1. Module 3: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol-Blended Fuels

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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,
Copyright ERG

11. 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,
Copyright ERG

12. 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)

13. 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)

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

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

21. 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

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

23. NFPA 704 Diamond
Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

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

25. 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)

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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

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

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

32. 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