Gregory J. Wilson
U.S. EPA - Office of Emergency Management
Washington, DC 20460 wilson.gregory@epa.gov
Regional Response Team 2
West Point, New York
April 7, 2009

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Energy Policy Act of 2005
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Biofuel mandates increase from 4 bgy (2006) to 7.5 bgy (2012).
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Requires EPA to promulgate regulations implementing a renewable fuel program.
Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) (2007)
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Expand use of renewable fuels to 36 billion gallons per year (bgy) by 2022
Ethanol production from corn starch is capped at 15 bgy
Cellulosic Biofuel (renewable fuel from any cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin)
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0.5 billion gallons by 2012
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3 billion gallons by 2015
16 billion gallons by 2022
Advanced Biofuels (biomass-based diesel, other biofuels)
2

Feedstock
Production
Feedstock
Logistics
Biofuels
Production
Biofuels
Distribution
Biofuels
End Use
Ag Crops
Ag Residues
Energy
Crops
Forest
Residues
Wastes
Algae
Harvesting &
Collecting
Storage
Pre-
Processing
Transportation
Fuel types
Biochemical
Conversion
Thermochemical
Conversion
Biological
Conversion
Chemical
Conversion
Distribution by barge, truck, rail, pipeline
Storage in tanks
Dispensing
Transportation fuels in light & heavy duty vehicles & trucks, Off -
Road vehicles,
Locomotives, Flight technologies,
Boats/Ships
Power & Generators
Chemical Feedstocks for Manufacturing
3

Ethanol Production (supply) – Coastal Consumers (demand)

Oil Field
Production
Pipeline/Vessel
Animal Fat / Vegetable Oil (AFVO) Traditional
Petroleum Refinery
Company
AFVOs
Generator
Terminal
Dealers
Railcar
Biorefinery
Ethanol/biodiesel
Pipelines (under development)
Denatured Fuel Ethanol/Vessels
Denaturant
Railcar
Transloading Truck
Pipeline
Blending
Terminal
Dealer
Biodiesel
Wholesale/Jobber
Consumer
Company
Vessels with Crude
Petroleum Oil as Cargo
Vessels (barges) with
Petroleum Products as Cargo
Dealer

http://www.card.iastate.edu/research/bio/tools/ethanol.aspx
as of 01/16/2008

Grain (Corn)
Cleaning and
Milling
Mash
Preparation
Enzymes
Denaturant
2-5% Gasoline
Distillation
190 Proof
Dehydration
Molecular
Sieves
200 Proof
Ethanol
Storage
DDGS
Drying
Fermentation
DDGS
Separation
Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS)
Gasification
Fuel
Ethanol
DDGS
Storage
7
Livestock
GTL:
Ethanol/Biodiesel

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U.S. Department of the Treasury - Alcohol and
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
Render ethanol unfit for human consumption
At least 2 gallons of denaturant to every 100 gallons of fuel ethanol
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Natural Gasoline
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Conventional Unleaded Gasoline
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Straight Run Gasoline
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Naphtha
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Kerosene
Ethanol producers add ~4.76 % volume
8

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Ethanol production process (pH adjustment, nutrients)
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Sulfuric Acid - Corrosive
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) – Corrosive
Ammonia Source - Anhydrous, Hydrous - Corrosive
Cleaning chemicals keep fermentation clean
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Chlorine-based Solution - Corrosive
Caustic Soda - Corrosive
General water treatment chemicals
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Chlorine- or Bromine-based Solution - Corrosive
Ammonia-related Solution - Some Hazards
Surfactants - Some hazards, typically mild
Ethanol and Ethanol Blended Fuels, Emergency Response Training and Safety Issues, National Association of State Fire Marshals, July 1, 2008 www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/Emergency-Response-IAFC.pdf
EPA (R5) – Ethanol Manufacturing Facility Response Overview

• Human Health Effects
 Exposure to fuel ethanol may occur by breathing its vapors
(inhalation), getting it on the skin or in the eyes (skin absorption), or swallowing it (ingestion).
 Exposure to ethanol vapors in high concentrations or for prolonged periods can be harmful to human health.
 Ethanol can cause local dehydration and lesions.
 Absorption, which occurs swiftly from the gastrointestinal tract, causes euphoria, with subsequent dizziness, inebriation, paralysis, diminished reflex, and respiratory paralysis.
• Ecological Effects
 Pure ethanol can be toxic to fish at high enough concentrations
 Lethal concentrations for fish
(rainbow trout): 11,200 to
15,300 milligrams per liter
(mg/L).
 Pure ethanol is completely miscible in water
 Pure ethanol may biodegrade aerobically and anaerobically
 Biodegradation may decrease the dissolved oxygen in surface water, resulting in fish kills and other adverse impacts to oxygen-dependent species (direct or indirect).

Methanol
Vegetable Oil
NaOH
Acid
Water
Drying
Feedstock
Preparation
Transesterification
Reaction
Catalyst
Preparation
Crude Biodiesel Phase
Separation
Neutralization
Glycerin Phase
Water
Washing
Acid
Acidification &
FFA Separation
Free Fatty Acids
FFA
Finished
Biodiesel
Methanol
Recovery
Crude Glycerin
Glycerin
Refining
Purified
Glycerin

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Biodiesel production process
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Methanol
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Volatile; Flammable (Class 3)
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)
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Corrosive; Catalyst
Potassium Hydroxide
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Corrosive; Catalyst
Sodium Methylate
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Catalyst
Hexane
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Volatile; Flammable (Class 3)
Glycerol (glycerine)
EPA (R5) – Biodiesel Manufacturing Facility Response Overview

Fire and release point

• Properties similar to petroleum.
 Light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL).
• Toxic effects: coating of feathers, fur, and gills is harmful.
 Absence of odor and sheen results in reduced avoidance.
 Reduces thermal insulation and buoyancy.
• May burn if ignited.
• May clog water treatment plants (due to the polymerization property).
17

• High BOD may cause oxygen depletion.
 Greater effect on DO than petroleum oils.
• Unsaturated oils (liquids at cold temperatures) are subject to chemical (abiotic) oxidation.
 Polymerization due to chemical oxidation and cross-linking.
 Rancid odors may develop rapidly.
 Unsaturated oils form gum balls and varnishes in presence of oxygen, which resist biodegradation.
• Saturated oils turn solid or semi-solid at cool temperatures, highly resistant to biodegradation.
• May be toxic or form toxic products.
 Especially free fatty acids and chemical oxidation products.
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Transportation and Non-transportation Related
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Distribution terminals
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Blending facilities
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Transfer hubs
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Rail lines & railcars
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Barges & waterways
Transport trucks
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Pipelines
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Ethanol and biodiesel currently do not use many of the traditional petroleum products infrastructure

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Typical individual railcar capacity
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~30,000 U.S. gallons
Shipped in unit trains
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Can be as high as 100 railcars
Transferred from rail cars to tank trucks for delivery to blending terminals
Transfer process equipment not necessary “fixed” in a single location
20

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Fires and spills involving ethanol and ethanol/gasoline blends pose some complex challenges for emergency responders
Ethanol is a polar/watermiscible flammable liquid
(one that mixes readily with water)
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Degrades the effectiveness of fire fighting foams that are not alcohol resistant
DOT PHMSA Guide 127 - Flammable Liquids Polar/Water-miscible, 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2004) http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/g127.pdf
Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC), http://www.ethanolresponse.com
21

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Alcohol-Resistant – Aqueous Film Forming Foam
(AR-AFFF)
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Effective with ethanol blends from E10 through E95
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E10 can be extinguished with AFFF and AR-AFFF but require higher application rates to prevent burn back
Sprinkler application, which is typical of the fire suppression systems at many storage terminal loading racks
Creates a physical, polymer-membrane barrier between the foam blanket and fuel surface
Alcohol Resistant – Film Forming Fluoroproteins (AR-FFFP)
Ethanol and Ethanol Blended Fuels, Emergency Response Training and Safety Issues, National Association of State Fire Marshals, July 1, 2008 www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/Emergency-Response-IAFC.pdf
22

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Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures
Facility Response Plans
Risk Management Plans
Emergency Planning and
Community Right to
Know
23

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Recent energy legislation mandates biofuel usage.

Requires EPA to develop a new Renewable Fuel Standard.

Expand biofuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
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New generation, storage, and distribution infrastructure challenges
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Integrating biofuels into traditional fuel supply chain
Infrastructure challenges
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Fires and spills involving ethanol and ethanol/gasoline blends pose some complex challenges for emergency responders
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Biodiesel & other substances in biofuels generation

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DOT PHMSA Guide 127 - Flammable Liquids Polar/Watermiscible.

2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2004)
 http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/g127.pdf
Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC)
 http://www.ethanolresponse.com
Guidebook for Handling, Storing, & Dispensing Fuel Ethanol
(DOE)
 http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy02osti/30849.pdf
EPA Region 5 - Ethanol & Biodiesel Response Manuals
EPA Region 7 - Ethanol & Biodiesel Plant Manuals
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 http://epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture/biodiesel_manual.pdf
http://epa.gov/region07/priorities/agriculture/ethanol_plants_manual.pdf