Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 - (Page 18)

Safe Ethanol Transport Transporting Ethanol By Rail Becoming Safer: NAR Task Force Despite the increase in ethanol railcar transports, railcar non-accidental releases (NARs) are on the decline. According to the NAR Task Force, which is appointed by the Bureau of Explosives (BOE) and the Association of American Rialroads (AAR), ethanol NARs went from 86 in 2006 to 67 in 2007. “It’s getting safer,” said Kevin Cook, vice president for sales and marketing for Midland Manufacturing, a Skokie, IL-based rail tank car valve manufacturer and a member of the NAR Task Force. “Although the number of shipments of ethanol continues to increase,” Cook continued, “we do believe that this decrease in NARs is due to some of our outreach educational programs.” Ethanol Loads Increasing According to statistics provided by the AAR (202-639-2342), there were 96,339 loads of ethanol transported via rail in 2006, compared to 65,299 in 2005. The number for 2007 has not been compiled, but the AAR indicated the 2007 figure would be significantly higher than 2007. Top Specific Causes According to the NAR Task Force, operator error continues to be the biggest factor in NARs. For example, the figures for the period 2005 to 2007 show the top cause of NARs was loose manway bolts (25 incidents). “When you open the car, you open a manway and it’s got eight bolts,” Cook explained. “You have to tighten the bolts back down after you load the cars. Since that’s the highest number of NARs, clearly an educational process is needed to make sure the ethanol plant loaders secure those bolts properly.” The second highest cause of NARs is a cap loose or a valve left open (18) and open valve or closure plugs open (12). “Those typically occur on an empty car,” Cook said, adding that this would be caused by the consumer of the ethanol, not the ethanol producer. Other causes of NARs from 2005 to 2007 were: • Liquid line, valve stem packing retainer loose (10). • Liquid line, threaded valve loose (nine). Cook said the liquid line incidents listed above are related to product performance and maintenance rather than operator error. • Manway gasket deteriorated (six). • Overloaded tank (four). • Valve body corrosion (four). • Plug missing or open in liquid or vapor line (six). For more information on NAR Task Force educational programs, call Cook at 847-677-0333. “The number of shipments of ethanol have continued to increase. We do believe that this decrease in NARs is due to some of our outreach educational programs.” - Kevin Cook, NAR Task Force 18 BFJ | SEPT/OCT 08

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008 Contents Transportation Mainbar Ethanol Terminal Florida Ethanol Pipeline Ethanol Pipeline Study Rail, Truck Safety NAR Updates Dave Vander Griend, ICM, Inc. Renew Energy LLC, Jefferson, WI I-65 Biofuels Corridor POET’s Project Bell Robert Zubrin, Pioneer Astronautics Calendar ICM Blend Study Ethanol Terminal, Pipeline Study POET BioRefining-Alexandria, Alexandria, TX Steve Przesmitzki, National Renewable Energy Lab What’s Driving Up Food Prices Ethanol World Profile: Charlie Martin, Golden Triangle Energy State Report: Wisconsin Ethanol Plants in the Pipeline Monthly Ethanol Production Ethanol Industry News REG Houston LLC, Seabrook, TX Biodiesel Adhesives Farmer’s Fuel Two-Million Mile Haul Update Bratney/Orbitek New Technology Innovation Fuels, Inc., Newark, NJ NBB Biodiesel Emissions Study Profile: Mike Chandler, Renewable Energy Group Biodiesel World REG—Algal Biodiesel Technology Biodiesel Roundup Camelina Biofuels Biodiesel Industry News New Energy Credits Passed RFS Waiver Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Under Construction Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Construction Map BP Alternative Energy Projects Switchgrass and Soil Local Feedstocks - Clemson SDSU Sun Grants Robert Nixon, Davenport Dryer, LLC Bob Delaney, Gamajet Cleaning Systems Energy Partners Antioch International, Inc. Aeroglide Corp. Strongform Nationwide Industrial Builders Pro-Environmental, Inc. The Eagle Group, Ltd. Biofuels Action Plan Ad Index

Biofuels Journal - September/October 2008

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