training Classes offered - Spring 2011

Synergy Environmental, Inc. and Tanksurance have developed one of the first training courses certified by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection for UST Operator Training.  We hope you are able to attend one of our courses soon.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedures. The class satisfies this requirement.

Details of the courses being offered are listed below:
Class A and B Operator Training -
3 hour interactive classroom instruction
Registration is open NOW – choose from any of the following dates:
A) Thursday, March 24th - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
B) Thursday, April 21st   - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
C) Thursday, May 26th   - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Registration cost - $225 (Discounts available for multiple company personnel)

Course Location:
Synergy Environmental, Inc.

155 Railroad Plaza
Royersford, PA 19468

For directions: http://www.synergyenvinc.com/index.php/contact/

Register via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or by phone: (717) 303 - 3065

Please indicate the preferred date in your email, along with contact information.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at your training session.

Cold Weather Operations - Synergy’s Practical Recommendations for Working Outdoors

Brian Loughnane, field staff manager at Synergy Environmental, offers this set of practical recommendations for Synergy’s staff and subcontractors, which applies universally to any environmental contractor working in cold weather: 

People get cold – bring the appropriate clothing, dress in layers, cover your head, feet, hands appropriately.  Monitor each other and yourself for impacts from the cold. 

Remember water freezes – decon water freezes if left out in the truck, groundwater pumped into carbon vessels left out overnight freezes inside the vessel,

Remember samples freeze – on extremely cold days you need to protect the Bottleware.  Remember it should be at 4 C when arriving at the lab.  Frozen bottles pop and leak.  Not good.  Don’t leave samples outside overnight.

Cold saps batteries – left out overnight batteries die quickly: plan for it.  Phones die quickly if not recharged more frequently.

Vehicles slip on ice and snow – don’t be in a rush, drive defensively, keep both hands on the wheel, beware black ice, be prepared to make alternate plans if weather conditions require.

Vehicle windshields ice up – make sure you have an ice scraper and vehicle is supplied with deicing fluid.  Don’t drive until the windshield is totally defrosted.  DO NOT POUR HOT WATER ON A VERY COLD WINDSHIELD.

Trucks/vehicles handle differently in ice and snow – rear wheeling in snow is not good.  Use the 4-wheel drive, drive with a speed adapted to the conditions.  Plan your driving to account for the slower or delayed traffic.

Monitoring wells get hidden under snow – plan for it: how will you locate wells hidden under a little snow?  Use a shovel to get the snow out of the way, use a magnetometer, call ahead and ask if the site was plowed, all are good ideas.  Groundwater Monitoring Wells get stuck under ice – before you head to the site, consider how you are going to pop that lid?  Do you have a hammer or sledge?  Something to pry with? 

Plows sometimes destroy Flushmounts – if you find a damaged flushmount let you PM know immediately.  It will need to be repaired ASAP.

Don’t leave vehicles idling excessively – can’t sample around exhaust (vehicle exhaust can impact samples), remember excessive idling increases the wear on the engine . 
Locks freeze – have a small can of deicer ready if you need it.  Many locks freeze - Vehicle locks, MW locks, Remediation System locks, etc..

The Deadline is Looming - Are Your UST Operators Ready?

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedures. 

Synergy Environmental, Inc.  and Tanksurance have developed one of the first training courses certified by Pennsylania’s Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)  for UST Operator Training.  Reciprocal acceptance of the course for certification in NJ, NY, and MD is currently under review.  Some details of the course being offered are listed below.

Class A and B Operator Training - from Synergy/Tanksurance
3 hour interactive classroom instruction, morning and afternoon classes offered.
Registration cost - $225.  Discounts for multiple company personnel.

Registration is open now - sign up today:

Thursday, January 20th -  9:00 AM   or   1:00 PM
Thursday, February 17th -  9:00 AM   or   1:00 PM
Thursday, March 24th   -  9:00 AM   or   1:00 PM

Course Location:
Synergy Environmental, Inc.
155 Railroad Plaza
Royersford, PA 19468
for directions: http://www.synergyenvinc.com/index.php/contact/

Register via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or by phone: (484) 369-2007

For further information contact:

Bob May, PE                               Tim Donnellon, PE,  CPCU
Synergy Environmental, Inc.                Tanksurance
(484) 369 - 2007                             (717) 393 -3065
     
www.synergyenvinc.com               www.tanksurance.com

Synergy and Petroleum Equity form Strategic Alliance

ROYERSFORD, PA and CHAPPAQUA, NY - (October 11, 2010)

Synergy Environmental, Inc.  and Petroleum Equity Group, Ltd., have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to establish a seamless acquisition financing and due diligence service package for buy side retail petroleum distributors.  The announcement was made on October 7, 2010 from the floor of the Georgia World Congress Center during the 2010 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) in Atlanta, GA.

According to Ken Shriber, Managing Director of Petroleum Equity Group, a full service financial and advisory firm,  “The key driver for this alliance is to service the very real needs of our fuel jobber clients.  As they seek to expand their businesses through strategic acquisitions, they have dual needs.  They must identify and value the opportunity, and minimize their acquisition costs which include environmental analysis, testing, and evaluation. Combining the services of financial analysis, environmental due diligence, and the development of financing, insurance and risk management solutions for our buy side clients provides them with a powerful tool for achieving their growth plans and protecting their interests.  We are now a one stop shop for acquisition support in the retail/wholesale gas and c-store/service station sector.” 

Brian FitzPatrick, President of Synergy Environmental, noted, ” at Synergy, we have been helping our clients acquire gasoline station portfolios for 7 years now.  Over the years we have developed a number of methods to improve efficiencies in what we do.  We believe this alliance with Petroleum Equity Group will be another huge step forward in enabling our clients to evaluate and complete transactions in the years to come.”

Specific services available from the Synergy/Petroleum Equity alliance include the following:

Pre-Transaction Services

Financial due diligence to enable informed negotiation for buyers

Analysis of value of environmental liabilities; including site assessment/ document review and development of remedial work plans as needed, and assessing availability of reimbursement funds from public sources and/or private insurance policies

Continuing Operational Services

Financial advisory services and Insurance brokerage to collateralize environmental risk,  fulfill regulatory financial responsibility requirements, as well as ongoing business needs for insurance

Facility and environmental management for UST compliance, inventory, and delivery management using our proprietary web based system, Fuel-View.

For further information:

Tim Donnellon
Business Development Manager                                                                                                        
Synergy Environmental, Inc.                                              .
(717) 393 - 3065     .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)                                             
www.synergyenvinc.com  

Ken Shriber
Managing Director
Petroleum Equity Group, Ltd
(917) 882 - 2702     .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.petroleumequitygroup.com