Module 3: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol-Blended Fuels

Objective Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to describe how ethanol-blended fuels are transported and transferred and where the most likely points for error in these actions will exist.

Introduction Essential to quickly & effectively identify presence of ethanol / ethanol-blended fuels at scene of incident Can be challenging because containers in which ethanol is transported not always clearly marked Steps taken to ensure incidents managed effectively

Transportation and Placarding Gasoline & ethanol-blended fuels transported in same general types of containers & tanks MC-306 / DOT-406 Multiple sizes & compartment configurations Local transportation issues Copyright 2006, TEEX/ESTI

Standard MC-306 / DOT-406 Duel axle Capacity: 6,000–9,500 gallons Custom built 3/8 inch aluminum 1–7 compartments Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission

Heavy Duty MC-306 / DOT-406 Tri-axle Capacity: 9,500–15,000 gallons Custom built 1–7 compartments Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission

Michigan-Style MC-306 / DOT-406 Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission Multiple axles Capacity: 13,800 gallons Custom built 5 compartments

Truck and Pull MC-306 / DOT-406 Truck tank: Capacity: 4,000–6,000 gallons 1–4 compartments Trailer tank: Capacity: 4,000–8,500 gallons 1–5 compartments Custom built Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission

Military Refueler Low profile Capacity: 5,000 gallons Single compartment Built to military specifications Air transportable Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission

Transportation and Placarding DOT: Classifies according to primary danger Assigns standardized symbols to identify classes Ethanol & ethanol-fuel blends are flammable liquids Reprinted from the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook, http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/gydebook.htm Copyright ERG

Transportation and Placarding Flammable tanker placards: Lower ethanol concentrations up to & including E-10 (E-01 to E-10) blended fuels: UN 1203 E-85 (E-11 to E-94) blended fuels: UN 3475 E-95, E-98 (E-95 to E-99) blended fuels: UN / NA 1987 E-100: UN 1170 Reprinted from the DOT Emergency Response Guidebook, http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/gydebook.htm Copyright ERG

Transportation and Placarding October 1, 2008: U.S. DOT, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued final rule creating a new proper shipping name & placard for ethanol-blended fuels with a percentage higher than 10% but lower than 95% (E-11 to E-94)

Ethanol Proper Shipping Names Ethanol Concentration Preferred Proper Shipping Name E-1 to E-10 Gasohol (UN 1203) or Gasoline (UN 1203) E-11 to E-94 Ethanol & gasoline mixture (UN 3475) E-95 to E-99 Denatured alcohol (NA 1987) or Alcohols n.o.s. (UN 1987) E-100 Ethanol (UN 1170) or Ethyl alcohol (UN 1170)

Transportation and Placarding April 22, 2009: EPA received a waiver to lift arbitrary regulatory cap on ethanol from a 10% blend of ethanol to a 15% blend of ethanol in our gas supply; must approve / disapprove by December 1, 2009 Current cap dates back to 1970s If approved, DOT-PHMSA will decide placarding; current debate is to placard pure hydrocarbon gasoline with UN 1203 & E-1 to E-94 ethanol-blended fuels with placard UN 3475

Transportation and Placarding DOT 111 rail car: Non-pressure general tank car Current maximum capacity 34,500 gallons Copyright 2009, IAFC

Transportation and Placarding Rail tanks identified similarly Pressure & vacuum relief devices same as currently found on gasoline-style transport tankers Bottom loaded & unloaded by standard 4-inch quick connect / direct connections

Transportation and Placarding Valving internal to tanks with breakaway piping & remote shut-off controls Vapor recovery systems same as currently found on roadway gasoline tankers

Standard Non-Pressure Tank Top Fittings Arrangement — Valves Copyright 2009, IAFC

Standard Non-Pressure Tank Top Fittings Arrangement — Manway Copyright 2009, IAFC

Standard Non-Pressure Tank Bottom Outlet Valve Arrangement Copyright 2009, IAFC

Transportation and Placarding Most fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) transported by rail: Some by waterway & very small amounts by pipeline Pipeline concern: corrosiveness pH between 5 & 6 (slightly corrosive) Storage depots with no access to rail receive it by road tankers: Trans-loading

Transportation and Placarding NFPA 704 diamond: Uses colors, numbers, & special symbols to indicate presence of hazardous materials Higher number = greater hazard

NFPA 704 Diamond Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Transportation and Placarding NFPA 704 diamond: Health: Blue Flammability: Red Reactivity: Yellow Special: White (special notice)

Transportation and Placarding NFPA diamond for E-100, E-98, E-95, E-85, & E-10 (gasoline): 1: Blue health square: slight to moderate irritation 0: Reactivity yellow square 3: Flammability red square: high flammability with ignition likely under most conditions No commonly accepted special character (white)

NFPA Diamond for E-100, E-95, E-85, and Gasoline Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

Transportation and Placarding Most hazardous materials incidents occur during transportation & transfer operations Be aware of areas / routes where large shipments of ethanol & ethanol-blended fuels routinely pass Fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) now leading single hazardous material transported by rail Some refineries now shipping fuel fully blended

Transportation and Placarding Most of Midwest & other ethanol production facilities have access to rail sidings, many bulk storage fuel depots do not have rail sidings: Much of the fuel-grade ethanol is trans-loaded to tanker trucks for distribution to bulk storage facilities via highways

Transportation and Placarding Placards able to indicate high-concentration ethanol-blended fuels: Does not distinguish between gasoline & E-10 gasohol E-10 requires AR foam for emergency response

Transportation and Placarding TRANSCAER: Voluntary effort Founded by Union Pacific & Dow Chemical Members Resources may include:

Activity 3.1 — Ethanol Spill Emergency Purpose: To allow participants to determine the hazards associated with an ethanol emergency.

Summary Variety of sources for information about chemicals involved in spill / fire incidents: MSDS UN numbers DOT placards NFPA 704 placards Fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) become leading hazardous material transported by rail: Transfer commonly occurs via highways