The Bulletin – January 1965

THE BULLETIN

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE MIDLAttos PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION GROUP

Vol. 3, No. 3. January, 1965

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE MIDLANDS PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION GROUP

JANUARY 1965

Contents

About ou:!:selves Neirn in Brief Corres:;:.onci_enco: The Group ancl its objects Instant He2.t Generators Construction of Urn'Lersround Tanks Petrol for Paraffin MiscolJanoa: Le oncxG. Ca vo Tho o:f Lir1ui<ls ancl Chemicals by road :·::xtra.cts from Lnnuo.l ·i.oports Swansea ?otrol.:Jum Acts 1 Close Pro:·h1ity'

Store,ge of Petroleum ''at er Protection Germe.ny /i.sso012.tirm of Eun::_cipal Corporations iteports

Unc.orcsround o: Liqu2-cl l"uels Ilollanc1 rs1L:r C1il Slick Disperser .ii New 1:utomatic Paraffin Vcmcler Saho.ra Gas Total Group 1 s U .K. Ru:·inery G,1,s Link Across the ;)ea Executive Comrdttoo !footinc;: Dudley Grau> Mootinc;: Mansfiolcl ... 27th Oct o'oor, 1964 The of Petrol Prosecutions:

::.\ .D .F. Dowen J .R. Hobert s P .P. IfoC owen H.T. G·arratt K.L. Eolland

P. Brus vrorcestershiro C .c. J.<'alse I'rECdc Descriptirm :S:i.rrnin::;ham Offences contrary to Section 16 Dirr.1illbhm11 Falso 'I'rade Doscription

Chairman Ii • C-RIE'?ITES

}Ion/Secretary 'l'reasurer: r,ic:1.ison Ofi'icor 7!c1itor

L.A. CLVE G·.N. DELN R.P. HOLDAWAY

At this tim,2 of tho ycr::r :i.t sc·.:ims appropriate to tn\:e a q:l.ick look backwara.s -Co assess h01·: our r::cffairs k,ve . and then to taJce a forward lool\: in an c:::ctor.1;1t to soo how immocliate future may shape.

The Group with a nemborship of' ov0r 350, cc;·;tp:c'J.s1ng local e uthori ties from all over tho British Is10s [md assoc iute members, whose hcadqusi rtors are of'ton far rc3moved fron -Che I.".i0..lo.ncls, is now a Nation::1l .h.ssociation in all but nE1.m8. 'l'he rapid. incror.so in membership is ina.icative of tho impact ·chat t}1e Group lus >.:.tCI. on thos8 r1l10se interests lie in the field of Petroleum Science, Law rnd Jldministre::cion. It is particulG.rly encouraging in view of t;:;e rathor dogr:utic opi:.:ion expressed by the A.H.C, sorae twelve montl1s c.gG that existing arc n.deqt:.&'co for the pur1;oso of' of'foring .o.dvico and guidl1.nce on the 2.wc: nistration of the Petroleum Acts, and tl1at as u the formo.tion of' additional bodi::Js is unnecessary.

We have never boen very cloar in our minds what existing c:ganisations thu Conu:r:ittce members of tb.o A.d.C. wero referring to. Tf!e o.ro well a.wc..re thG.t certain prof'ossiona]. societies have a panel or r..dvisory section, d.issemirw ting infornation on petroleum mo:ctors to their o','m mo;11bers, E-nd wo tho useful. thoue:;h nocosso.rily restricted function thoy perform. ,·1e o.ro £>..lso awe.re of tho oxistanco of tv;o P['l_rties set up by the lioEC Office but c:.s Conrr1ittee 1 s meetings seem to bo helc1 at the same froqi.wncy as t::-10 Olympic Go.mos 1-.d.thout such , conclusive results, any advice fro:ra this sour·ce is linited indeed.

We are, however looking at oursolvon. Our objects in few words aro t:w advanc8mont of' l::nm;loG.go and uniformity of pr::- ctice in tho a,dministration of tho Potroleurn Acts. To this ond, tho formation of branches ia a priority c.nd. in nomo areas C!.ctivo steps are boing taken to promote this noo.sure. Sub-CorJ.r::ittoos of t>.o Executive Council rcro busy drai"ting a now constitution, dra-11ing up liconco conG.itions for baso111ont and multi-storoy car parks ::md organising the next Residential Eid-Wei::;;k School. Vfo ho.ve achieved much in a short spc:.,ce of time and. vro face the future with confidence.

Our [j_tiL1.rtorly journal 'The Bulletin' has o.. part to play, if our influence in the Potrolour.1 is to bo ex-Cendoc1 nncl efforts will be me,clo to improve both its contents and presentation. Hon far we succeed :Ls c1epsnclent lEl.re;oly on tho support rocoivoG. frc)ffi our readers and contributors, and to tho 111tter in p£'.,rticular ;;o extend gratG.f'ul the.J.1ks •

.llny ro:Loronco to 'our sol vos', v:oulrl. be inc onplHto without acknonloclging _ th8 d.eb-C we 0"/8 to t}10 incofc.,tiguablo efforts nma.e on our behalf by tl1.o Eonoi·ary Socrotc.r3r/J:'roasuror, .Mr. L .A. Cc:vo. Mr. Ce,vc; retires from his ofi'.'icial position o.t the ond cf February, and .. in nishing hin a lont:; r-..nd ho.ppy retirement, wo trust that he will bo in a position to continue his excellent servicEls to the Group for many years to 00110.

1 1gi·:fB:;!;RSIIIP

i1Imnbcrslli:,) of the Group incron.sed by 21 during the quarter G!l(lod .31st Dece;1bor, 196Lh Ifo17 ne.11wrs ere as fol1m,'s:-

Ji.mi.over Brif)1-Con Cra:vdoy Eu.st Elloo Eirn om nnd b\rnll E1merde.le :ston Godalming Guildford ::oc_uesdon Kilmarj!Ock Llt:mdudno Llanelly l!oatl1 ::Jhiploy Whitehaven Yeovil

G .c. G2,rtwric;ht A.J. Ingrouille M SELi th

RDC CB iJDC RDC hB RDC RDC !IB RDC UDC Burgh UDC RDC RDC llDC j\jB RClC

H :'.-Iar:ipsl1ire F J]ast Sussex i..J "" 'Vest Sussex H Hol1am1, Lines. s Surrey s Cu"Li.berland F .l Bucks H Surrey s Surrey H Herts '? .H Ayr Cc,ernarvons H Curmati,ens Glamorc;an Yorks (W.R.) s CUt;ibcrland H Sor:wrset

Arnono.ment s to the Ivl:Jmborship-

Birken.l-iea(1 CJ Guilcr'ord I.'!B Eemel Hoapstea.d Yw not Eorlc,y hB Faislcy Burgh Shoffiolo. CB Stokosloy RDC '7ort::in@; I!l13 -.- --..--

Ifr. 'J'. HcCo:r

Nottingh.<tm States of Guernsey I·ondon County Conncil Roll F n'ot H W.IYI RDC W.E '{ .. r • .11 H :ii. l 1I not s Dublin

R .T. Jannoy (Associate ivie::ibor) 3 .C .A.,

As and. frol!l 1 st HA.RCH, 1965, the a.Cdress of Mr. 1.A. Cave, Honorary Socrctary/TrGo.surer of the G·rou:p will DG :-

•I 3Li-, Blackacre Roe.cl, t DUDLEY, ;j7orcs •

\'lo of'for con[;r2.tnJ_r3 t:: cns to 1.ir. :G.E. Buschonfola_, Chiof Officer, :ille.soJ' l<'ire Brigr,c1e, J .R. Rotorts, ChiGf Ins:poctor oi"' rmcl iic:."1choster L.,,rn" l.'.'toly Honorary Socrott'.. l'Y oi. tl1c Institute of 17oif;;:i-cs :_-,nd Iloasures Lclr:iinistration, who ho.vo bu8:1 ap[)Ointoo_ of th.::; Order o:C tho British Eupire, c.nd to !.Ir. I\.. Ii'r-.;nch, Chif Ofc'icer, liecds Fire Brigacl.o, -.,ho hc::s rocoivo(l thu Juoons Fh·o 3ervico lfode.. l.

CCNGRAT l"L.!i..T ::T NS

Tho Che ir:"'.',c.n of tho Grou:J, :fr. I-I. Griffitl 1 s, h<1s bcon electoa. an Executive Vico-Pr,3siclont of tho British ::.i'iro Sorrices Associ2..tion. the Association's Conference a.t Coventry, Mr. Griffiths was [';:rarclod tho j:''ronch Focl_oro..tion 1 s ;fo(lal aYlfonour, tho prosentt::.tion boinc; r'.1'1.c1o by Chef do Battalion Henri Decherf, Senior ropresent<'.'.tivo of th0 visiting l"ronch clolegation.

RET IR::;; i"EI'lT S -

Hr. L •.A .• Cave, Chief Inspector of !;eights and M:o&.surus, Dudloy, who is on 2Gth Fobruary, 1965.

Nr. ':f.:!. G-:trnor, D.ncl Surveyor, Grdnsborough R.D.C., who hE'.S rosign0cl for health reasons.

l,Ir. Yr. Chief li'iro B1 1 0.dforcl City Fire Brigacte, '.1ho is rot iring in Febru!1ry, 1 ')65.

We ox:tond to thcso guntlol':on our gooa. -,Tlshos ancl trust tho.t thoir oo.y bo Q lone, c,ncl ono.

S

l'rr. J. r,.:t.rsiClo, Deputy Chio±' J!'ire Officer, Bro.Cl,_··ord, h[t.S boon Chief l!'iro Offico:r, in succession to Mr. Thrn:ms.

Irr. ]',A. Smith, of Weights £mc1 Measures r.md PotroleUB Officer, ':1e.r:dngton, hD.. s boon appointed to o. sinilc.r post at 1i!orthing.

Mr. A.B. Vhittinghn.n, Deputy B:-iginoor succeeds Mr. ·e .w. Garner at Gainsborough.

VISITS

on recent visits to th,; Continm1t by uernbors of tho Study Group, wilJ_ bG publisilod in our next issue.

NIGERIAli OIL HEFINERY

Nigeria y;ill no longer inport kerosene, putrol and go s for her a_orJe3tic lmO. COlllL:orci.s.l use by 1965. Mr. W.L. Dolo.n, Public ::telaticns to tl10 Nigorir:.n Petroloun Rof'ininc:; Co1;;po.ny I 0 td. disclosoD_ at Enugu, Er.:.stern Nigoric.•

Hr •.Oolcm so.irl the estliblishnont of on oil rofine:c-y in Nigoria, vms cloD..r ovi 'onco of tho tro:'1 cnC1_ous hop0 his company ho.cl_ in the b;:-i_::;ht future of the..: country. ,

THE GROUP ANJ ITS OP,,TH;CTS ----

The latest issue of 'The Bulletin' is significant in its general import its er:iphasis on the relationship of 'dry as dust' regulations, recommonU.aticms, research, c'levelopment of equipment, installations, common sense, experience etc., to our value of hur11an life. In congratulating those hard-vrorked honorary officers on such a publicati:m it is only with the reserva.tion that it is unfortunate t:-1at the .s.rticles could not receive wider publicity.

As a manufacturer of equipment it is necessaI"J, and here I speak personally, that no equipment should be markoted in the petroleum field unless it contributes to a re<luction in potential hazard. Profit must be made or -Ghere is no business, and development and research suffer. But I feel nationally, we can demand that SAFETY be the firs·c and forenost label on any equipment and thus give a lead to other countries not so well protected by Legislation as Great Britain.

Though manufacturers may have to think twice I feel the Group should be congratuln.ted and may their views gain wiC:.er experience and acceptance.

FLUOM.AT Ltd. R .D .F. Bo-wen.

INSTAl\T HEAT GENERATOR

I have been approached by a firm in my area who wish to install two Instant E::3ot Generators". '.i1 he firm concerned have a store f1Jr 3 ,500 c.o,llons (if petroleum and I am concerned about the safety [,spects of this pc.rticular type of heater.

I have written to the rnake:rs, Bosc:-:mbe Precision Engineering Co. ( 1963) Ltd., and among other claims thsy say, "Tests, such as introducing petroleum vr..:oour at the air intake of tba unit have been carried out by vari0us fire departffients and petroleum officers and we he,ve been able to settsfy them as to the safe operation of the unit even under these

I wonder if any of the members of the Group have hsd nny dealine;s with this type of heater, and if so, 1.1Vhat conclusions they have arrived at •.

MJU 1CHESTER. J.R. Roberts.

On behalf of Herrn Doi)ner I would like to answer a query of 1'.lr. F .W. Cartwright raised in his letter publishea_ in the April edition of your journal.

Bitumen is in fact the protecting material used on storage tanks in preference to epoxy tar resin, because of economical reasons. With the gradut.l introduction of overfill (:l_evices the solubility of Bi tumon in petrol is no f,rec,t handice.p. The tank preparation before :Siturr:3n application is simply by wire brushing.

HAMBUHG. P.P. McCowen •

PE'i'ROL FOR Pl;PJiFPIN

Arising out of D, recent prosecution in Birminghc-:;,m, ropcrtecl in this issue of 'The Bulletin', the problC:!ffi of petrol delivery into paraffin tanks was discussed with tho Manager of the Oil Company c oncerne(l • A point made by the Mlm<'. sor, be v;orth raising at a Group Meeting.

He suggested that wbere t:1(; Conveyance Regulations 16 (4) refer to a tank being numbered, the l:inister, by making a simple amendment could reqt'.ire the 11rovision of a cl.istincti ve notice with letters of a certain mini.mum giving th3 type of contents of the tank {in addition tr:.1 the nmlber, which of course, v:ould still be necessary) to be displn,yerl in each tank L1C,nhole. In the event of the Group feeling this worthy of further atteEtion, perha0s a recomri1ondation could be sen.t to the J•,Iinister, that some such alteration be a;1 adCJ_i tiona1 s afogue,rd.

I would that in the City, the instal1r-.tion of a new undorgrouncl tn,nk ne.':lr to potroleum tanks, is not encouraged, ancl with existing t<tnks, it is the pr:'..ctice of Irispectors to try to hc.vc the fitb_ngs ch:.--,r1g0d for non standard type fittings to which conr:ection c::cn ot readily bo m::cd>::J to petroleum tanker fill linos.

BIR!HNGP..Al\I • 11.'7. Garratt. --------------------------------·------------------------------

News-in-Brief (Cont 1 d from Page 81)

The followinc docu:·:'snts on rracJcice are nm1 availQ.ble frora che Hon.;)ecretary, Ur. L .A.• CLve, DwUey 2.t a cost of .•

1. Gene:;:al requirorc1on-cs c,s :;o the storac;o of ?e-C:,:oleu:-:l in uni1er:c;rounc1 tad:s other than c.-:.t bulk storaze chstri1mtinc c"i.e ;o-Cs.

2. General rcquj_rer;-;onts as to storQge of Petro1c:m1;1 S1)iT_•_t or Potr::ilourn !·iixtures ''bO"e (-"o·'-hnr +'1a11 1)·11}·- s+o-'"' ·e) C.:.. V t.>..L. l \... L V _, v l._ L ,_ .'... v J_ C" _) e

3. C-eneral X'cq11irEn-11onts Ls to s·torage oZ Calciur-1. h. Inst<0,lle.tions Ivlini;:mm roq_1ciromonts wi:chin tho '·1az'.:",rd area on Petrol station forecourts. 5. B.oport J:i'crrn I;xoEin;:tion on Eloctrica11y O:[JCiratoc1- ?otrol Pur;::,;:>. . .. e.ro int_'._obtcd to I\ir. T\r.E:. -rrl10 lmU.er·toolc the task of proc1uci11g stcr\cils r.i.ru:l

IfK8J.1Itq-G •·--'"""-S:..S...,.._._...•

1'hu next meGtin;: o-:: -Cho Group r:il1 be h._dC.:_ at t}ki Council =:ouso, Dudley on 1Jfe,_'_nesc1ay 20th J2.nuary, 1965. Tho 'ors:1ipf11l t'.-:o /;·o,yor of' Dudloy, Councillor 'TJ ,C-.X. J.P., i-rill exten.C:i an official 1rolcome to c:_c:lot;s:i:;es c,t a,r'l. The rnorninc; scssinn a:::°tor the bus inos s will be 2. tc;,lk 2.nd dc-wr.c ·c _'(.t-Ci:--n Ol"l c.n Aut oi;m.tic Paraffin Vc;r,d.ing Pu:'1p by rr.r::.. \oavor of Eessrs. D,:. C'-unn (En.sine ring) Lto.• , Loncfon. The ccftornoon session to bo in tho · for;;i of c.m 'Opon

LEONARD ARTnUR CAVJ""..' r. I. 1 V.tl .A.

The sorvico c,ssic1uously rendered by L .A.• Ce,ve to tho Council c:rnd inh2.bitai1ts o::' -Che Coun\;y Borout';:: of Duclley com:)s to a close at the encJ_ of li'el:ru:=.ry. Len, e,s ho is l=nov;n to all wi i:hin his rride circle of friencJ.s, c1u.c,lifiec1- as an of '.'!eights anc1 I.Ieasures whilst employell in ITottinr)10,G, coved to Dudley 0,s 2.n Inspec·co:c in 'l 927 a,nd, in January, -1931, wa,'; pror:iot0d to be Ins;:ioccor unC:.er the -.!eigh;:s and Explosives 2.nd PetroleuD

In_ b.is naL1e i..vI itton into tJ1e i_vorlcs of reference o:c' lmvyors and students by virtue of the apr)eul case Cave v .- Duc.lcy Co-operative Society, \!hich es-cab1ished fundarncmtal :9rinciples i'or :; 1 '8 )rotect::ccn o:C' consw".ers of 1 the staff of life 1 • Dixrinc t>G ')ec oncl 1-7or1c'l 1 ::met for a uo:.'.'iod thereafter. he raost ably acted c:.s Fuel Con;;1·ollcr.

It would be unfair -:;o say I.en affortlcd priority to Petroleurr. La'.'T in his uany zeals; but he vrs.s o.lc:;ays acutely concernecl a·bont the lc-,c:: cr2' of pracU.cE:: in natters relc,tint; to pub1ic safety in a field unr0strictec1 b:.r geo.:;ro,phical boundaries. Subscribinc;, as ho ,1icl_ so to the l)elief that Cl.ili;:.er,t resec,rch, exchanf;e of opinion e.nc' concerted action were essential to tlrn prope:..·· c1i:scharge of >oavy responsibilities of Potroleun Off'icers, he a 1T:,jor J)art in our Group in 1958. At the sec 2•1 ,e-t;inc: of the Group, helc' on Yeh June in ;-.hat yeo.r, Len 1•12,s_ fo:r·r:1cl confir:'1ecl in office D.s ![onorary SecretD.r:1, a he has continuint::ly Cl.ischargeo_ wi·ch unassuning but superb e:l'ficionc=r. T}ie trt,;o worth of his reflected in tho gro·;1th in ner.1bership of tho C-rou:; frou 23 to over 350 in little wore than c,ix yec:.rs.

Tho of ti1is inadeq_uate tribute, -vd10 has been priviles'erl to enjoy the frieno.sl"t:Lp of Cave for 37 ·:rears, c;ratofully acknowlecl;::;os ',:hat has so ',rrought by one 11}-:wse uain hob'ov -ohi:Lctel v - so o.cloc;u2,tol v indicates the v 1 quiet mind 1 • Other tributes rill be :paitl, and opportur;ity for undoubted_ly vouchsafer':., to Len; but all those for 1·;hoa h(J :1ac1 ec-,sed burclen of responsibility vtill, of their ,;re.titucJ.e uish for :1L_t 1.1:.1en he presently le,ys dovm_ his official burden, nany years of retir2nent.

M•

c:F !J11J) :GY RC;'.J)

b:.r (-Ioll:_:21d Fire Officor. City of Bristol 1-!o repro('Luce rrith ackn0'.'loc1-genents, a r:ia;0cr pres;;nte.: 1 by I·'.r. Holls.ncl 0,t the i.mrnal Confej:'e;:-.ce of tb.e >1ritis 11 Se:'"'·\rices holcl at r'"'-•oc' 24-+ 26,_,,, .Ju-"" 1 cJ.·"'._1 11'"-10· -'-c·l 1 K Vl L u..l.. ._, .L ._L t_,__ ,J L-Li. J.J.V' 1 ':Tas il2-ustJ'.'(ctoc1 ui t'c slides inClicatine; r:ic.gni tude 01' ris1: results fron accic;_:;n·cs involc:inc; carr:1ing haznrdous substc.nces.

''Pooplo 1 s livos e.ro every cfay b:y tons of highl3r haze.;_·c1ous but un!2arkecl. cheE1ic,?,ls :wvinc; over nation's hi::;imc,ys. l")reser-::c requ:i_rer:L:nts for nad:ing t·ucl: cc,rc;oes are grossly ino.clec:v.ate ?or the i)rocection both -Cho public anc3- nen of ·C}1G sa: vicesn.

Tl,is stateuent nas ':.IBc:te by Major Carroll E. Shaw, De::;iuty State Marshal of Connecticut, in addressing a Conference ofthe National F'ire Pro-Cection 1l3snciation of Ar:iorica in 1961.

If our Anercian C<'unterparts think -their reqc_cire:-:ients for narking hazardous truck cargoes are grossly inadequate, I submit that the state "f s.ffe.irs in thi.s country, where tLere is little or no power to require ti-1e e:ffocti ve markir.g hazardous substances in transit, is an affront to the citizen -;;l10 lroks tn -the legislature f"r his protectioci, and. ;:, criT::1e against t:-,e fire'.llen whose duty it is to 5.eal vri th sue:- substances '.-rher·:;ver ancL Vfhenever a mishap f'>Ccurs.

In tte tir:::e ·available a detail.3d ex2. 0 1:Lr:ation of the 1 bi ts 1 mid 1 lJieces 1 ,-:hich pass for ls[;j_slation is but even if -::-;e had the tiiue j_t ;;::nild s0on be c.pparen+: that only petr-('\l::m,,-:1 spirit 2-no. tvrr:i or three o+ ber s u.bsta!LCes are J3 ubjoct to any regulations in conne-ction ·;;ith c o::ivoyance, sn it is pe:cho.ps necessary to consider v:hc;t: these; regule.tion:; are.

The nest strin,;ent aro those ·.-_,hj_clc detail the construct ion of vehicles ancJ. tD.nks usec -(; o convey pctrnleun spirit, ancJ if a sirJilar staLdard- of VTere to 'o'°: onforcecl in connection with the of all l:ighly hazardom_; subs·i-.a,nces, I would be quite satis:."'ied that this aspect has beer. a(lequately covered.

But havint; agreed -,-re h2:re no quarrel -1itr1 tho standards relEc-CiD.2; to construction, otlmr p:covision is r1ado to assist the public e.nJ. fire service ..-.-:-wn c::.n occurs?

Sec 5 ( 1) (b) the Pct:coleur:t (Consolidation) Act, -1928, requires:-

"Wbere any petrolou:m s:;::irit is sent or conveyed betwe·3n ari:,c two placos in Britain, there shalJ_ be D.ttachod to, or, ,-;h01.'o tl"JLt is iu.practicablo, Cl.is_Dls.yecl near, the vessel containinr pat:cn2-cum :}·;-i-rit, a label shovring, in c onspicu0us charc,,cters, t>G vrnrG.s "PETROLEUM SPIRIT EIGT:LY Iru'Lli.12.:.i'GLE".

How cons1)icuous are tl1ese cons:r>icnous characters? Next tir::e

a petroleun tank3r passes you in the street, have a look at the tank immediately behind the driver 1 s cab, and there, if yo;'_ are quick, and hu.ve good eye sight, you will see the words 11 PE;)troleum Spirit Highly In:'lar;1:able 11 in letters 1 a in height.

If we refer to The Petroleu:: (Carbon Tisulphide) Order, 1958, we find that the conditions of markint: arG the s::Ec1e as before except that the vords 1 Carbon I1isulphid<)' have to be su.bstitutecJ for the words 'Petrol::uu S.:•iri t 1 • Again The Petroleum (Liquid >;eth;,no) OrdGr, requires that the words 'Liquid rfothane I shall b:: substituted for 1 Petrol2um Spirit'.

You will have noticed that in each instance the vrord petroleuu is nentioned »'lic:;th2r or not the sc;_bstcmce is petroleum is the funda171.untal factor which deten1ines whether or not requireELnts can be ap_,c··liod.

Of course, someon. ::Cei.y 11 '---1hat about the 80 substi;mcas specified in Parts I and II of the Scbodule to ?etroloum Liquids anc". Othe:r Dang,erous Substances) Order, 1947', which range from Acetaldchyde tn ood Spirit and from Acetic Acid to Titaniur!1 Tetrachloride?'. 'i'.':lGse are not potrolour,s. They may also remind ma tl1at the provisions of the Petroleun (Consolidation) Act, 1928, ap-:-ilied to any (not being a mi:xture of 1 kich conta .ns any ono of these 80 substances.

It is s•.;rprising the nu: of peopl2 who thirJc that 'Tho Petrolour.1 (Irflan1mc:tble Liquids and Other ilD-nrerous Z:lubstances) Ordsr 1947', answc;rtJc1 all our so L;t us the Order and see whici, of the provisi ns of' tbe Petrolou:'1 (Consolidation) .-,et, h'l vo in faGt boc-,n to this Lmr;Jssi ve list of 80 s0.bstances •

They are:-

Section 6. the of St&te to nako Regulr,tions as to the convo cZ' petrolemc1 spir t by road ['__nd for pro tee persons ana. prop Jrty danger in with such conveyance.

Sub section (2) (3) of 13.

Briefly, these sub-sections req ,ire ths owner of a vehicle on which pctrol0u2 spirit is being or loaded to give notice to the of State of any acci(cnt occ::.sions loss of life or personal injury by fire or explosion if the fire or explosion involvc;d petrol(oUPl spirit and on the owr.er a fina not exceeding £20 if ho fails to co;·ply with the roquirE::-:h:;::.-:_t.

Section 14.

the of State to direct an inquiry to be m::cde by e. G-overm1ent into o.ny c.cci •scit, of which notic, is requirci'_ by the Act to be gi vcn to the ·'Gcrctary of St2.te •

Section 15.

Section 16.

Details the prococure to be followed at a Coroner's inq·ws c on deat:-.s fro:J accideEtr connected with petrolem1 spirit.

Details powers of Government Inspectors to make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary to whether the provisions of the or of cny reguli:»tions ::-,1<:.do thc;r0mnd.er sri:, co:iplied with, finally,

Section 18.

'7hich deals with the g:ranting of search v;arrc.1nts.

THE RISKS .A.ND DPJJC-3RS

You E1ay agroe that sone of these requirements are rather like closing the stable door ccftGr the hor:--e hem gone, and like ne, you think it rather reLcr,rkable th,_,t the; provisions of Section 5 (1) (b) which, as I stated earlier, doPt.ls "1ith the marking of containers, has boen onittecJ, but even if this r0quirement to nark containurs has been includcf'., exii sup;::iosing that the owner of a vehicle complies in full Fi th tbe spirit of this requirDmont, ho1,-; effective is it?

For example, if a p:;rson kn2 1rv nothing about S>:',rbon Disulphide, woulCl a l c;,bel 1 C,irbon 5ighly Inflanr::able', indicate to him th0,t the fln.sh point is so low th2.t tho v1::.pours can be ignH0 11 by t>o heat from an eloctric light bulb, or if we accept tho fact thC1t tho ''JOrds 'Hi[r:ly Ii::Ll1L,c.1able' have put hin on his guard, wo :ld 'i:;lc3y Celso -·,o,rn hi::: that CVd1 short exposure to tl-:o fui;1es can loQd to s ::rious illn,_:;ss, s 11ci as nervous collapse ".nd parcclysis?

It may be clair:iecl thn,t tre,iI:.ur'L personnel \'O'_c1d norr:wl ly deal with incidents involving hazo..r'.J.ous substances c,nd .rnuld be aw::,re of the danr:ers. In the c11rne of ths bstter knm-rn substa:1ces t}1 is may be true, but what of the: ov"'r increcsing -production of new substances 'i-:hich arc tr·cnsportecl a tre,de nr:..'1e ,1hicl; could mean nothing to a train.;cl chJ, ,ist :_:uch less a fire off'icer vtho may be encountering the substQnce :for the f'irst tine.

When we arc c 2,lled to a sl:ip firo 1.-'e nornally obt1dn the ship's manifest in order to ascert-'.:Cin the type ancl position of cargo, so you nc.y v.rcll ask v1h;v sii::iLir in· orm:-,,tion cai1not be obtained fror1 the dri vors of vehicles.

If the substances c onvoyo0_ subject to ThG Petrol':;•n:i (Conveyn,nce by Roaa.) 1957, rcnd this would apply only to Petrol0ura d2rivatives, tho o".·ner of' Ee vGhicle nust that a copy of the Regul<:ctions is :::irovio.ed end :JlacucL rmere it can be conveniently read by any p_;rson euploycd in con-i 10ction with conveyance, n,nd ';,'hilst it bo e.ssui:.-:::r} t>c:,t in those circm1Stancos the driver woulc1 k:no',7 vrhl'ot he was carr-11in2·, experience has provecl tbat such an is not wise, c,nd even if the r!rivcrs of such vehicles cov1d. be relicc1 upon, \'!3 still have the problem of the vehicles conveying substc,nccs vrhich o.re not subjGct to the Regulations, but 2.Te nevert:'eless hig!.ly hazardous.

One r.mst face contingency exp2rionce unfortunately dicto.tes we nust clo, tre t the clri ver mo.y be c:nd very often is hers de cosbat.

J\TffT PROVIDED

Nov:, v1h!',t of ti:e provisions for fighting Cl. fire once it occurs. If we Lccept tbit ,jost fires h::ve scall begiffings it would appear reasono.ble to su.p::iose that all vehicles carrying haze.rdous subst&.nccs e.re rc.:;q_uire•:' to carry a suit.,,_ble ,:,nd efficient fire extinguisher ancL thc-.t the e,1 ri ver bo trainecl in its use.

Reguldion 6 of 'The Petro let<::, Spirit ( Conveyt2i1ce by Ro:id) Hegulations 1957' does in require this:-

"a suitable 2.nd efficient Fire e::tinguisher shall be carried in an easily accessible position on any vehicle conveying petroleur.i spirit"

Once again you ·will notice, the specific reference to petroleum spirit you i:l'.ly etlso re!'le\'.lber that no reft>rcnco to this Regulation is rnade in 1 '1'J:1e Petroleuri Spirit (InflaIJr_-;_nble Liquids c.,nd. Other D<'.ngerous Subst1.mces) Order, so the requirensnt to provide 0ven a f:i.re extinguisher iz lir.1i·c0d, a.ncl even whero one is providec1 there is no :-Jention of training, a sw1ll point pcrhl"ps, but om th,,;t could b8 of ii:J.po:dance.

There are, of course, des,ling v.ri the l1.Ctucl deli very of petrol frou a tanker into storage tanks, but as far as the marking of containers cmc'l fire fighting equipuent is concerned, the sum total is

(Disple.y cn.rd nnd extinguisher)

The ·:rnrds 'Petroleuu Spirit lnfla;,u:nble nnd an extinguisher to the risk.

LIMITATIONS .AJ\1D HISTORICH, BACKGROlND

It is a sobering thougl:1t tbc.,t tD.ese regulc,t:Lons, insignific£'.nt though they r.1ay be, :c"pply only to pctrol0un spirit r..nd two or three other substC>..nces such as Cc.rbon Disulphide, Cr:i.rbide of CalcirnJ. flnd Lic'.uicl l'fothano, c:;.nd that "::i.st of equally, or even rr:ore h9.zc,rcLOus substr:.ncos can be; l'..re, of course conveyed about thG country w"ithout b,;;ing subject to c,ny form of control.

You mQy be excusc:;d for thinking that the 1 pov;ers thc..t be 1 are not avmre of problen, but this ic; far from bein· the Cltse. In fact, two se:p.:J.r1:cte LJorking hr.ve been set up; one dealing with Inflanu;:able Subst:>.ncos znd the other with the MP..rking of Tankers. Unfortunately, the first rJorking Party has met only twice in seven yec.rs, on the lc.st occ::.sion 'broke up in disorder', and tho second one whicl: he.s beon in existenc0 for four years, is, at the present tine., in 1 cold storage 1 •

Further proof that there is an nvrc-,rcnoss of t·:ie o..?.ngors which exist, may bo fou1.1d in c. issued by the £1!inistry of .?ower in connection with 'The Pipe-Lines ;,et, 1963' \•:hich refers to 1 the pror;,otion of public safety by reLoving c'angerous cargoes from the ro,,ds' •

The Act itself requires the ow:n•3r of a pipe-line to LJake arrangeoents in c.dvcmce to ,:;nsure thc:ct l''ire Brigades are notified of c.ny £:.ccic1ents, r.:mst provide the F:dgades with inforr;,ation 1.:md m?..ps for this purpose. U)on receipt of t a pipe-line was to press through the area coverea by his Brigr,de, it would be e. poor Chief Of:ficer A-10 C.id not he, ve a pre-a.eter:;inod

pbn for dealint; with any incic1ent involving a pipc-lin8, and to my m:2.nd if such 2.-rG nccess0,ry to deal ni th -,7he.t is !'Ster all 'knmm stn.tic risk', the necessary to assist fir0 briga' es to n:i_th the many t:nknown substances being on our ro2,C:.s, is long overd.ue.

PROPOSALS Ali'IJ COECIXSIC'N

I hc.ve prosented. you wren of the in conclusi:Jn I woulc_ sugg.2st tl'.'tt sor::e of the 2.nsY;ers to these problens ::iay be found in the :I ollo-r;in1 :-

1 • Section 19 of the Petrolcu:;1 ( Consolii1.ation) LCt' 1928' gi VGS the pu1'0:L' to cp:,;ly t ,) any of the previsions of the "'.et. Let tbeso powers be used

2. Section 6 of The (Consolidation) Act, eE:powers the of .:Jt2.te to L1r'.ko ReguL.tions as to the of petroleui:n. spirit by road. These powers are enough for our pu:c:)ose, so, hc,ving applie''L the provisions of the J.-.Ct to all hazardous substo..nces by virtue of the po• ors contained in Section 19, lot us which re2.lly arc ef'fecti vc.

In this context I woulc1. sc:,ggest:-

(a) The nature of the substr:.nces being coiweyc·.l. sho;.•.lci. b' cle:.Tly nc::. conspicuously I7larksc:. on e,11 vehicles or in connection with conveyance. ·.:hcctov.:.;r systeri1 is devised shou.J.C: be as sinple c:.s pos siblc, and for LiY p1:..rt, I woulG. be content with c.;, colour cods 1:;ith the initi2.l letter of the type of h,zc,rd., i.e. a re} brnd with the letter 'I' for in±'laFu::abl.:0 a y.:;llow band ·.rith tLe letter 'E' for 8xplosive, blue with the letter ''.I'' for toxic c:.nd green with the letter 'C' for corrosive.

(b) Each vehicle conveying higrly hazccr,ious substances in 1 :.rge qu.:--cntities should be fitted vrith a dual br.".i.cing systei;1 °nc1 should carry an c:.ttendc,nt in '.'.Ci.dition to tte driver. Regulation 13 of th2 Petrole .'r;1 Spfrit (Conveysnce) i=':egulc,tinns, 1959, required. thc.t an attend&nt sho_;JC. bo present, but this 1·ns rescinded by the 1947 Regulations.

( c) S ooe of the fir1:1s ir.1po se their own safety requiranants 1:..nc1 hD,ve a detci..leJ. knov:lec'.ge of the h2,z2rc1s Gnco1mterec1 in tr2nsporting 6.angerou0 substn.nces. I S'.1&;€,est the,t use sh uld be f:1[1.c1.e of their experience -:nd thc.t SD.fety precErntions ; l0 icl1 such undertaking h::cve iuposed and testec1 ovc;r tho ye.'.lrs, sh'.'uld be exc 1;iinoc1 with vi8w to incorpor1::.tin[: ti•o:: in a nctional stn.nc1.c.rd, for it is only by tion, e..ny :ru::..rkod irr:provenonts can be

If you h2 d been the Of.

at one of the incic3.ents we have seen, would you h:- ve c.. t lec st s2ven y:::c.rs to eL',pse before introducing t; o n:..c:Jssr ry legislc"ticn give21 po':ers to do sc•?

EXTRACTS FROY gn::w1.1 F:.E.l:'ORTS

ClJITTERBtJ'Iff CI'l'Y.

Mr. T.B. Hine.

rlr. Fine comments that enforcem:.;nt of tl.':e Petrolcuu .-:-.;1d. :::xplosive Acts is not a minor d·t.ty reql·irLng c, minj_;mm of attention, on the contnJ.r:r, such f_cts loss o:· life, p:"rsonal injury or dauage to property rosul t through l"tek of pro)or enforcement, r eq ·ire a hig:·" st2.nclo.rcl of techCJic:::.l l-u:i01"l1:>1:.e for their propor

Durint: the 3re2.r 32l1- visits wc;re made to pre:::1j_s;-1s for the purpose of the inspection end exs ination of sites, insttll 0 ,tions and the ulectrical equipment assoc:iatecl with the pur,1ps. 'rhe nunber of licens2s issued w2.s 101 rend th.; fe:.;s for etc., amounted to £93.13.0d.

CHESTERFIEtD. M.B. 'r. J .A. Norris.

143 licenses to store petroleum spirit v;ere issuod d 1 ring the yuar, 7 beinf in respoct of' new stores. The quantity of petroleum spirit/:nixt;,rcs stored amounts to 279, 964 gallons. Fe s totalled £117.15.0d. 697 visits 11-;rnre m1:;c1e to liconsecl pre:isos during the yoar. The rc-tosting of olct t.snks whic> h<:wo boon in the rround for twenty years or more hr.cs continuod anc!. 36 k,ve be.-m r0tested cluring the year. 27 wore still sound 9 vrnro found to be unsatisfactory, those were ei th.Jr repl3.ced or rendered safe.

KIDDERMINSTER. M.B. Kr. R.L. Bloor.

89 premises wre licrmsis:J for the storage oJ: a total of 184, 965 gallons of s:,ir:.t u.nd mixt'tros :;ncl 50 lb. of carbid.e of calc''--um. Fe-::;s to £77. total of ::'.02 visits of inspection -.v ero made to ensure comJ_:;lianc:J vri th corcdi tions of licence. Controlled ull'ct-,e tests were cc.rried out on 9 'old 1 tanks all beine· fou.nc" satisfactory. \•o dis-us0d tarL"cs F2re d0alt 1·rith, was stet:mc::d out and cortifiod before being transporte'.3. outside tbe Borough, whilst the '.'.chich c7::-cs to re:.:n.in on site, wns rendered safe by Cil1i:1g -, itb s0,nd 2.nd cer1ent slurry.

Mr. Bloor out that 1,i t:; the incre,_sing populo.rity of the small petrol enginec1 garden [1,Dd. other the pr.s.ctice of O'i!ners storing petrol in containers '. hich are construct:_cd to contain almost rmy liquid. othc;r tho..n petrol, 2ppears to be on the increase. RetaiL.:rs have bo'."ln advised of their legal obligation not to serve p0trol oth;c,r··ise t··an ircto the tanks of motor vehicles or into properly constTucted c&ns JJ.p,rked 'Petroleum Spirit Highly Inflammo.blo'.

LAFCA.ST"SR crrY.

Iif.lr • A .F. Bambridge.

The number of visits to liconsed premisJs totc..llod 228. During the y._:e,r 85 licenses 1.;e:ca issuecJ for the storc..f;e of 348,272 gallons of petroLmm spirit c..nd mixtures, one lice,.-ice 1for !ho storage of 112 lbs. of carbide of calcium was also issuod1 J:'ees ved amounted to £86 .8 .4d. 18 tanks v.rer8 t:rnted for lec:..kage, ono tank fn.i1ed in this test !:end vre.s repl&ced.

Mr. Bambridge reports ono incident v.rhere petrol vr.pour was found to bo pr sont in drains in one n.rea of the City. It vms first thought to com0 from a large depot in the vicinit', but the use of an explosimeter traced tho source to ::-:.n old t.-:n1k in an .flrmy Barracks rrhicb hctd a very small, but porsistont lo::.k. The petrol from the tanks vms ernptio.:J1 im;.:;:;die.tely Emd t:,.w t<.nk

rendered sc,fe. To prevent the conc.::ntration getting dQngerously 0xcessivo, the Fire Brigade flushed the drains several times.

NE'7CASTLE-UN7JER-LTiilE. M.B. Mr. D. Hall.

Storage of me,teric:cls falling within the scop'°' o0c the Potrol::mm Acts continues to increase, tho tobl no'' b,:;ing 899, 851 gallons of petroleum spirit or mixtures, :end 140 lbs. of carbide of C8.lciwn, compu.rison of tLis witt the approxime,te 200,000 gallons of 1953 gives some indico.tLm of increase.

STl'.,FFORD. Iv: .B. 1;Ir. K .c. Hughes.

16 'old' tanks have been tested by means of nitrogen under pressure. In addition 1 3 new tanks btl vo be on pressure tested with air. Of tho old tanks, 4 were rejected. a.s !lot bein2; sound. 83 licenses were issued the storngo of 275,558 ge,llons of petroleum spirit and mixtures.

CITY. Mr. J. Beer.

The number of licensos issued f'nr tru storage of petroleum and/ or carbide of calcium was 159. Of these 1C wero in respGct of application for new licenses or for additional stort,g& to premises already licensed, and the remainder for the renewal of existing licenses v1ithout al torations. The licensee_ storage com;._;s to 5, 138, 132 gallons of p<-troleum spirit including r:1b::ture s, and 22 ovvts. of carbide of c1,lciwn. Fees amounted £166. total of 275 inspections were me,do for tho purpose of ascertoJ.nins th1t new installo.t-Lons s;::,tisfnctorily constructed 8-,00 t'- ?.t at premises already licensed tl'.le conditions attached to the respocti vo licer,ses Wi;re duly observed. 27 agreements to use Swing ,4rms over a public footprtth in m njunction petrol me'..",suring- instruments were renowocL

SWATll'SEA PETROLEUM ACTS 'CLOSE PROXH:ITY'

Reference has been made at past meetings of the Group to the 'Sv.'ansea' cc,se or wh.1t is rJeant by 1 consto.nt attendance'. We reproduce Fi th ackno;c·:leclgements to the Monthly ReviffN, Journal of the Institute of :eights and 1foasures, a report of ['n 2-ppe2,l by e, petrol tanker dri ve1', hee.rd at Swu.nse2, Quarter Sessions in 1961.

At Swansea Borough Que.rter Sessions, "7illio,m John Hich2-rds, a petrol tanker driver, appe::i.lod unsuccessfully against a conviction by s·w-ansea Me,gistrates in June 1961' '.",'hen ho W2cS fined £5 for failing t,; be in constant attend2,nce on his vehicle vihile engaged in the conveynnce of petroleum spirit, contrl'-ry to The Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Reeuktions, 1957. The was brought on the grounc.s that the decision m the magistrates was wrong in :encl_ c.gainst the "JGight of evidence.

In evidence, Mr. J ._i-"!;, Bn.lch, District Inspector of 'Feights and Measures and Petroleum Officer, told tI'..e Court that on 5th May

1961, he S?.w a petrol t:i.nker parked unattended beside a me in road near a busy junction; the vehicle was not halted at a place approved by the local authority. The Driver, John Richards, was in ;: cafe &t a distanoe C"'f 92 yo.rds from the tanker '.tnd on the opposite s-LcJ::; of tho Two lorries carrying mixed concrete parked near the cafe obscured tho tanker from the view of the driver. It wn.s ascertD incc" that the tl',,nker w2 s carrying 2,000 gallons n::· petroleum spirit and just left the petrol storage depot. ""hen inforn1od h;; v:ould be reportGd for fl1iling to be ir•..c6nstant attendance on his vehicle, so..id: 11We are a.llorred a ten-minute tec,-bre[ck. This is itn.

Ricbr.. rds, giving evidence, 2.. greed generi".lly ·,7ith tho facts as presented by Mr. Balch but f'.isD.greed that th.:; other tvm lorries obscured his ti.ovir; they were parked, he S"..id, in a different locc;.tion to thn..t describ by tho Inspector. He ad.C:.ed that irrespective of this he thought thc.t he was within the Regulations to park wherG he did. CounsGl for Richards sub;nitted that a driver who W.'.'LS 92 from his vehicle was in 'close thereto, and therofore in nttendance on his vehicle within the meaning of Regulation 7, und8r v;hich he hacl been origin&lly summoned.

The Recoro.er of' Swansea, Illr. F.• Roderic Bowen, Q. C., M.P., s.dd the.,t he had to deter:nine whether RichD rcls could be said to have been in close proxL:ity at the time, end after roviev.ring the issues involved n.nd the; evidence before him, he found ,'.'cS a fact;:

1 • The te.nker Yms 92 yeo rc1s f om tho ccSe :i..nd on tho side of tre road.

2. The driver was in th(::: cc.. f e.

3. The driver could sec th0 v0ricle from the table if nothing WtS in tho i-r::cy.

4-. .t,,t the material tine tr·o concrete mixers obscured th2 viev1 and tho driver could not see the tanker.

On these facts h0 came to tlle conclusion th'.' t the driver was not in closo proxirnity to his ·i:m:iker was, ther0fore, not in constant attendance. Concluding his judgc1ent, the Recorder said: "I incline to the view thc,t ever" if tl"e V8hicle had been in view of the driver, he would not h,·,ve been in close proxL1ity".

Full costs to be taxeo. out of court were granted to tho respondents.

Counsel for Swansea Corporation was Mr. t..lan Coulthn.rcl.

Mr. F.A. Stockd1::.le appeared for Richards •

STORAGE OF AND WATER PETROLEUM PROT'::CTION

reproduce in full a criticc:l survey published by the Minere.lolwirt schaft sverband e. V., (Petroleum Association) in Hamburg, on the problems associated with the storage of petroleum and water protection, in the 'Nest Germ2.n Federal Republic.

The necessity and protection

After deductions have been made from the annual rainfall in the Federal Republic, to allow for evaporation and plant growth, there still remain 90 thousand million cubic metres for actual water resources. About 11 thousimd million Ct'bic metres of tliis are at present being used for industrial and domestic purposes, but the greater part of this is not completely consumed and flows into the rivers as waste water. Therefore, even looking to the distant future, there does not seem to be the slightest danger of a water shortage. Nevertheless, the need for a rs.tional system of water protection is fully realised by all departments of economic

The real limits of water protection are on the one hand imposed by the suitability of aim nnd means; no one should bear greater costs or responsibility than is necessary. On the other hand the 1''ater Resources Law (WHG) demands that products be stored in such a way that there is no fear of the harmful pollution of ground water or any other detrimental change in its properties. For that reason not every type of pollution can be regarded as harmf'ul. Under the \;Jc:,ter Resources Law, the merely theoretical possibility of pollution is not sufficient to claim attention there must be a definite probability appe.rent from the actual facts.

In order to make an objecti ·'e evnluation of the degree of danger v!hich actually exists and to plan the most suitable measures for water protection, those co11cernod must bG adequately informed about the behaviour of petrolou_rn in soil and we.. ter.

Physcial principles

When petroleum comes into contact with the soil, the depth to which it penetrates and rate at which it penetrates depend both on the soil structure and on the viscosity of the petroleum. V!hile soil of a fine texture like lime, clay and silt can be regarded in practice as impermeable, permeability increases with the size of the individual particles cmd consequently with the size of the capillary voids. On the other hand, the depth and re..te of penetration decrease so sh::trply with the incraasod viscosity of the petroleum, that some grades of crude fuel oils as well as lubricating oils and bitumen do not endanger the ground water in any way. Pollutions of this kind can easily be removed by mechanical means if necessary.

Of even greater importance in this question of wator protection is the capacity of the particular types of soil to absorb and/or retain petroleum. Generally speaking, when there is greater capillarity, the absorbing capacity also increases. Thus, for examp::!.e, fine sancls can ret2.in up to 38% of their volume of petroleum, and medium sz,nds up to 30%. This explains the fact that 11fter accidents involving oil, the ground nater level was frequently scoured in vain, in an attempt to find traces of the

oil. To take the following as an example: if in a road accident 15,000 litres of petroleum .seeped into the ground, 40 cubic metres of fine sandy soil are sufficient to retain the entire qmmti ty. Since petroleum spreads both horizontally and vertically in the ground, owing to capillary forces, penetration of the petroleum into the ground water is checked, and in actual fact, often completely prevented.

If permeable soil, 1:Jade up of mixtures of pervious particles together with average ground water con6.itions is taken as the most frequent (normal) c2se, approxhistely the following tD.kes place, as a large volume of research nork ho..s clearly confirmed.

The petroleum first sprer"ds vertically downwards and sideways. In so doing, a compact mass of oil and sand is formed in the shape of a cylinder or pear and of varying height. The size of this mass depends on the amount of oil tmd the absorbing of the soil. The important fact now is that the Lmss, due to the cn,pillarity and position of the various surface stresses, shows a definite inclination to stick firmly togother and to resist every tendency to decompose, even when there are fairly strong underground currents. The mass v1hich renains stationary in the soil and also to a greater or lesser degree in the §';round water, can in the course of time bo dissolved and decomposed to a limited extent, but only on its interface. In the course of this process the very slight solubility of all petroleum and the high rate of tension at the level at which the water comes into contact with the oil, prevent any consiCJerable advance in the decomposition of the mass of oil and sand. In all these normal cases there is only a small quantity of oil in the a.rea imLGCliately surrounding the mass which can r11ix with the ground water. In several actual cases which were reported in tech.r1ical journals, the ar.1ount of petroleum dissolved per year(!) on the interface was between 3 and 10 litres for the 5,000 ao 3U,OOO litres of petroleum which had seeped into the ground. The following can therefore be justifiably stated:

Normally nasses remain essonticilly unchanged for decades and longer in the sa.me place when unjnfluenced by external forces. Decomposition takes pl1lCe extraordinarily slowly.

It is obvious that irapermeable soils are ideal for w£1ter protection, whereas when there are fissures in the soil structure all the transitional stages froro normal to pure flow conditions in open waters are to be found. In such cases, from the physical point of view, tl1e laws of hydraulics and hydrology are valid to varying degrees, although the flow rate of petroleum is always slower than that of ground water, G.nd sometiEws considerably slower. The removal of such types of oil pollution ce,n soraetimes be carried out in n. recognised wc.,y by the installation of protective wells, by means of which the petroleum is collected in a funnel-shaped trap created in the ground, and pwnped off.

The decompositi2_g_of _:e_etroleum

The purely decomposition of petroleum has indeed been fully explained scientifically, but can be dispensed with here, _because this is not of any groat importance in the particular area below ground level now undur discussion. On the other hand, chemical deco:J.posi tion runs parallol to microbiccl decor:1posi tion, so that all the conditions wbich nre fa vourrcblc for the one o..re equally favourable for the other •

The microbial decolilposition of petroleur.1 must be regarded as one of the most important :'.spects of wr,ter protection. It is therefore incomprehensible that scarcely any attention hc:ts b&en paid to this ir:iportant factor up till now. In this ccn·'lection

the scientific material nvailable on the subject can be regarded as completely adequate frorn. th:i qualitc:.tive point of view for practicc'.l purposes, but ::'-S f2.r o.s qun.nti ty is concerned, there are still certain questions loft to bG investigated..

Vi'hen the terr.1 "self-purification powern is fr-.;quently used ir. technical journo.ls, tho term refers primarily to the biological effect of Elicroflora in tho soil anc1 water. In any case there are no wicrobos to be found in pure hyclrocc.rbons; they cannot re:.m.in alive in bec,-::use they neocl oxygen e.nd a certain o.mount of water in aclchtion to fooclstuffs. This fact is of considerable pr2ctico.l i1'.1portance, since it conf'irus pro.ctic<).l findings, namely that hrmo-geneous mnsses of oil ::cn<1 sanc1. in the ground cannot be cleconposec1. from within by ;Jicr<Jbos. The microbes prefer to settle exclusively in the vmter phc.se and it is there the.t ;;1icrobial decomposition takes pl:,ce. This is favoured by the largest possibl..:. interfaces between petrolorn;i or hyc1-rocarbons in seneral on the one hand, and tho phase on the other. Ideal conditions for d.econposition exist when liyc1rocarbons are dissolve<l in water so that O.econposition t.'..:.}:es pl? ce simultzneously within the total nrea. On the othor hand, when hydroc:::.rbons are not dissolved., deconposition is alv:ays li:::ited to the interface -;·here the water cor:1es into conte.ct with the oil.

In nature microb,·:is generally whilst those hyllrocarbon oxidising agents which e..re of pn.rticular interest 2.S reg:o.rds water protection are distributed universclly :::.nc1- in irnnense quantities. Several million per cubic contiEJetre of water or per gre.,nm of soil are no rarity. The reprociuction of rnicrob;;s exceeds t.11 known records of fecundity. Pr0su11)osing ideal con:1itions for trowth, a microbe colony would fill 0ntire oceans in 4-5 clays.

T'hen considering the 0eco;:nosi ti·:m of two groups of nicrobes can be clistinguishecl which :'.o not cliffer greatly. Whereas the VE:.rious species in the first group specialise to varying degrees in the c1cconposi tion of pc,rticular hydrocc.rbons, the species in the oth,;:;r grc1up c-,re f mnc1 mostly in a wide range of homolot;ous series of c1 up to the Cx of stable compounds. Thus r:1ethane bn.cteri:::t r,row chiefly on i:1ethane, t'.lthough they are also to be foun0_ on the nei[hbouring raembGrs of' the pt:i raffin seri0s up to :'.'encl inchi.ding hexc.ne. SiDil0.rly Pseudomenas propanicD. prefers ;)rop:-"ne and BactorilLS toluolicum the o..rornatic hydrocarbon, tolucme. On the other hand, for exaLifJlo, the following bacteri1:1 are frequently encountered.: aliphaticun, Pseudor,1onc::.s neru_;inesc,, 1;:icrococc1_,.s and Myco-bacteriur:i par.:i.ff'inicuia. Since wul ti.ple between r.iicrobes and hycJ>oc<:>..rbons, each hydrocarbon c1:l.n tlF.?,ys be clecomposec1 by several different spocios of rdcrob::;s.

The r:1icrobicl doconpositLm of hydrocr:.rbons is synonyr:;ous whth coDplete oxydatJ_r:m. As a result carbon c"..ioxide anrl water are obtn.ine:l as encl products while hydrosen p8roxides, primr,ry alcohols :end flltty aciC.s w:o.re found P s intor12or:iate prorJ.icts. The oxygen necess,-;ry for the deconposi tfon is utilise et in every form, whBther directly from the G.ir, in c. rlissolvocl forE1 or in a coubinc tion wit:'- nitrites, nitrc.tes, sulphc.tes etc. It hD.s already been known for nan,y yec:.rs t bn. t the qurnti ties of the abovo-nentioned salts in the grouncl diEinish fr01:l.tly .':',s soon as petroleum enters the soil. Practical tosts uncler n:iture,l conditions of growth he.. vo clearly conf'ir!".led the results of extensive research work carried out by ;:;icrobiologists.

The growth of bacteria tc.kes place in temperatures ranging from -3°C to +5.f C, ancl all ctm withstand extronoly low temperatures as fn.r as £'.bsolute zero without suffering ::my hn.rr:i. It is interestint;; to note th"'..t the so-called cold-bactGria 1,,'hich

0 still continue Bultiplying below a teLlperature of 5 C, arc in fact tho species nO'>t frequen-tly found.

In practice deconpositi'm 8-lR2.ys stn,rts with selected microbes. Spi;:icies nhich do not noll on the hyclroc:crbon in question, C:isappear wherens the spocies nul tiply quickly ,1s a result of iclec:>,l fe:;ding conditLms. Thus, for exa::iple, within 10 de,ys a 200-fold increc:.su in nicrobes was ascortCl.inod. This also ox-plains the fact tre. t an increC:.se is so often found which exceeds the 0riginrrl total clensi ty of' br cterb.. GroTth was particularly swift r.mc1 intensive vrhen petrolGur:i vms ncc1ed r0peate,1.ly.

Microbial decomposition is different in the cr:.se of polluted surfc.ce w o.ter or grouncl there arc fissures. The nicr'lbos first settle fror:1 belo'r in thG film of oil on ti-ie surface. Due to th, eva_?oration of lor: bc:ilin.g point frc:wticms c:.:n.CI_ tlle incraaseG. growth of the 1::ticro"iJ;,;s, the filr:i of oil sinks to the botton in the fc;rm of flc.kes, Hh:::re it is decoDl)OSCJ('.. still further by anaerobic b8.cterin.. Bubbles of r:0;th'.'.no gns rising fro 1.1 the digested sludge bring oil rosi1:Cuos uhich no-t yGt cleconpoeec1,, to tho surfc.ce once ;::ore so that coerobic bc.cteria can attack again frorJ be1-0W. This series of recictions h2.:P!Jens until C":':.eco:::position is 12.yors of oil 0.2 um. thick wore c or.1pletely d.econposed within 1 0 days.

In conclusion, as rogards Fater .protection it can be statec1 th8.t ;::1ic robi:?..l decompositicn of petroleum in the :_:.round sets in intensively oithr:Jr c,s soon :cs tho petroleu;-:'. is clissolvocl, ,1r when enough hc,ppens to b0 distributed in the soil ground 1 mtor. Or, exprossed in oth2r ter·s, the further oil resi:1ues are fron a central point of pollution, the quicker o.nc; the more certain their coo.plote decu.uposition by me:::ms of specific nicrobes ·,-;hich are continuDl ly :i.ncreRsing.

F,'.".lse Criteria

All regulations for wo.tor protectL:n, published to c1c.te, e.re bG.secl more or less on the o.ss<Jrtion trif\,t one litre of petroleun can r1?.ke one oillion litres of clrinkin2: water unfit fCJr consurption. With variants up to 200 nillion litres, this assertion ho.s alnost become corr&,on knowl:,dge throt:gh being wicloly circulated ee..sily e.ccessible, it does not noe:l to bo emphasiso,:3_ in viow of these figures cat,..,,strophos of evory f:!iDensicn are precl..ictei'!_. People do indeed those fisures could in fact be rather exaggeratec1, but this would not al tor the funC'camental conc.itions.

Every objocti vo survey of' tl!o prccctical c0ncli tinns in ouostion sl1ows however, that the mecl rtion is only valid in theory. This be provecl in vo.rious w::..ys, tho sim1lest being by means of publication brouc;ht out by the Foc-:eral Institute of Hydrology in Koblenz. ScLmtists on this F0cler[1.l Bori.rd, after a thorough exa1;1ination of a tTJic:'.l case, have prove('._ beyond P.. <1oubt that there vms no har:.Jful pollution of (lrinking v:e..ter when 17, OOO litros of <3-iesel fuel ponotr,•.tecl th8 soil, <:lthow:;:-1 t!"ere were fresh wat:::ir wells in the iu.t-:i.eclic.te vicinity of the clanrer zone (19 ancl 26 metros avr::'..y).

For the nost freqaont norr.10.l c::cses, Clefinite :,)roof of the untenability 0f the <:.ssortion rdc.ting to 1 : 1 TJ.illicm litres is provided by tho afore-nontL;nQ'.l_ l'hysical r.;:-icl biolo,::_;icc.l conditions in the soil 11rn'i. grouncl ;,7r,tor If a stati;nQry i;-,ass of s.o.nd and oil is eubedc'i_eC::. in the t;roun3., none :)f tLC'.t 1:p.ss really pol1utes tho miter, since in the course of a yeo.r, only the smallest quantities, m10untin::; to 0.0001f, Ecre clissolvocl. For exar.:iple, in the particulr..r cc,se in Koblenz, only 3 litres per yei::.r

(8.2 ccm per aay) frc:-.1 a totE!.l of 17,000 litres of cl.iesel fuel coulcl possibly be consifterc•l :·.s cr:,using 1·;ator pollution. As regarcls microbial clecor.Tposi ticm, it without saying t nt minute qunntitics c.ro Cl-ir.::--;letoly c"cccomposec: <:",f-!;;er hr.ve a short wl::ilo in the soil or substro.ta.

The untenccbility of the 1 : 1 f.'.illion factor Cf\D o.lso be proved indirectly. If thG yoClrly seepe.t_;e rrcte of petroloum, variously estir:io.tcc1, is tiplier-:!. by a million, long n.i;o woulcl ht1ve boon no r;.:,tor lef·i:; fit to l1.ri!'.k in the ;Jholo of the Republic.

Th3 problem of the 1 : 1 TJillion f<ectc1r depG!lc".s on the analysis fi5,:ures for solubility r..ncl incre'"".se of orlour, 'Nl1ich in the on.so of smJe petroloun pro.:l_ucts belong in this of nagnitud.e. Thus, it is not in the leE:.st dispute cl that s:·111..ll of this kincl can impo..ir Jche snell ::me". tc:ste of clrinkil'l{; YTater. It Wl'..S however, proved that it is :::_ ecepti ve to put auount s of petroleun which ho.ve penetro.ted the soil or groum: rro.tor on r: par with amounts r/-ich nit;ht c0uso quite apo.rt fror1 the influence of ;;1icrobial decm1positicn.

Moreover, me.n' s '.1.cute sensitivity to the sraell c,nr1 t12ste of suall petroleum admixtures, is the best conceivo.ble i)rotection age.inst injuries to health, up to the pro sent dc.y no serious case of illness has been known, let alone C'.er:.th, -;,rhich cot:clr: be attributed to drinking ·water pollutec1 by petrol8wJ. Even animr:.ls are not p:::.rticularly enr:r-.n[;ereJ in any nay. ,\s h2.s boon proved by tests carriecl out recently, cows 1rcffG r:.ble to tccko in ln.rger anounts of petrolcuc. without any hr.-,r::i r,nc1. ovor c. loncer period of tir.1e tl-13.n wot;lcl bo liLely to occur under normn.l conditions. As frT ' s it v1c,s possible to check re..:orts on r:'..eaths nmong cattle, theso i;rove,1, witl:uut to bo due to other causes. It is n known f[tct tho.t very sensitive types of fish, salmon for exa:.;ple, c11n only tolerate limitocl.. of petrol0uu. But it is less kn,)wn thnt potroloun only plo.ys a very Iilodost role in deo.ti-.·s fish, whereas liquid nanure is the nost harmful subst."-nce, follmrccl by wn.ste wate:c fro;:i inclustry and households (Swiss Conf\Jc1.eratinn :f'or the Insp,;ction of .Forestry, Hunting ancl Fishing).

A further vrell known point in n.ssossinc; the possible chnger to drinking rmter frow ;:ietroluum is the clain thrct s0Lcoti::1os entire w0-ter supply plants, ·worth 50 r;;illion DM or r.,ore, could b>Jcor.ie permanently useless W'.lulcl. hc:.vo to be set up acr.,in SO'"iewhere olse. In this connection, heavy insurance losses .'.'.ro also often re-,•ortecl. This clain, toe, ;]c.ich can ultim1:,tely bo trGcocl back to the million factor, nust be q:F:ted i·:s br)ing nisleCLding. Even when conditions are most unfe,vo11.r2,ble, tho..t is to se.y, vrhen large quantities of petroleun penetrate the storC'ge o roa of corJr:>unal water supply plants, Lmy pnllution of the drinking caussJ by petroleun can be renoveC. by tno,...ms of acti VD. ted carbon filters. The cost involved. is relatively snall s.nc1.. r::ust, to the 1Nater Resources Law, bo borne by the responsible party. Of course, <.ny ration2l noasure which is likely to bo successful will be tclcen so ::.s to c,voi:1 such critical c 0-ses, but tl1is is no justification whatsoever for tl 1 :; fclse rumours arc s:pread about the colossal degree of clo..rn'<'e clone. \'honover c1.-:;t'\ils h::tve been given by the insurQnco s about tl10 11:>..rge suns pn.ic1 out in s ettlef'.lent of cl2,i1:·,s, o. lD.rgo pro1')orticm n'.1y certainly be attributed to le.ck of ex-porionce -m th,_; p::-.rt of c:ll concerned; even for insurance ..::xperts, water protection is 0, new fiol(1. Unfortunately event oclay, c0-sos arG c ontinucl ly occurrin,c; wbich, bocnuse of their couplete harulossnoss as fnr o.s v:c:.ter pollution is concerned, do not C8.ll for ::1;1y control but 1ihich, nevertheless, incur costs and labour bccnuse of

supposedly necessary protective neasures.

Finally, nention must be w.ade of the claio thn. t petroleun is not decoI'1poserl in the ground. Ls has ::i.lready been stated, this is in general only the case Yr.i.th homogeneous and stationary masses of sand and oil which, o.s far as water protection is concerned, are on the whole to bo rogarclec1 as harmloss deposits. On tho other hand, all oil residues arc subject to active nicrobial decomposition as soon as they ap;iat:.r c...istributed in the ground or in the water, and this is o. prLmry condition for any kincl of danger to distant drinking watur plMts.

The federative principle laid down in the basic law for the "'Tater Law h.c.s proved to be inadequate for dealing v-Ii th this predooinantly technical problen. The economic eX})erts regretted that it was not possible to forrmlate a uniform Water Law. The Vlater Laws of t!_1:, provinces which supplement in the \Vater Resources Law differ considerably in many details. In addition nunerous constructional were issued by the provinces and these mainly contain nec.sures to be taken for water protection. At present the provinces are finally prepering statutory orders for the Jater Laws, vrhich a re to Cl.eal vtlth all 1letails of water connocted with petroleun storage. On behalf of the Provincial Industrial /issoci:c,tion 'Yater (La'.nderarbeitsgemeinschaft ''Classer') Technical Directives for storage ulC1 transport of liquicls dangerous to water vvere clrawn up, without consulting the econoDic circles concerned, in spite of repeated requests. So::.1e provinces have alreacLy introduced directives in draft for;-;1 'ns interm:i.l acbinistrntive instructions.

The Mineral8lwirtschaftsvorl:Janc1 e.V., (PotrolourJ Association) in Hamburg, sent identical letters on 8th June, 1962 to all the relevant provincial ministries, seying thc.t they wore opposed to the only drc.ft of the 'Technic.'.ll Directives 1 known to theEJ at that tine, and with the intention of D. Voiding unforesee['l.ble difficulties, requested that they should not be put into force, In the opinion of the petroleun industry, the somewhat biased draft contains such obvious deficiencies in its fundamental conception and in many of its details, that it cannot be regarded as a recognised rule of technology and is not at all suitable as a basis for statutory orders. If it were put into force it vrould not be conpatible vdth the Water Rosource Law or the legal principle of the relativity of means. It is not feasible in practice to declare the whole Federal Republic a water protection &.rea, because in certain areas allowance would hnve to be made for a considerable increase in economic charges nithout those having D.ny significe.nt effect on water protection. A clanger which is predominantly only fictitious, cannot be removed by exaggerated, technical rules and regulations, but only by putting things in the proper light.

The concrete tn.nk pit !'.nC' the c

;)ri®.£1.e,,

The concrete tank pit as :prototype of a lre which was introduced officially for water protection is scarcely ten years old, but already a thing of the A glance in retrospect at this experiuent soeas useful at this partic,.ilar juncture, in order to avoid renewe(l__ of a si::1ilar type. The water board introduce cl the concrete tank pit in 1955 unccor tl1 o inf'luence of the water protection t1casures tc.ken by their neighbouring Swiss colleagues; since its construction was k;.sec on such a simple idea it was received in wide circles as readily as the 1 : 1 million factor. Therefore, millions of lfarks r;ere invest;:;c1 in hel'..vy,i

concrete installations, the cost of w_i,ich was exorbi tcmt in relation to their minimal protective value. Today a hig}-_, percentagG of the local conret0 tanks alr-Jady no longer waterproof bcjco.use of cracks. Besides this, concrste tanks encourage corrosion, due to storage of moisture. The most dangerous consequence, however, of these conrete tank :)its is to be seen in the fact tho.t effective wator protection were checked, if not completely prevented bocause of tt:e incomprehensible way people clung to this 2.,bortive Swiss development.

On the ;round of violent ana justified criticism of the concrete tank pit, industry developed other equipment for collecting and detecting petroleum leakcges. =>rovinces made many orders for that type of equipm'::mt, even before suito.ble c1Gsigns were available. Meanwhile the "Inspoction Cormnitteo for Safety Bquipm0nt for Storage of Liq_uicl_s d.s,ngerous to Grouna. 'ator 11 (Prilfausschuss flir Sicherungse,e.censt'-\nde bei Lag:Jrung grundYvasserschi:!.ditender Fhissit:;kei ten") (PA VI) v:as set up e.. s an official testing boe.rd and recognised by ::;,ll provincGs. To begin \'d. th, hoViever, it we.s only competent in the field of oil storctge.

The idea und erlying the concrete te.nk pit and tl'le ;:!ore pre.cticable present devel::pmonts is that of the co11ectiV9 principle. When the origin2.l tank in ·Nhich the p0trolewn is stored bee omes non-watertight, the petroluum is to be collected, ("_,r prevented from flowing into soil by mec:,ns of some other device. ;. practicn.l oxo..min2,tion of t.h:--; necessity rc;.nd usefulness of applying the collective principle, which causes co nsidero.bly increased costs with every different design, must le2.d to following conclusions:

VIith the ma,jority of normal c r,S•JS (not in particular 1mtor protection areas or special cc,ses), even whon large quantities of petroleum ponetr:tte the grolmd, thore is no harmful pollution of drinking water, let alone ::my danger to communccl '7atur supply plants. Rather, in most cn.s;;s, it crm be decide a_ without any time pressure, whether polluted soil should b0 rGlnovod or left unaltered, Perhc;,ps in this con-,·ection it would bo us0ful to note the fact that even th,::; Federal Institute of Hydrolog·y (BundesanstD.lt filr Gewa'.sserkunde) decided in tbe afore-mentioned case, that the soil, although polluted by 17,000 litres of diesel fuol, should be left unchanged. This vw s in spite of t;-e fact that there were privately owned w0lls in the immediate vicinity and communal water supply plants serving several communities further away.

In ac;ditfon it has been established thnt, in view of tre present developments regarding tanks and corrosion protection, there are not the slightest difficulties in constructing normnl tnnks or single thickness which are reliably v:aterproof' and remain so. The d8mand for a collecting device must therefore be noted as unfeasible for all normal case;s. There can be no defence on economic groun-:s for investing considerai.Jle sums in an enterprise which cannot bring r,ny eff'ecti ve returns.

Conditions are different in tl:e more limited arec;,s of v,,ator protection zones. There, difficulties could occur at least temporarily if :petrolcmm ',;;-ere suddenly to pC:;netrClte the ;.'round. The petroleum industry has thcrofore Scdd for ycn.rs, thn.t it v1c1s prep?:.red to use the collecting principle in these o.rens r.nd hr.s, in 0ddition :::.bstainod from storing -".ny pr3trol_ um in areas.

Insulo.,ted, underground, steel pl:-c;,t2 storr.ge ts.ri:.cs v:ith relatively thick wrtlls k,vo ,01,lr ;rcdy been used on :, l'.-.rge scale by the petroleum industry fer over 60 yoa,rs. These to.,i1ks hccve been !Ik.":cnufactured for somo uncle' :wre ricid conditions by p:'crticulr:.rly relic.blo firms, :end n.re sutjGct to c onst:--.nt examination by offici:cl -:.uthorities. They offer o. sufficiently high measure of security 2.g"inst le"k'.ge for norm'.ll conditions. It is well-knmm tho, t oil pullution is only cn.us;;d in extrc::cordinarily few by leel:ing store.cc tanks.

In connection with several rem:::vlel C'.'np«iigns of excessively sme.11 tanks (in one 7, OOO t<:mks up -to 32 yec:rs old), even in the c::se of those of e,'.lrlier dusign, it wP,s c:lvmys possible to find evidonce of good resistance to corros:.;_on. Is a result of increc,sed dom::..nds for w2ter protection, the constructircn of tanks kcs been improved still further in couTse of the lccst 10 years, due to inti:msive P.fforts on the pecrt of' the t<:cnk industry, those engo,ged in protection n,g[:,inst corrosion, technic2,l supervision · nd tho petroleum industry. The present high quality petroleum tanks made ::ccording to the "Conditions for unc.1-erground storcge tanks RAL-RG 998" (Beuth-Verlag) constitute th::: 1.-::,t._st stc,ge of a long development.

Defects which formsrly occi:,rred more often C'..S re res,.ilt of unsuit0,ble transport :ind instc,lL.tion, can be lr..rgely eli;:ni:n1'ted by adopting the install:2tion procedure e,s lc,icl cl o·.-n in the printr:id instructions c:.ncl p:c,rticularly by off'icic-cl t 1c:sts. every type of corrosive caused by aggrossive soils or stray currents can be co:apletely :prevonted '.'hzm m;cessary, (in protected Qreas), by meox:s of protection. Interno..l corrosion vrhich is in itself less iuport2.:r:t, cr•.:rc c0rt".i1:ly b:J :.voided by the 0,dditi:m of inhibitors. Lpn,rt from this, t:ce e <.rly s t2.ges of r:.ny oLmc.ge 0.re recognised in good tL1e by !'lai::ing repec:.ted tests. FinE:.lly, overflow safety devfoes, from their chief objects hc,ve the clesired side effect of roliably preventing dcci!:C'..ge of insulation due to an overflow of petroleun1 residues. The high quo.li ty petroleum tanks therefore satisfy c,ll stande,rcLs set for w2.ter protection to C>.. degree v.-hich could sc,c-,rcc:ly be surpassea_.

If one considers the conception of water protection in the Federal Republic which is not ksod on actu0,l facts, it is useful to me.ke a cornp::-,rison with experionce abro'ld. The country ,,.ith v·Lich a co1,'pc.rison can be rn.:'ldo is the U.S,;L, for tl1ey y;;ars of experience ni th enormous nmabers of unclorground stor2.1:;e tarti<::s. Repeded enquiries from all sorts of different qua.rte:cs have al...-mys uno.nimously sl:ovm thnt tte concept pollutionn is just knorm, but there is not in effect, nor ever h?.s be cm, a vv::::.ter pollution problem :i.n the er;-J8.n s onse of the terc. ThG Gerw::"n water board s2.id it should be borne in !Ilind tho.t the clensity of' population is less in the u.s.;. and besides, to!', certain extent, more surface water is used than ground vmter. This is definitely true. On the other lnnd, however, ttere is no drmbt th'='.. t even the U .S .J\_. hns large are2cs in which the drinking ue,ter requirements are covered up to 85% by the grouml water. In e,Ddition, unc_ert ground storage tan'k::s are us eel in the wl:ich 1,,ave thinner walls and are only slightly insu.l':.ted, e.(!. by r;, cod or p::dni:;; there is thus no cornpt:',rison with c Germc:.n pet. role urn ta s. For this roe.son reg:--,rc'-:i_ng le:ikint, trcnks in th U .S .A. are o.lso relctivoly ::!;ven c:.ft::;r <.;, c::_reful evaluation of this co;;:iparison, the irrefutc'cle conclusion is th?,t the present don2,nds of G-er 1:Ln vrnter :protcct,con c:cro in c.ctu11l fc;ct completely unf'ec.siblo.

Optimum water protection

Amongst others, tl1e deuand. is made for all individuc.l c "..ses of water protection to be trct:i,ted unifor'7lly in accordcmco with the extraordin[!,rily strict rncn,sures, such r;s are found to be nocessary in criticcl areas. It is c1if:f'icult to treat tLis r}G:nend seriously. Any reasonn.ble considor·0 t:Lon inevi t:::.bly to tl1e conclusion that the 0ptimuc1 wz:.ter protection rch1ed by dl tl.e parties concerned, can only bo ::;chieved by ctifferentiating betv:een the various meccsures; that is to Si\Y, the })rotective mee,sures must in ee,ch case be relc,ted to the prtrticulc.r c'oe;reo of dant;er. The Y'ater Resource Lea h2-s c,lre::dy laid down this principle in nhich, besides the regulations governing norn:cl cc.ses, tl:.e lECw provides further measures for cc,ses of incroccsed a.anger in wc,tor protoction arecLs (i, 19 ''Jeter ResourcesLaw). Bven the le,,r,l principle of relativity c,nd every econoi•ic consideration lee,i to this t'-cknowledg0ment.

The petroleu;:1 industry is fo,;;iliar with the involved in obt:::.ining suf:l'icient quantitit:is of .:rnd we.tor for dor.iestic ::md inclustri.".l pur:::ioses in the Densely populcto:i l•'eder::cl Republic. It h<: s, thorofore, oncouro.g·ed measures which see1:1ocl liko1y to bo successful in preventing water pollution, i.e. by mel:,ns of its initiative in the Fee.oral ,· ssocie.tion of GerBan Iniustry, nncl by its continous collD.boro.tion '7i th rssec,rch institutes '1ncl those eng.::tged in te.nk proc_uction and corrosion protection. As a result of this, th' prerequisites wore worker1 out for e. of storing potroleus whicl1 cotlplied with £!.ll the denmnds of wo.ter protGction. UrSortuff·,,tely the import,:mce of this dev;:::lopi:Hmt work hc-:s not been g;.mor,..,_lly recognised. In this connection the follm"inc deserve p:,,rticule,r 0,ttention: the present work ·being carrir:vl out by the St:".nd2.rc1s ComDittess, tb,; successful dcvelop-_lcnt of hit:,::h qu::lity tanks, the development of c2,thodic protection 0,g:1inst corrosion no'i: ro'.'Cc1y to be put on the rJo.r:i<:et, cons:Llere,ble in insul::cting and t. sting techniques, cunstruction2cl irr:proYenents in tc:.nker lorries <:'..nd tho inter"si ve schooling of tochnicc,l supervisory personnel.

The petrolew11 industry itself hc,s, moreovor, very extensive interne,tioru:tl experience of ·:Jetroluum stor:cge. It c,:_n c crte,inly not be in their interest if t}rnir products E:.rc l::>st r1ue to negligence or le:'.kc.ge, nor if they :ere forced to pr:y co17lpensaticm, c.s stipµl11tGc_ in ( 22 ' 1hoter Rosource:s Lm:, fo:;.· ·.,:hich could ho.ve b•,Jen r.voic1ocl. Furthernoro, tho petrolelL1 imlustry c:::.nnot b0) interested. in the Lotboc1..s resulting fror'1 tho frequent reno';ml of large numbGrs of ,ged t.:cnks. I!'or tl1.<',t re::cson the intorosts of the petroleur:1 irnli..cstry run pc.,rc.llol to o. very gro::t extent to the general efforts to procure ttdoqu.-:te ;·; CLtcr protection. Attention deserves to bo pc.,id, thorefore, to the in the '.\ppondix put for':'r0,rd by the petrolom1 inr'i.ustry for rHxi:,mm Y. 1 2tor protection. They in o.,ccord.c,nce with all well founc'.ou cl:-.irr',s including tho water L.w conc1itirms laid cloY:n by tho '1::.ter Resources Law.

Insur11nce pro1219ms

The insurance covering risk of vmter pollution in CLCoorc.2-nce with the unliniterl absolute liability stc,tec1.. in s 22 Vfat0r Resources Law, hc.s unrlerst.<.:.ndo,bly given rise to certE:.in d.ifficul ties. If offici::clly coupetent circles C'.,lrea.J.y bc1s:::: their views on sup:posi tions o.bout tho ;::,ctuc:.l r'Lnger, hoYr c2.n anything b::)tter bG excepted the insure.nee i,chose fundmnentE:,l concern is this very c".1:,nger? Tho G.ifficulties occur in pr2.ctice: th:.ire is no adequate cor.:1r::,:nt0..ry on the ··r>,ter Resources Law, tho Feclorlll ·Sup0rvisory Office for Lisur2.nce

•

and Building Loan associations h0,s not yet approvec1 tho particular condition i'or insure.nee, c:.ccorc.ing 9 22 'later Rosources Law, lmd e.,s reg::crc",s the nost iuport:>.nt factors for the t.ssGss: t:mt of premiuas (frequency :.nc::_ extent of there is still no data n.vaila'cle. In a:',r."..i tion, ju'-'.go;.:cmts o.re EJ.::ccle on frclse assm:1ptions anc1 e.re subsequently echoec:1 in public opinion, which mt1.kes it cLifficult for t;<e insur<:ince cor:ipa.nic:;s to ndte tho correct assessment. Present drcy insurt.nce auvortising mc.torir,l, incluiling prm,1ium offers f',nC\. speci2.l coni:1itions, :r;ust be consic1erod in tbo lit:Lt of tLe ::oi:,ove. Th'·' gsnernl roostablisru:ient of v12,ter )rotoct:3_on of a basis of ach,,.l fact should also, within e. short time, cluf',r up all relevo..nt insurl',ncc probleras con letely Rec.ucing the d.n.n;;er of 2,cc:tr;Lcmt§_

Ji'nquiries were and_ still :::re from 2.ll q_u2.rters c'..bout the relation between a1cidHnts involvinc oil, and their On the v;hole it hc,s been shown that t:mks are re>.rely the c2,uso of ci.anage, ·:hile, on the othur ha11C., overf'lo.':ings occur relatively frequently c.nd traffic 'C.Ccic1ents involving to.nker lor:r'ies occasionrrlly. '7hilst we oc,n be sure ti'.at overflow Cl.if'ficul tios will ultiun.toly be ovorcoGo, J.ue to clovelopn0nt of sc:,fety ctevicos, the 1: 0 otor industry and petroleum industry h2.ve together LlC.C1e consiclerable ir.iprovenents in the construction of tanlrnr lorries. Alre.:,dy one of these (autor.:r:tic prevention of lee.knee if the lorry overturns) shoulCI. to C'c lnrge extent :x kc foruer accidents of this type avoicfable. By mo· ns of directives for r:ien..sures in tl1e Ce!-SG of "' tur11 sho 1 .ild. also be noted.

Of course there is no ccbso1ute security :o.s ree;n..rc!.s water protection or the techniques. security in the c.bstract as has been shown is not at all necessary • Pollutions which can be P.ttributed to force najeure, D.ccic.ents etc can be removed without difficulty 2,t 3. feasible cost 2,ncl_ without endangering vital interests. The t?,bunde.nt Deans at prosont available are sufficient for this under all circi.c,stances. Ap:-:.rt fror;i that, nature itself, throui:;h the naturrcl vigour of its microflora, offers moans for neutro.lising possible pollutions.

§_UDIJary

Present c1£>.y views on water in areas ,,·:f.1.ore petroleum is stored nre bc,scc1. on 2,ssessments whicb can be proved fc.,lse, as '.'Tell as on insufficient evaluc.tion of practic2,l experience rmCl. research on the oC'..sic co.uses. Developmonts in the vmter law br;,sec1 on these vio·,·;s h2.ve contributed tm7e.rc1s consiD.erable clisquiet encl c1.ifficul ties within industry. Legal uncertainty, adr.iinistrc.tive C'ciff:i.culties P..nd unreasonable are o.lvmys on the increase. Ren,soncble conparisons factuf'.l have shown th8.t a growing technical :problen hc.s assumed political inportc.n.ce. The petroleur1 inclustry believes thr'.t cst::;,blishing water protection 1:1ee.sures r!hera there is petroleun1 storage is not feasible if their experts r.cre excluc:'.ed; beccmse of their significsnce within the economy they expect to be heard o.nc1 to be C'..bl...: to st'.Cte tJ,,eir viow on a EKcxir'.lwn protection which will :ly with "11 justifinble c,er:E'..nd.s.

THE ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

Extr[1ct from the of the Fire Service Comuittee of the A.M.C., dated 30th June, 1961+. Reprinted froo the Municipal Review Supoler'.lent November, 1964.

Paraffin VendJ:.IIB.

In July le.st we e,greod in principle with the view of the Law Committee thE',t, in view of the potenticcl dancer r..rising fror::: the installation of these ot:cchin0s, the ll1:1-tter might be rr.ised 1rith the Home Office. It v;as, however, considere(l desirable to invite member corporations to ir1form the ,L.ssociation of incidents (accidents or vanO.alism) vrhich hf'.,cl occurred in their areo..s follo\ring the installation of pc:raffin vending n2.. cl1ines.

To this invitation thirty-two replies vrnre received, of which twenty-two said either thc.t no :ea.chinos had been instn,llecl in the Borough or that whare one or more machines had been installed nothing untoward had occurred. Of the reuaining ten six hc.d had incidents and four suggested thllt accidents could happen. One town clerk referred to an act of vandalism when n. machine was wrenched fro:n its position on the forecourt of ::>, shop, the pe,raffin spilled and a fire caused. Two :raen were later chargeC:. under the Malicious Damages Act and ( the time of the tmm clerk's letter) were nwaiting trial.

Another town clerk reported thr:t represontdives of the City council discussed the matter Hith officio,ls of a petroleum co;npany, and car.ie to the conclusion that there could be sone adve..ntw0·e in the schene since, if a person could buy a s:::0,ll quantity of paraffin as require!". there r:;ight be c. reiuction in the tendency for pn,raffin to be kept in lc1rge druns inside houses; moreover, for paraffin to be di§pensed·· in sr..v':'!:ll quantities through a close circuit m-;,chine should be SE'Ser ti:1::m the uoro custor:iary e.rro_ngement whereby it is docante0. fror;;. lc.rge tnnks keiJt inside such places .-:.s ironnongers rmcl goncrcc:.l stores, f roqw:mtly in close contact with other conbustible norchc.ndise. On tbo other hand, however, there is s_ possibility thrct 1;:::,ste pc.per, clried le11ves ond other rubbish mo.y accu::.mlet te in the tray at the b.·::.so of the dispenser, which is designed to c olloct spilt par'.:1.ffin lead it be.ck tot ho supply tank.

Reference has bcon mLc1e to a statenont by the Autooo.tic Vending M::cchine ) ssociation l1.S follows:-

1. Before an autom'.'..tic po,r:::,ffin vending r:iachine can be installed, it 1"mst hc:.ve Boc:1rd of Tr.'.'-de approv::.l under the weights -:.nd ees.sures regulations.

2. The actuo,l inste.llati:m of the machine nust be carried out to ::c approved by a responsible petrolei.E·1 conpany rmd then only after the equipwent been thoroughly tested and approved by· the conpe.ny' s qualified engineers.

3. Automatic paraffin vending machines have the approval of the country's leading five prevention e,nd petroleum authorities.

We have, therefore, come to the conclusion that thore is insufficient evidence of potential clanger to justify this matter being raised with the Horne Office at the present time. would, however, refer to the follovdng ite:n, and are proposing to ask the Home Office to refer the general question of control over pare,ffin to the Working Party.

We are most concerned at the lack of information about, or activity by, this working pe,rty which was set up by the Home Office and the Associations concerned some years ago to consider a number of important, and in some cases urgent, problems. We are urging the Home Office t) ensure that the working party be reconvened without further delay so that it can complete the tasks entrusted to it and report as soon as possible.

-----oOo-----

MAIN STIPULATIONS LAID DOWN BY THE AUTHORITIES IN HOLLAND WITH REGARD TO

General -

STORAGE OF LIQUID FUELS.

Ul'JD:r!;RGROUND

Contributed_ by Mr. P. Brus, / Specialist of the Liquid Petroleum Qas Section of the Marketing Dept. Esso /, Nederland. N.V. L----~---~~--~~~~~--~

For any storage plant to be built a licence is required, and the plant has to meet the conditions m.'lde under the licence.

Because of the fact that most of the municipal authorities are insufficiently expert as rogfircis under and above ground storage facilities for liquid fuels, thr::y may apply for advice to the so-called Gasoline Board. This Board, on which apart from representatives from several official bodies, also representatives from the big oil companies serve, advises on the conditions to be made. Although the municipalities have autonomy, in general they adopt the advices and recommendF,tions of the Gasoline Bo9.rd, and use them as conditions in making available the

The storage tanks of service and filling stations are always established underground; they illust be covered by a layer of soil of at least 50 centimetres thickness.

Requirements are made of the steel from which the tank is made and of the coating protecting the tank against corrosion. in those locations ·where due to the winning of drinking water fr6m the soil, pollution of the soil must be avoided, also cathodic protection of the tanks is required. The tank coating then is also tested on tightness by means of high voltage testing equipment.

We expect that next year everywhere in the Netherlands the tanks will have to have cathodic protection. Further, one tten wants to e:x:clude from supply the ine:>.'-pert manufacturers of the tanks through imposing very high manufacturing standards. The di:nensions of the tanks will be standardized; standards are already beinG drafted.

The connectint coupling of the filling line must be located at least at 2 metres' distance from the tank so as to forestall that spills of product sinking into tl;e soil will dissolve tl;e asphalt coating of the tank.

After having been mounted, all lines have to be tested on tightness.

The exhaust-opening of the vent-line should be located so that no vapours exhausting from it may enter dwellings.

The storage tanks of Liquid Petroleum Gas plants must always be established above-ground. Very stringent conditions have been laid down with regard to these plants. For instance, the maximum storage capacity allowed is 20,000 litr:s, and the tanks may not be established in built-up areas. The distance from tank to site boundary depends on the totc::l water-capacity of the tc;,n}: in question. and for a 20,000 litres' L.P.G. tank amounts to 15 metres. This distance may be reduced through, for instance, building a sprinkler installation or a so-called fire-wall. In any case, however, the distance from tl.nk to any dwelling should at least be 15 metres.

fnland bulk

The safety precautions to be taken at inland bulk plants depend on the location of the plant and the products to b0 stored.

In general, however, it boils down to the distances between tanks and from tanks to site bo,_m.Jary having to be proportion::ol to the diameters of the tanks. For instance, the distance bewween two tanks must be at least equal to th0 diameter of tJ-_2 smallest tank, and the distance to the site botmdary must bo at least 25 metres.

Further, gasoline tanks and tanks in the vicinity of gasoline tanks must be equipped with a sprinkler and a foam fire-fighting system •

.All tanks at inland bulk depots bo located in the capacity of 1•:hich should at least eque.l the capacity of tho biggsst tank + 10% of the total capacity of the other tanks in the pit.

Oil separators must orevent any oil from entering the sewerage.

In general the offici&l requiremonts me.de witi1 regard to the construction of above-ground tanks are eq·,livalent to our own reqJirements in this respGct (ventilation, stairs, fittings etc.), and the sam,::; is true for the official requirements with respect to fire-prevention and fire-fighting c:.nd the maintenance of aboveground tanks.

The Hague, September, 1964.

Early in Soptembor a report w0,s receivod of the rem[crkable properties of an oil slick disperser with the brand nm:io of 'Slix'. A r.ieeting of the Midle,nd Group of Fire Preventir.m Officers at Loughborough were infon1ecl by a Leicestershire Officer th1t this oil disperser he.d been used nost successfully in his area \rhen a request hnd been received frm1 a Petroleum Officer concerning '"- 500 gallon cc.paci ty undergrouncl t0.,nk the po.ve::10nt of a rn£Cin' roc.d which had been founcl to be seriously defective.

The tank, buried in e::-.rth and boli.:wod to be some 40 years old, had been condemned follo:;ing c:, test, and whon e xcav.::ctions were started for the purpose of hc.ving the renclere:i gns-free, it was found that the surrounclin5 soil was very badly by petroleum spirit. In view of tl'.is condition, the Cor.lpany who hn.d been e_sked to deal with the to.nk o..nd cortify it gas-free, sc.ic1 they could not carry out tbe work until the surrounding earth was made safe.

Following this, a (liscussion was hela_ v.-i th the Aree, Representative of the firm s.clvertising 1 Slix 1 and it we.s considorecl that a reaso1able degree of s2.fety could be achioved by the use of 'Slix' although the Area Represent'.ltive rn2.de it thn.t his Company would not be in a positi'm to is sue a 1 g'.1.s-free 1 certification.

Forty gallons of 1 Slix' were deli verecl to the site and appliec1 by the, Representative. The earth round the te.nk wns th·:irougnly sonkcid with a 50-50 mixture of 'Slix' ['.,nd water, 2.fter v.rhich approximately 12 gallons of 1 Slix 1 were poured into the open top of the tank and thoroughly mixec1 with a residue of wator e.nd petrol in the tc.nk ( approxir.mtely l+0/50 gallons).

lithin a very fevv minutes of the solution being [cpplied, the smell of petroleum com'.Jletoly dis·ppeared. On the advice of the RepresentLi.tive no further excavation was carriocl out for twenty-four hours to u,llm1 the solution to completely soc.k into the surrounding earth.

Owing to heavy traffic conditions on the roc,d, the tank was not reuoved for a further two days.

It vms interesting to note that sor::e twenty-four hours after the 2.pplication of tl:e solution, in the :::.bsence of the s:Jell of petroleum spirit, a pronounced s1:1oll of coed gn,s wo..s noticec.ble round the excav2.tion.

Arising from this informatic'n a discussion on the use of 1 Slix' and a dem.Jnstration took place cct the Fire Brigade He'.,(Lquarters, Vlalsnll. The firm 1 s area r:mn'.',,:;er, Mr. A .R. Perry, at the onset of his cleuonstration, was most pc,rticulnr to point out th2.t his fir2 1 s product was not in any way clrdm0Cl. to be suitnble for fire-fighting purposes; in fact ho statec1 that it nou1Q not put out .<:t fire.

This product appears to bG ic1eal in thu emulsification and dispersal by water of engine oils, paraffins, diesel oils 2-:ricl petrols, making them non-flar;:ira8.ble ancl easy to we.sh away. It is iuportcmt to note that the .resultant liquids t;oin3 down the drains are aafe in all respects.

'Slix' is claii:18d to hEWG a very wide rcmce of P.pplicatiofs in assisting one to clo work Ji1ore safely and efficiently than before, in such cases as road accidents (spillages of petrol ancl oil), industrial solvent spilfages, spillages etc. It can be

ap_plied in any suitable raanner, e.nd for small_ spillages a 'Slixit' Sprayer is supplied. This sprayer can be kept, for instsnce, ready charged on a gartcge forecourt to doo.l inst9-ntly with petrol spillages and render thera hc.ruless.

Demonstrntions ;vere r;:.".cle witl: W[',ste Emgine oil, Pf'craffin oil, diesel oil and petrol, o., lib:.:;rc,l q uc'..ntity in each C!:'..se being spilled on concrete flooring c.nd m:mlsified by the n:pplication of 1 Slix 1 using the sprayer. In so;::e instn,ncos, the re3ult:.nt liquid v.-as agib::,ted by b:md during the applic'ctic•n, [ma. in others the ac:tequctey of agito_ti:.m w:;,,s ovili.onceJ sololy by use of' the sprc..yer. Befo"re dernonstrrctions, and at interr.:iittent periocls between them, it w::,s neces3ary only to hand punp the spro.yer sufficient air pressure.

For thci purpose of de;aonstrating with spilleCL petrol, a dry surfC1ce was chosen in orcter thD-c ,::inly h::..lf of the liquic1- could be tre•:,ted with 1 Slix'. The rer.1r..ining half WQS then fired and, on reaching the tree.ted soctLm, no further burni!10 occurred.

Aft or each separate the result-"_nt liquicl vms hosed down with water r:,nd directed into the drdns. On drying out, the concrete floor was noted to be nuch cleaner than before the cie1:1ons tra tions.

One further demonstration was the cleaning of a section of flooring on the Mechanic's Workshop, on which there was a hec.vy deposit of waste oils etc.,; the effect was noteworthy.

Followinr:; these de:nonstrJ.tions, end purely as o.n experi::18nt, n, reasonnble cJnount of petrol wo.s ignited in a Igni tic)n e,nd burning followed the expected pr'.ttern r..nd on nppliC''.tbn of 'Slixi t 1 there was a violent ro:-Lction c_ue to wat?r with the product. By continued .'.'..pplication, however, rmd alont; siL1il2r lines to the c.pplication of foar,1 to 2. tank of burning flami:1P-ble liCi_uid, it eventually transpired thn, t Cc lc.yer of s oluti.in crept r cross the br,se of the tr·cy icnd fino.lly the flar.:ies.

This somewhat revoluti·Jnary product W9.S cor:rr:!':onted on ;wst favourably by 3.ll present n.nd it could well he ve a, very useful c.pplicc:tion in the fielc1- of oper:::tional ·work, not only for petroL:un officers but for relevant or:1erd:oncy roc.d accit'tonts with oil or petrol spillages etc.

As rugards possible rtpplic-,_tiun untter c.ctive c:onditic:ns of fire, this r.iight well be achiovGcl, but, it is er11ph,'.l.sised, only by skilled persons and most l'lefinitely not by ln.ynen. By this is meo.nt Fire Service pGrsonnel o,n:i cithurs specifically tr!'.indd in the accepted methods of de'1.lin€ with fires involving highly flal!lEr.ble liquids.

Of t1c1a_i tional interest witb this particul:'tr product is the fact that anong those fl1.vourc\llly i;1pressed during the , 0 ,,bove-nonti:ined del!lonstrationcs were tho locs.l ::;eworc;,ge Works Mm10.ger nncl his Chief Chemist. Generous sc2ples were mttc1o avaib ble to th8:'1 to enable then to carry out n.nalysis rmfl tests nt their ln.bor8.tories. At the time of compiling this article, however, the tests have not yet been commenced and the aims 11n6 results will therefore h'.1ve to lie in ab

On 27th-29th October, Gloster Equipment Ltd., a Hawker Siddeley Corr.pany, held a priv!'lte Exhibition of' Autonatic Vending Machines in the Isaac Newton Emd Michael J!"'araday Halls of the Birmingham Building and Design Centre.

A feature of the Exhibition the recently introduced Gloster-Gunn VM .61 .Automatic Pe.raf'fin Vencler. This machine, designed anrl manufactured by D ,.i\. Gunn (Engineering) Ltd., of Jl..rmscroft Road, Gloucester, is now being markated solely by Gloster Equipment Ltd., to the major oi1 corr1panies.

The machine is the result of a pro"tracted development proEram:ne and was designed after experience in the field gained with an earlier model. D.A.G-unn (Engineering) Ltd., wer0 the pioneers of Automatic Vending of Paraffin in the United Kingdom and over the past four y.:.;ars have sturlied closely all facets of this market.

The machine incorporates a number of safety featnres catering for all eventualities of either accidental, negligent or even intentional nature. During development the manufacturers "!ere advised at every stage by the technical experts of one of the largest Public Control and. ::.>'3.f'ety Dopartl'!lents in the country, who havo now expressed their entire satisfaction with tho procluct. The Minister of Housing and Loc<?,l Government h&s also stated his satisfaction regarding tho sc:;.fety of t1HJ equipment in s.:::veral separate instances.

A lart;e number of riffici11ls directly ·concerned with such oquipmont, fro::n all over the Midlnncls attendel the Exhibition to inspect the machine, and during the thr00 :iays the i"Cloclel was displayed it was subjected to constant scrutineGring; all expressed their complete agreement thd the machine is a and practicable piec8 of' equiprJert.

SJlli.ARA GAS

Natural gas, Methane, from the Sahara made its dobut in the Black Country recently, and probably unnoticed by consumers, {ldped in the various branches of industry and· in the homes. Some tir,1e ago, the first shipload of this liquia. Methane found in the Sahara Desert, arrived by ship into t"be country at Canvey Island. Since then it has been turned back into gas and fed through pipelines to the Midlands Gas Board works 2.t Coleshill.

On arrival, it W3.s mixeC:. in with the usU'.11 Lurgi gas which has a low 'heat value' and 'hotted up' the supply, the first valve of ·which vras op2nm1 recently. From the super grid the gas ·11orks supply system.

It is understood that the ii:iported Methane gas is r,mcb cheaper than most manufactured g::i.s about a therG compared with an of 11 d. a therm. It is also virtually free fro;;i poisonous carbon monoxide. Eventually nearly all the gas supplied in the ':iest Midlands will be non-poisonous. I

From the 1 Dudley Hernld' •

A 600 acre site, about the size of a small town, has been acquired for a large oil refinery on the south bank of the River Humber, by Total Oil Refineries (G.B.) Ltd. This company is a subsidiary of Total Oil Products (Great Britain) both British members of Total Group, one of the world's largest oil companies.

This refinery, due for completion early in 1967, will be in the parish of Killingholme, to ths north west of I1mningham Docks. planning permission for the refinery has now been received.

The refinery is cuTrently planned to have an annual out-put of three milll.on tons a year. The refinery will cost an estimated £12 million.

The company intends to the greatest possible extent, to obtain materials and services required for the construction of the refinery withir the U.K.

Crude oil for the refineI"J will be brought to the Humber by giant )Cean-going oil tankers of U) to 100,000 tons. A subsidiary of the Total Group, the Compagnie Navale des Petroles, launched biggest oil tanker, the Roger-Gasquet, at St. Nazaire on the 29th November. It is also the wcrld's largest diesel engine driven oil tanker. fully laden, this ship will have a displacement of 113,300 tons.

"It is not yet certain If said Mr. L .J. Bo.rnett, Chairman of •rot al Oil Products ( G.B.) Ltd., 1'whether a deep water ter 1dnal will be built at the mouth of the HumlvJr, or whether tankers will discharge cargoes a+; accommodation owned by British Transport Docks Boa.rd inside the estuary.

"A trial deep-water channel for large ships has been dredged through a sand shoal at the mouth of the ri.ver. The Humber Conservancy Board is currently studying this channel to assess whethe,... or not it will prove practical to maintain".

V;hether tankers crude oil at a new deep-water terminal, or in the river, a special pipeline will be built from the unloading point to the refinery.

The possibility of building a pipeline betvrnen Holland and Britain which could supply up to half the gas used in this country, is to be e xarnined by the Gas Council and Dutch gas authorities. A recent announcement snid that the two bodies have agreed to init5.ate a joint study of the technical and economic aspects of a natural gas pipeline from the Netherlands to Great Britain across tbe Horth Sea. The study will enable work which hc:1s hitherto been performed separately, to be continued in more detail. It does not indicate any commitment by either party to supply or to take gas at any future date.

The Executive Committee

Hell1 at Dudley 1 Oth Novenber, 1964

PR?.; SENT H. Griffiths Esq., (Chdr;;ian) c,nd :ilessrs. Bo-3by, Beer, Bloor, Brunning, De:;.n, Gee, Ifall, Holdaway, Roden and the Honorary Secretary.

FORivlAT ION OF BRANCHES

After a very lengthy ·discussion it wo.s by IV:r. Beer, and secondeu by :Mr. Dean "that the Rules Sub-Comrdttee be instructed to prepare a scheme for a National Organisation f'.nd the formation of Branches, for sub;;iission, after approval by the Executive Cor.mittee, to the next Annual General Meeting". In the meantirr:e, sho,;.ld any of our Members in any po.rticular area wish to hold a. MeGtins to consider the matter, norainatfld representatives of the Executive Cow:·:ittee would attend on invitation.

MEMBERSHIP -

The Secretary reported applications for raerab0rship from 10 Local Authorities.

LICE?,TCE CONDITIONS

Mr. Gee agreed to supply each member of tl":.e Licence Sub-Committee wi t.h a draft of the licence conc1i tions a.nd asked Members to let him have their comnents at a Meeting on the 25th Nove:";ber, 1964.

PUBLICATIQ!-.JS

It was reported that an offer to duplicate copiss of The Group's recommendeu practice relating to storage condition electrical installations had been mac1e by Mr. W.H. Matthews (Derby). J. Resoluti0n thc:.t tho thanks of the Group r,nd. the Executive Cor.imi ttee be .extended ·to Mr •. was approved unanimously.

RULES

The Chairman said progress was being sustained and a further r:1eeting woulcl be held on the 22nd. Decerr!ber, 1964.

A Meeting of the Sub-Com::iittee dealing with this subject was fixed for the 19th Noveuber, 196L:.•

MID-VlE:SK SCHOOL 1965

The Honorary Secretary was requested to circularise all Local Authority M.ec1bers to ascertain the :probable number of places required.

NEXT GROUP MEETING

It was decided. to hold the next Group I1Ieeting at Dudley, on a date to be fixed.

Prior to the meeting held at Mansfield on Tuesday 27th October 1964, members of the Conv:ittee had the pleasure of meeting the Worshipful the i\fayor of l'fa.nsfield, Councillor W. Kaye J.P. at the Town Ball. The party '."ere then entertained to lunch by kind invitaCion of the Entertairnaents Committee of the Ms.nsfield Corporation. Present were, The Mayor, Councillor Kaye, .!U.de.cman J.B. Jenkins, Councillor A.H. Bailey, Councillor C. Stone, The Town Clerk, Mr. S.1ii.R. Christmas and the Mayor's Secretary, Er. A. Higgs. The Groi...p Chairman, Mr. H. Griffiths, thaiJrnd the Mansfield Corporation for their hospitality the Mayor suitably responded.

The afternoon session which was attended. by 59 Locc·,l Authority Representatives, 2 Associate M3mbers and 3 Visitors, was opened by His Worship the Mayor, who extended a very sincere welcome to delegates. Durine; the course of his remarks he e:nphasised the necessity for uniformity in administration. He was pleased to know that this was one of the chief objects of the G-roup. He bopod a pleasant and successful meeting would ensue and promised to meet later at tea.

In the business which followed, The Chairman welcomed members and visitors and expressed his pleasure that His Norship the Mayer of Wednesbury, Councillor J .H. 0 'I'foil, was at the meeting.

The Honorar-J Secretary reported having received 41+ apologies for absence.

Various items in The Bulletin for October, were then commented upon by the Chairman, as under:-

LICENCE m NDITIONS

He regretted it was not possible to report further progress but hoped their completion was not far away.

A Sub-Committee had already discussed this item and a further meeting would he held in due course.

_I,}QUEFIED PETROLElJM

The Honorary Secretary read correspondence from the Secretaries of tl)e A.M.C. and U.D.C.A. respectively. This wB.s to the effect that representation would i_:e made in tho proper quarters th regard to amending legislation being introduced.

The Chairman explainerl that the supply of the Group Codes of Practice was exhausted and it was hoped that duplicating f\l'fthor copies coulcJ. be rlone within the Group.

lIB!iliCH RUI.:ES

One meeting of the Ruh>s Sub-Committee ms been held and good progress made.

FORMATION OF BRANCHES

The Chairman r eferrecl to the Sup)lement to The Bulletin and mentioned there are a number of areas 1.-here the extent of Mewbership

is such that a Branch could be formed. He was hopeful that some of those members would circulate the remainder with the object of establishing a Branch.

The formal business of the meeting being concluded, the Chairman calle.d upon Mr. John Beer, M .M.A., Chief Inspector of VJeichts and Measures for the City of Worcester, to present his talk on "THE EXAMINATION OF PErROL TiJIJICERS Ul\TDER PEI'ROLEU.M SPIRIT (CONVEYANCE BY ROAD) REGULATIONS, 1957".

Mr. Beer first of all made general reference to the Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1957, and did in fact hand round to me:nbers a short synopsis of the whole Regulations, and he then went on to draw attention to thosEJ of the Regulations which had a particular bearing on the examination of tank wagons by Petroleum Officers of which he was to give a demonstration that afternoon.

He then drow attention to Regulation 27 which made all licensing authorities under the Petroluum Acts responsible for the enforcement of the Conveyance Regulations within their own areas. It was fortunate, he said, that generally speaking the major petroleum distributing companies who after all dealt with a very large proportion of the petroleum spirit that is conveyed by road, are fully alive to their responsibilities under the Regulations, but it was nevertheless the duty of the liconsing authorities to enforce these Regulations, and this was also nGcessary as there were smaller in existence which for various reasons were not always so alive to their responsibilities. Therefore the enforcement of the Regulations was in the interz;sts of public safety an important duty of Petroleum Officers.

Mr. Beer suggested that whilst Petroleum Officers for the areas in which petrol tankers woro based may be said to have the prime responsibility for the periodical examination of tankers to see that they were both constructed and llk'Lint2"ined in accordance with the schedule to the Regulations, hG felt that all Petroleum Officers should from time to time, ex.:'"tmine tankers found delivering in their area, not necessarily from a detail of construction point of view, although of course they were legally entitled to do this, but to look at such things as would ensure that the vehicles were being satisfactorily maintained tmd wero being properly usad, e.nd here he referred particularly to such tbings as the proper locking of the covers of the manholes and in the carrying tanks of vehicles, to the proper locking of fillpipes to see that the delivery hoses and draw-flff taps were in good order, tht"t no extraneous materio.l was being carried between the back of the driver's cab and the carrying tank etc. etc.

Reference was also made to the provisions which had to be observed under Regulation 16 when deliveries were maa.e to filling stations, and to the requirements of Regulation 7 that drivers should be in constant attendance on their vohicles.

Mr. Beer then went on to explain that one of the major companies had their distributing depot in his area which served a large part of the Midlands, and there was a fairly large number of petrol tank wagons based therefrom, and he felt that he had a specir.!.l responsibility for their examination.

When one came to look at the Schedule to Regulations tbere were many many things thD.t had to be looked at in connection with a tank wagon, and in order to be able satisfactorily to record these examinations when carried out, he had prepared certain forms on which to enter the various results.

A copy of the form which owing to its size, can hardly be reproduced in this Bulletin, was to present o. t the meeting, and one was surprised at the number of items which had to be looked at in connection with a fFll examinc:.tion. These are dealt with under the following

1. General particub.rs of vehicle.

2. Particulars of engine. 3. Particulars of f'ire shield. 4.

Components to be in front of fire shield. 5. Electric lighting. 6. Particulars of' carryin::; tank assembly. 7. Requirements in carrying tank fitted v1ith fillpipes.

8. Reg_uiremonts in carrying tank fitted with filling openings. 9. Recluire:n:.mts for dipc;ing pipes. 10. Requirements for vent pipes. 11. Requirements for taps on draw-off pipes. 12. General section.

It was pointed out that the f·orm has been designed so as to remind the exe.mining officer of all the various points tho.t had to be looked for.

Vlherever possible these reqPiremonts had been franed in the form of questions to which the answer Yes or No and that by the use of either capital letters or suall letters it we.s obvious what the satisfactory answer to the question should. be,

The form also served to be a record of every point of inspection so that at any future date details of the construction of the tanker were known.

After a limited anount of discussion, raostly by questions addressed to the speaker, the meeting then adjourned to a nearby carpark where Mr. Beer gave a practical deraonstration of the examination of a petrol tanker which had kindly b8cn raade available by Messrs. Shell-Mox & B.P. Ltd., throuGh the good offices of Mr. J.

As the covers of tho mE>.nholes to the carrying te,nk were, open, so that merabers could see the various fittings inside the tEx1k, it was of course necessary that th8 vehicle should not bo currently engasod on the delivery of petrolewa spirit, and accordingly a new vehicle hnd been sent for this demonstro.ti:m. This boing so it did, as expected, conpletely satisfy all the req1. 1 iremcnt s of the Regulations.

As already I:J.entionec1, copies of the examination form were handed round to all r:iembcrs present at the meeting, and Mr. Beor now states thc.t he will be happy to send other members .a copy of the form on receipt of a stah:ped envelope.

Mr. Lewis Palsall.

Is it possible for a vehicle to be inspected by one authority one day, and by <:.nether authority tht; next day?

"CertD.inly. responsible own area".

Each sep0.rate authority is for enforceraent within its

Mr. Gascoigne :3hefficld.

Mr. Broomhill Birmin6han.

Do you knov' of c:,ny designo.ted

"No, I h::cve never heard of any".

R[•,ised the point of a Sw.:rnsei:, Quarter Session decision, re: 'Constant a ttent icn 1 •

11 This was ;,n appe'.11 by a petrol t&Ncer driver hec•,rcl gt Sv:[',nsec::, ti,u1:.,rter Sessions in 1961. Perhaps the Editor will publish a report in the next issue of 'The Bulletin 111 • (With plec,sure Mr. Beer SGe Page 91 Ed.)

Mr. Broomhill.

Mr. C11rtwright Cambridge.

Mr. Blackwell Sherbourne. R.D.C.

Mr. Matthews Derby.

The Cha

Wh"-t constitutes a suitable fire extinguisher for tanker?

11 :: would think it is not intended to deal compliately with the fire, but must be cn,pable of rendering 1 first o.,id 1 , while the Fire Service is alerted. Dry powder or f'oam is suitable".

Does Mr. Beer ask drivers r1=i: drill at incidents, some drivers have no idea?

"No, I personally, hrcve never done so".

Wbnt periodic testing is envisaged with t::nlrnrs?

"Once yearly all vehicles at depot, new vehicles -,;hen brought into use" •

Ro: Reguldion 16. How to stop deliv8ry boing effected to wronc:; tank. 'hat c:,bout fitting smaller couplint;s to non'.Jetroleum products?

"Nothing we cc..n do at tirn moment".

Mr. J. Trim Shell Mex & B .P. Pointed. out thn.t his coDpany fits as practice, different fittings for keros<mo. Since no real danger would from a diesel/petrol Dixture, would not support differentie.tion there. Petrol for pnrnffin (keros<Jne) is of course highly dcrni:.:erous, thc,t 1 s v1hy his firm difforentiD,tos; would like to see this imposed .s.s standard prlctice.

A vote of thanks to the spedrnr vms proposed by Mr. G.C. Cartwright (Nottingham).

At the conclusion of tho meeting delegates partook of tea and refreshment kindly provided by tho Entert.:,innents C01c:rnittoo of Mansfield Corporation. A tribute to His Worship the Mayor, c:oncl the Mrcnsfield Corporation for the hospib1lity extended, tend to Mr. E.'r. Crowe for mnk.ing the necessary was expressecl by Mr. V\T .H. Matthews (Derby) •

PROSECUTIONS

WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COU1\:CIL SEUING PETROL 11.l'JD OIL UNDER A DEQE:._IFTIQJ'J.

Fcllowing on oertain inf'or;:12,tion given to him, Mr. C.R. 0'>ren, District Inspector of 1'feights and Measures, arranged for a member of his staff, Mr. Hayton, to purchase 2 gallons of Es so sxtra "9etrol from the Esso Extra punip and 1 pint of Castrol XL from bulk at the West End Garage, Bewdley, then o·.tned by hlfred William Mole.

This garage has four petrol pumps serving Sotro Suprerae a·b 4/6d per gallon, Sotro i.rl 4/2d per gallon, 'Sssl') Extra at 4/1 per gallon and Es so at· 4/5a per gallon.

The petrol was delivered tr·rough the normal filler pipe of Mr. Hayton's car into a dummy petrol tank. The oil requested namely Castrol XL from bulk, WE:..S put into a clean qtErt tin given to the garage assistant by Mr. Hayton. A receipt asked for and given, stating:-.

2 gall. petrol@ Pint Castrol XL

9s. 9d. 2s. 5d. TIS:-Ta:.

The petrol pump was marked 1 !'!:sso Extra 1 in three places on both front and back, this marking constituting the trade description. The receipt constitutec the trade description in the case of the oil. The oil was served from a red cabinet standing adjacent to a green cabinet bearing Castrol markings.

For the analysis, the petrol was taken to Essa Petroleum at Birmingham, c,.nd the oil was sent to C11strul Research Laboratories at Bracknell, Berkshire.

Esso reported that the petrol was equivalent in quality to a mixture grade i.e. equal volume of premium and regular petrol. It could not be identified as Esso petrol or otherwise since no mcirkers are used in Esso petrols. Castrol reported the oil not to be any grade of Castrol but an oil of relatively cheap quality containing no additives.

Mr. Owen saw the pro12:rietor, Eole, and told him the results of the analyses. !Viale denier:: all knowledge of the matter and said he was seldom there to see deliveries of petrol and that-his staff must have made mist'J.kes. When askGd he said he did not kGop totaliser records. Th:' tanks c.rnre exa,nined c..nd it was found thit none were locked.

Two informations were lGid under the Merchanclise Marks Act cor selling petrol and oil to whicl·: a false trade description was applied.

In mitign.tion, Mole's Counsel said th2.t A·:ole could have brougl:t one of his employees into the proceedings as actual offender, but preferred not to do this. The serving of wrong grai:te of oil, he s2,id, must he.ve been a mistake by the lady assistrmt who was busy at the time.

The petrol could have bGen deliverc.d into the wrong tan.1<:s, Counsel said, due to a mix up in the tank labels, but his client could not take any action against the petrol companies due to the statutory form that had to be sic)1ed by the c,arage proprietor or his staff when deliveries were made.

Mole was fined £25 on each "1hnrge, and costs of £10 .1 Os .Od.

BIRMINGHAM OFFENCES CONTRARY TO SEC'rION 16 OF TEE PErROLEm11 SPIRiT BY 1951_.

In the early evening of Juno 8th orJ.e of the t;70 Petroleum Inspectors who are on emergo•_icy receivod n. messr:.z;o from the City Police that a delivery of petroleum spirit been :nacle on the 6th June, 1964 to undergrounc stor::'-08 tc:.rJcs r,t a in liosoloy Road, Birminfham, o.nd a certain of petroleum spirit hc,d besn put wrongly into o, parc,ffin to.nl:. "rho Ins:pector, Mr. D. Pc,yne, immediately visited the pronisos r:nd arranged for ·wireless and television appeals for customers of t]-e to return nny 'paraffin' purchases imde on t:,e 6th, 7-th 0r 8th June. This e.ppoal together with police cc.r loud w0,rnings in thu no1:.rby streets, was successful cmd all the mixture sold was apparently for. In any event, tLere word no !lCCictents, c.lthough tlw m1:1.tter '.7as brought to the noticD of the City Police upon r, complaint from e. woman, that her heat'?lr flarecL ·ghen she lit it.

An examinc:tior of the filling st2'tion rovealG0. that there were no numbers on the tank fill pipes end only four of tho five dip sticks ·were st2.1aped ·1-ri tb nu;:;bers. The other dip stick he.vin@: had its top broken off and its length made up by the use of a pi8ce of non-ferrous wire. Furthsrmoro, none of tho tc..nks v1ero locked and a brand tag w2cs lying loose on tho bottom of the paro.ffin te..nk manhole.

The p8troleum spirit book of Certificates of (::.olivery was examined and .taken by Ivir. Pr,yne cts evidence; three separate items having been c,:ivered by one signattire, a.nd thr,t signo.tory not being tho person 'in chc;,rge' 2.t the timP of delivory.

Written stcctements ·;rnre frcn both the p8.rtners in the garage business, one of vrhom ·:rr'.S person in cho.rge at tb:J time of delivery, a rrl also from the mnployee ,,;:ho signed the Certificrcto of Delivery. kn cdclition2.l stu.t.,,r:cont we s lo.tor t:lkorc :from the petroleum company tanker drive;r, '.rho said thc.t he vn-,s not fe,miliar with this p2crticular stc:.ti:m when clri ving on:eo the forecourt, pulled into c. position t:hl.ch s oer1ed to hb1, the best from which to carry out the filling opor'.'..tic-.n. It we,s obvious frorn his_ statsment, that this position had c:-;.used his vehicle to straddle one of the five manlids, and thnt h''.Ving three br2c1r:ls of petrol and "- consignmunt of derv to deliver, he lifted tt.o :four manhole lids wbich vrero unobstructed, he thun verifioJ. p readings with tho p:)rson in charge of the gc:_r[',ge and proceoc1ed v:ith the de1ivery. No cloubt he was guided by his ovm Oil Company brand tags in the absence of numbers and the unattached tag in the pcm::.ffin tank is, in tjlis connection, of particnl",r si2;nificE:.,1ce. There v;c.s e:, petr'.Jl company brand tag on each of the three; petrol tanks and c-,lso on the derv tarik, but there was no par.'.1ffin narkor on the parn.ffin t Etnk.

The charges arising were as follows:-

!gainst the joint ...Ef•rtr.ers:

Failing to clo so ".ncl lock throe petrolou::n spirit tanks, contr<·.ry to conditi=-n No. 6 of the Stor::oge Licence in force.

(b), Failing to number th.ree storE,[:;e t<,nks, contrary to Regulation No. 16 (2) of the Petroleum Spirit ( Conveycmce by Roo.d) ReguJa tions, 1 957.

( c) Failinc; to nm;ibor a storage tsclllc dip stick, contr".ry to Reguk ti'.Jn No. 16 (3) of t:"e above Rogulati::ms.

(a) Fciling to complete the requisite Certificates and sign them in the presence of the t"-nker driver, contrary to Reguhtion No. 16 (7).

(b) Fciling to keep constc,nt wc.tch during the delivery of petroletL"l spirit from a tanker vehicle, contrary to li.eguk tion No. 16 ( 8) •

Against the Oil Conpany t._::i.nk_er

For beginning the deli very of petrol mm spirit when the two Certificates hr;d not beon sie;nea_ in his presence, contrc.ry to Regulation No. 16 (7).

A sample of tho 'mixture' which was t2.ken by the Inspector, from a one goJ.lon can, returned to the by .'.';_ customer "iho had heard the police warnings, wc.s tested by the Public Works Industrial Research Lr:.boratory, and a fle.sh point of less than 66°F, was given by the Abel test appccrr:.tus. This evidence, however, vms not co,,lled for in Court.

The licensees r:ere fined £10 on each of' the five ch.r:rges, to which they had pleo.decl guilty, .:::nd the Oil Co111po.ny tc:.nker driver was fined £5 on the ch'.1rge brou0ht 2.g:.inst him, to which there was also a plea of guilty.

At Birmingham Magistrates' Courts recently, Calor Gas (Distributing)Co. Ltd., of 179-202 Great Portland Street, London, W.1. pleaded guilty to five charges of selling cylinders of liquid petroleum gas to which false trade descriptions were ap:plied as tbe weight of the contents, contrary to Section 2 (2) of thG' lforchandise Marks Act 1887 as amended by Section 4 of the Merchandise Marks Act 1953.

It was stated that an Inspector check-weighed a number of cylinders of butane and propane within twn days of delivery to a Birmingham retail distributor, the cylinders being weighed gross and the net weight caleulated from the tare weights marked on the cylinders. Of 29 cylind.ers of butane, 21 contained less than the purported 1 Olb., and 19 out of 22 cylinders of propane were less than the purported Btlb.

For the defence it was stated that the deficiencies arose through employees not carrying out instri.:.ctions and that steps had since teen taken to tighten up the entire control system.

·rhe defendants were fined £1 0 on each of the five charges.