Transport & Environment
Petrol Storage
& Distribution
Petrol is a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
which readily evaporate into the atmosphere where they contribute
to several air pollution problems. These include excessive levels
of benzene in ambient air and photochemical formation of ozone which
is both an air pollutant and a greenhouse gas.
Stage I Petrol Vapour Recovery
Directive
1994/63/EC aims to prevent emissions to the atmosphere of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) during the storage of petrol at terminals
and its subsequent distribution to service stations. The Directive
contains measures that terminals should employ such as floating
roofs and reflective coatings so as to reduce evaporative losses
from storage tanks. In addition when petrol is loaded onto tankers
and transported to service stations the directive ensures that any
vapours are recovered and returned to the tanker or terminal.
The Commission has appointed ENTEC UK Limited to undertake an assessment of the implementation of the Stage I directive in 2008 and early 2009. This will also look at the potential for simplification.
Useful links:
December 2005 - report
for the Commission on implementation challenges for new Member States
and Candidate countries.
Stage II Petrol Vapour Recovery
The Commission has adopted a new legislative proposal to ensure that petrol vapour otherise emitted to the air during refuelling of vehicles at service stations is recovered. This was adopted by the Commission on 4 December 2008 and will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and to the Council and may ultimately be adopted into Community law by the co-decision procedure.
The proposal, impact assessment, impact assessment summary and press release can be downloaded:
Useful links:
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