The Bulletin Magazine - June 2006

The Bulletin

Journal of the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

June 2006

Editorial

Contents Regulars

Tony Jenner Editor

Chairman’s Report

5

Editor’s Report

6

Obituary - Peter Roberts

6

Business Manager’s Report

9

Cameron Forecourt Ltd Platts Common Ind Estate Barnsley

New APEA Members

News

10

12

South Yorkshire S74 9SE

tel:

01226 742441

fax:

01226 747441

mob:

07715 375140

e-mail:

tonyjenner@cameronforecourt.co.uk

Articles Jamie Thompson APEA 2006

32

Guidance regarding Security of Tankers at Fuel Distribution sites

32

Publishing Chairman 70 Wangford Road Reydon

Innovative Flange system from Risbridger

35

UK Petrol Station Numbers Continue to Drop

36

Automatic Temperature Compensation for Motorists

40

Are we Regulating Correctly?

42

APEA Abbrieviated Accounts year ended 31st December 2005

46

Southwold Suffolk IP18 6NX

Tel/fax:

01502 722999

Mobile:

07770 625851

email: jamiethompson@ukonline.co.uk

Jane Mardell Branches

51

Business Manager (including Bulletin Advertising and Production) PO Box 106

Training

Saffron Walden 2006 course dates and booking details

Membership application form

53

54

Essex CB11 3XT

Tel/fax:

0845 603 5507

Mobile:

07815 055514

email:

admin@apea.org.uk

Front Cover - South African Canopy kindly supplied by Pat Mckune

Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No. 2261600 Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association.

3

Chairman’s Report Safety has always been uppermost in the minds of our members and the importance of this was clearly illustrated to me in April when 14 levels of scaffolding collapsed on a construction site here in my own town of Milton Keynes. Tragically, one person lost his life, two others sustained serious injuries, and many more suffered minor cuts and shock. This incident was less than a mile from my office and two of my Building Surveyor colleagues attended the scene to assist the Emergency Services.

Sadly, occurrences such as this bring home the importance of operating safe systems of work, especially where construction work is simultaneously being carried out by several different contractors on a single site. The thought that occurs to me is “Thank goodness for the Safety Passport Scheme” that operates here in the UK. It is initiatives such as this that minimise the prospect of such a tragedy occurring on our Forecourts.

It is generally believed that our industry has a very good safety record.

However, it is my opinion that we may be prematurely congratulating ourselves as you will understand from my article in this issue. I have said before on many occasions; we base much of our approach on perception rather than fact. This is because we do not hold a central database of statistics that can give us an informed judgement as to the frequency of leaks, spillages and fires. It is my opinion that we should give regulations and enforcement techniques due consideration but not to the extent that our standards become diluted to a level that may see an increase in the level of risk, and a subsequent rise in the frequency and severity of accidents. As I see it, the job of the regulators is to keep sites open (and safe), not closed!

At the time of writing I am preparing to travel to the USA following an invitation from the National Storage Tank Institute to speak at their Annual Conference. It is indeed an honour to represent this organisation overseas. As my term of office as Chairman draws to a close, I am proud that I have been instrumental in enhancing the international reputation of the APEA. Throughout my term in office we have been regularly asked to contribute internationally and I have no doubt that my successor will continue with this initiative You will see that a summary of our annual accounts has been included in this issue of the Bulletin. This is because the Annual General Meeting has been scheduled for November rather than May as in previous years,

and we have an obligation to present the accounts to our members as early as possible. Obviously if anybody does have any observations or comments regarding the accounts please let us know, however, there will be opportunity to raise questions from the floor at the AGM as in previous years. To remind you, the reason we have rescheduled the AGM to coincide with the conference and dinner is to offer our members a single event providing greater focus at reduced cost to the Association.

A pleasure I had recently was to attend the Midlands branch meeting.

Branch meetings are where our members get the opportunity to discuss pertinent issues and network with friends and colleagues. It is at this level where the true lifeblood of the association exists. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Midlands branch committee for their kind invitation and their friendly welcome on the day.

After serving four years as Chairman of the Eastern Branch I have now stepped aside to let others take office. I have enjoyed my time as Chairman immensely, working with the very able and competent Branch Secretary; Anton Martiniussen has been a pleasure. My thanks go not only to Anton but also to my fellow committee and branch members for their loyal support over the past 4 years The Events Committee have been working closely with our Consultants, Downstream Events for what promises to be the best Conference and Exhibition we have held for some years.

Council are looking forward to meeting our many friends and colleagues at this prestigious event in November. This year we are making awards in recognition of attainments in excellence within the industry and are grateful to those companies who have volunteered sponsorship for this initiative.

Personally, I am pleased that we have moved the event from the NEC in Birmingham, the new venue offers a more personal touch, and we will have the place to ourselves rather than share with the Horse of the Year Show as on previous occasions.

Training activities have slowed but there still remains an obvious need for our services. Our Technical and Publications Committees are keeping busy with a variety of topics, all aimed at keeping us abreast of topical subjects.

Another development is the introduction of E85, which consists of 15% petrol and 85%Bio Ethanol onto forecourts by a Supermarket chain. It is my opinion that we need to take the time to evaluate the potential impact on

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

storage systems and pipework as a result of changing fuels and their constituents.

At the time of writing petrol prices in the UK are fast approaching £1.00 a litre! Inevitably this continues to have an effect on the profitability of retailing petrol, and this is reflected in the number of service station closures.

Whilst we witnessed a temporary slow down in closures last year, currently we are seeing an average of 11 per week.

Quite where it will all end is anybody’s guess but hopefully we will soon see the situation stabilise. Perhaps this is why major investment in service station development has not been taking place as the industry is waiting to see what happens. Inevitably while this situation prevails our existing stock of tanks, pumps and pipework continues to age.

Ultimately this will lead to a massive replacement programme, let us hope that this will be sooner rather than later!

You may remember from my Chairman’s report in the December 2005 issue of the Bulletin that I gave news of Johnson Controls having been awarded the project management contract by Shell Europe. This news was not accurate and Atkins Programme Management have asked me to make it known that Johnson Controls International have indeed been appointed by Shell Europe as a Facilities Management Consultant but not as a Project Management Consultant.

Atkins Programme Management continues in this role which they have been successfully carrying out for the past five years.

Please accept my sincere apologies for this unintentional error and for any inconvenience or embarrassment that may have been caused.

All that remains for me now is to wish you all a great summer. As for me? Well I’ve packed up smoking!! Those of you know me will immediately recognise that as an old addict of the “weed” my quitting smoking must herald serious issues for the profitability of the tobacco industry!

All the very best to you all.

Brian 5

Editor’s Report As I write this report I see the first signs of some decent late spring weather, long may it continue and hopefully develop into a much needed long, hot and sunny summer.

I have received criticism over an article which was published in the March issue of the Bulletin. It is the opinion of the critic that the article was commercial in its content and therefore should have either been rejected or accepted as “advertorial” and a charge made for its inclusion. It has never been the policy of the Association to charge for space other than for direct advertising and to pursue such a course of action would in my opinion be to the detriment of the APEA and the reputation of the Bulletin.

So as to avoid any possible future confusion, I will include any article which I consider to be news worthy, topical and where a submission is received from a manufacturer or provider of services, one which gives an honest representation of the products or service described. I always edit out claims from suppliers that they are “the industry leaders” or providers of “unsurpassed service” (I don’t blame them for blowing their own trumpets – but it won’t get included)! Wherever possible I like to feature articles which describe new technologies, products or services, but sometimes there is a case for reminding our readers of existing solutions to some of our day to day problems. In this respect, it is also quite pertinent to include a brief history and résumé of the services offered by the company whose article is included.

Obituary - Peter Roberts

By John Hazeldean Those who knew Peter will be saddened to hear of his recent but unexpected death. Peter transferred from the Employment Service in 1990 to work in the HSE Safety Policy Division.

His entire HSE career was spent in Policy Division – originally working on gas safety legislation but later moving onto

petrol

and

other

flammable

substances work.

People will be most familiar with Peter’s work, over many years, to support petrol enforcement and policy 6

Those of us who have served in the industry for many years probably don’t need to be told much about the background of some companies, but we do need to remember that not all of our readers have spent half a life time in this industry! To reinforce this point, this issue of the Bulletin includes details of some 39 new members many of whom may be reading their first ever copy.

Indeed, many things accepted as being common knowledge by some of us are quite probably news to many.

It should also be noted that it is not always easy to fill the pages of the Bulletin. The last issue was quite simply satisfied by the Buncefield incident, (there were 11 pages dedicated to that one story line alone). Thankfully, as there have been no major incidents since the last publication, this issue has had to rely on far less dramatic but hopefully equally interesting material.

Please keep your articles coming, we need your input and without labouring the point providing they meet the criteria identified in the previous paragraphs, I’ll do my best to include them.

The inclusion of the Associations accounts in the Bulletin seems to be a good idea, and one which ultimately should help reduce distribution costs.

I’m not sure if it is the intention to continue this practice in future years, but from a personal view point I would like to see it adopted as policy. For those amongst us who keep old editions of the Bulletin, it may prove useful in years to come to be able to compare our financial performance by reference to a systematically stored publication rather than hunt around amongst loosely filed pieces of paper to find development. In particular, he is well known through his activities on the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group and its Technical Subcommittee and his work on the production of Petel Circulars. Peter also dealt with the petrol related issues associated with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 which changed the licensing and legal arrangements for the workplace storage of petroleum spirit. He was also involved in the development of codes of practice and guidance and played a particularly important role in producing the HSE publication ‘Unloading petrol from road tankers (L133)’.

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

previous years accounts!

It seems only a short while ago that Council first discussed the new format for the Annual General Meeting, embracing the plan to combine it with our conference, exhibition and annual dinner. Incredibly those discussions were held in November last year - some 6 months ago! My point here is that whilst November 2006 may seem a way off, in reality, time will soon pass and before we know where we are the event will be upon us. I know that Downstream Events, the organisers who have been appointed to run the event on behalf of the Association are very active and keen to make the whole day a resounding success, please give them your full support and help make the occasion a truly memorable one.

In conclusion, I wish you all the very best for the coming months and hope that those of you who have booked holidays enjoy good weather and uninterrupted travel.

The most recent petrol work he was involved with was the development of the Tank Vehicles and Unloading of Petroleum-Spirit) regulations, which are due to come into force later this year. In relation to non-petrol work, Peter also helped develop the HSE guidance leaflet ‘Safe working with flammable substances’.

Peter had become a cornerstone on petroleum policy and knowledge for HSE and was considered, by those who knew him, to be a gentleman in the truest sense. He will be missed both personally and professionally and our deepest sympathy goes out to all his family and friends.

Business Manager’s Report Well now Winter is over here’s hoping we have a great Summer, well I can live in hope!

The last few months have been very busy with the work on the 2007 Yearbook and this issue of the Bulletin and thanks to go all of you that contributed to both publications.

I have also moved house again as my partner has sold his house, which meant moving the APEA office. We are currently in temporary accommodation, as the buyers turfed us out earlier than we had requested and our new house purchase has not yet been completed, so hopefully by July all will be ready. In view of the move the APEA have decided to use an 0845 number in future that will means I can move anywhere and you will be able to contact me on this number. The new telephone and fax number is:

0845 603 5507 Please use this immediate effect.

number

with

2007 Yearbook Thanks to all of you that returned your Registration forms for the 2007 Yearbook, the artwork is now at the printers and the Yearbooks will be distributed on 1st October. If you have not received your copy by the end of October please let me know and I will chase up your delivery. We will be sending all Yearbooks by Royal Mail recorded delivery and by courier so that we can follow up any non deliveries.

AGM, Conference, Exhibition and Dinner 2006 There is going to be a change to our events this year. We have employed the services of a professional event management team who are putting together an exciting event that we plan to hold on 2nd November and which will include the AGM, Conference, Exhibition and Dinner. Details are shown page 32 and 33.

The event management team will be handling all of the promotion and production of the event and I am sure they will be in touch with you soon.

I will be dealing with the AGM side of the event and I will contact you nearer the event date with relevant information and papers.

Bulletin Thank you to all of you that have contributed to this issue of The Bulletin.

Please send me any news items, press releases or articles for the September 2006 issue and I will pass them onto our Editor for approval.

We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains and interesting and informative read.

Bulletin Advertising Thanks to all of you that renewed your advertising for the 2006 issues of the Bulletin and thanks to new advertisers too.

Remember that if you book in all four issues you receive a 25% discount and we are able to offer discounts for those of you that wish to book for more than one issue but less than four issues too.

You will also receive a 50% discount on Yearbook advertising too for the 2007 issue.

The advertising rates remain unchanged for 2006 and are listed on our website on the ‘Publications’ page at www.apea.org.uk If you would like to book advertising in the Bulletin for 2006, please call me on 0845 603 5507 or email me at admin@apea.org.uk for a booking form.

page on the APEA website or you can download a booking form from our website training page, just click on the course you are interested in and the course details and form are displayed or please contact me by email or by phone and I can email you a copy.

Course dates for 2006 are listed on page 53 and further dates will be added as we progress through 2006. You can now view the up to date list on the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk New Members There have been 39 new members joining during January, February and March and details can be found on page 10.

Publications Website The revised Blue Book is available at the discounted rate of £40 to APEA members.

If you wish to purchase a copy please contact me on 0845 603 5507 and I will be able to provide you with details on obtaining a copy.

We also publish the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can be purchased directly from our website or by calling me at the office.

APEA Members £10.00 plus p+p Non APEA Members £20.00 plus p+p Training Thanks to all of you that have booked on our training courses.

I am taking bookings for the 2006 courses and arranging bespoke courses for various companies which enables members to receive training at a discounted rate and at a time and location suitable to them.

If you are interested in hosting a bespoke course for your company please do not hesitate to contact me.

We can offer discounted rates for these courses if you are able to provide a venue and catering.

Thanks go out to all our trainers who often travel long distances to provide their valuable services.

You can book online from the Training

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

The website continues to be a useful site for information and to make online bookings and payments. I am glad so many of you are using it.

If you wish to contribute anything to the site please feel free to log on and go to the APEA Resource Centre where you can submit your article for approval.

There is a ‘Help’ pull down menu if you need some assistance. If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

You can also use the website to change your contact details, just logon and you will be able to access your record. If you cannot remember your logon details please contact me.

General Assistance Finally if any of you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0845 603 5507 and I will endeavour to help.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Jane 9

New APEA Members

Craig Brocklehurst

Mike Baynham

LBI installations

Torfaen County Borough Council

Detailed below are new members that have recently joined the APEA during January, February and March 2006.

53 Low Laithes

Dept for the Environment

Sowerby Bridge

County Hall

Halifax

Croesyceiliog

West Yorkshire HX6 1EN

Cwmbran NP44 2WN

Gurdal Orak

Alexander Mackay

OPET Petrolculuk A.S.

Tokheim UK Ltd

Bulgurulu MH. Sarigazi CD No. 47

Unit 3, Baker Road

Uskudar

West Pitkerro Ind. Est.

Istanbul 34696

Dundee Tayside DD5 3RT

Acocks Green

Martin Wyn Jones

Maurice Dennison

Birminghan

Isle of Anglesey County Council

Dennison Electrical Ltd

Trading Standards, Council Offices

34 Knockdarragh Park

Llangefni

Knockmore Road

Anglesey LL77 7TW

Lisburn

January

Sohail Zulfiqar Teamwork Training Consultants 85 Hazelwood Road

England B277XW

Naeem Sarwar

Antrim BT28 2XZ

Teamwork Training Consultants

David Dunk

69 Shirley Road

D & B Installations

Acocks green Birmingham

30 Milton Drive

Andrew White

Southwick

14 Stoneybank Drive

West SussexBN42 4NE

Kiverton Park

West Midlands B27 7NB

Sheffield S26 6SJ David Cowens Total (CI) Ltd

Steve Thompson

PO Box 419

19 Post Office Lane

North Side

Stockton

Great Bookham

Vale

Southam

Surrey KT23 4DH

Guernsey GY1 3WN

Warwickshire CV47 8JR

Anthony Higgs 209 Lower Road

10

New APEA members John Rice

Robert Burnard

Total Electrical Inspection & Testing

Liquid Cargo Management Ltd

81 Ballymageough Road

Unit 1B Langlands Business Park

Kilkeel

Uffculme

Co Down BT34 4SX

Devon EX15 3DA

Mark Dowling Dowling Blunt Ltd 3 Bermondsey Exchange 179-181 Bermondsey Street London SE1 3UW

Stefan Kunter Fafnir GmbH Bahrenfelder Strasse 19

February Colin Cardy Helen Fazakerley

ASA Consultants

Water Works Consulting Ltd

Lowfield House

210 High Street

Brocket Road

Lewes

Hoddesdon

East Sussex BN7 2NH

Hertfordshire EN11 8PB

Pro-V Services

March

23 Willow Rise Downswood

Global Retail Petroleum Services

Kent ME158XR

72 King Edwards Grove Teddington Middlesex TW11 9LX

Coptron Soc. Coop Via Industria N6

Aubrey Toombs

Morbegno

Newry & Mourne District Council

23017

Building Control Department

Italy

O’Hagan House Monaghan Row

Andy Frost 16A Sunnyside Road Clevedon

Newry

Jim Mole Prestbury Lodge 107 Macclesfield Road Dale Brow Prestbury Cheshire SK10 4AG Johan Anthony Psaila 11, Redentur Triq L-Isturnell Roza Luqa Hal- Farrug LQA 05 Malta Denis McBrearty Glasgow City Council 231 George Street Glasgow G1 1RX

Down BT35 8DJ

N Somerset BS21 7TE

Michael Over Northumbrian Water Ltd Abbey Road Pity Me Durham DH1 5FJ

Paul Johnson

Maidstone

Motti Edoardo

David Davies Towy Electrical Co Ltd PO Box 84 Carmarthen Carmarthenshire SA32 8YE

Hamburg 22765 Germany

Dan Gillies

George Warner 81 Clarke Avenue Hove East Sussex BN3 8GG

Gordon Hunter Atkins Defence Asset Management

David Freestone

Building F53

Boreham Consulting Engineers

RAF Spadeadam, Gilsland

Regent HouseHubert Road

Brampton

Brentwood

Cumbria CA8 7AT

Douglas Barnes Cambridgeshire Council Trading Standards Division, Sackville House Sackville Way Great Cambourne Cambridgeshire CB3 6HD

Essex CM14 4JE Douglas Murzell Andrew Beckett Northamptonshire County Council Trading Standards Wootton Hall Park Northampton

Acorn Wireless Limited Thorne House 267 High Street Crowthorne RG45 7AH

Alan Pollock Maxol Oil Ltd 48 Trench Rd Mallusk, Newtownabbey Co. Antrim BT36 4TY

Northamptonshire NN4 0GB Stephen Andrew Andrew Moore

ABB Eng Services

58 Bury Road

Broadway Offices

Brandon

PO BOX 1949, Wilton Site

Suffolk IP27 0BT

Middlesbrough TS90 8JG

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

Andy Gateshill Total UK Ltd 40 Clarendon Road Watford Herts WD17 1TQ 11

News

UK, Home Office agrees changes to recording forecourt crime A 10 month campaign by BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, has succeeded in persuading the National Crime Recording Standards Department to make changes to the Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime regarding issues of ‘Making Off without payment’ from service stations.

New guidelines will be adopted from April 2006 and will specifically address “Making off without payment” offences.

Currently, crime on Britain’s forecourts costs the industry more than £21 million every year. The BOSS success in encouraging the Home Office to adopt new, clearer guidelines comes a result of it’s “Forecourt Watch“ initiative being regarded as an example of Good Practice when dealing with crime on Britain’s 10,000 petrol forecourts.

In April 2005 the Home Office introduced new guidelines for ‘Making off without payment’; an unintended consequence of this was that many police forces treated these instances as civil debt rather than criminal offences.

During the last 10 months BOSS has battled on behalf of its members and the oil industry in general by actively campaigning for ‘Making off without payment’ to be addressed with new guidelines.

A series of formal and informal presentations to senior personnel at the Home Office’s National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS) department, detailed key areas of concern. The BOSS campaign has been supported by senior officers from West Midlands Police, Greater Manchester Police, Warwickshire Police and the Metropolitan Police Service and many Force Crime Registrars.

Kevin Eastwood, Executive Director of BOSS said: “The Home Office were receptive and have acknowledged the difficulties that some people have been experiencing regarding the interpretation of the guidelines introduced in April 2005. It also noted that the majority of areas experiencing difficulties with the guidelines did not have measures such as the proven BOSS Forecourt Watch partnership schemes in place.

“The latest guidelines should help to alleviate the present situation and used 12

correctly, hopefully in conjunction with a BOSS Forecourt Watch scheme.

A number of police forces have been receptive to embracing the BOSS Forecourt Watch scheme to further reduce crime in their areas.

“Demand on police time and resources is significantly reduced by these schemes and prolific offenders more easily be identified. This allows police to take appropriate action – which is vital, as this type of criminal is invariably involved with a host of other illegal activities.”

UK, Huddersfield.

3000 litres of diesel leaked at fireworks company A Huddersfield firm has recently been given a warning by the Environment Agency after discovery of a fuel leak.

Black Cat Fireworks, of Crosland Hill, were served an Improvement Notice by the Environment Agency after 3,000 litres of diesel escaped.

The red diesel is listed as a substance dangerous to the environment under the Control of Major Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999.

The notice has been issued to ensure that Black Cat locate the escaped diesel and carry out a clean-up. An Environment Agency spokesman said: "The company is also required to ensure that all their other tanks containing such substances comply with the regulations governing the storage of COMAH materials" Red diesel and other similar oil-based products have the potential to cause serious environmental and accident damage, both by their contamination of land and water, and by the proximity of such flammable substances to fireworks." Environment Agency officers who investigated the incident found the red diesel, which appeared to have leaked from a feed pipe, had been absorbed into the ground beneath the tank. Other oil tanks on site were inspected and although bunded did not meet all the requirements for storage of hazardous substances.

UK, Gas storage tank blaze put out Fire engines had to be called out in the early hours on 3rd April to the construction site of new liquid natural gas storage containers at Dragon LNG, in Waterston, near Milford Haven, after lifting equipment inside one of the tanks

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

under construction caught fire.

The blaze, which was tackled at about 3am, took an hour to bring under control with special foam. Petroplus, which stores fuels at the same location, is being prosecuted by Environment Agency Wales over leaks of jet kerosene from their tank storage facility.

UK, Adrian Levett APEA offers best wishes to Adrian Levett a Fellow of the Association who took early retirement at the end of April from his position as Chief Trading Standards Officer for Warwickshire.

Adrian was the Chairman of the Association for 2 years in the 1980’s and played an important part in shaping the Apea as a limited company. In addition he carried out some sterling work in the LACOTS field and in the HSE working parties on shaping the future of petroleum legislation and indeed contributed to writing some of the early petrol filling station codes issued by the APEA in the 1970’s.

UK, Britwell Co-op fined £45,000 for firework explosion The owners of the Co-op Welcome Store on Wentworth Avenue, Britwell were on 1st February 2006, fined £45,000 for putting employees and the public at risk of injury, following a prosecution by Slough Borough Council.

The prosecution related to an explosion at the shop on 14 October 2004 when a compressor unit over heated and ignited a store of fireworks.

Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited did not attend the court which heard evidence that the shop had not followed company procedures for the safe handling, storage and display of fireworks and that they had put employees and the public at risk of injury by failing to store and handle fireworks in a safe manner.

They were fined £45,000 to be paid within 28 days.

The investigation into the explosion involved the council’s trading standards and health and safety teams and Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Keith Eaglestone, head of Trading Standards, said: “The safe storage of fireworks is vital as an explosion in a confined space like this could cause serious injury and even structural damage.

“The company was very lucky that no one was killed or injured because such a disregard for firework safety could

News have had far more serious consequences.”

Councillor Duncan Buchanan, commissioner for public protection, said: “This was a horrifying breach of health and safety regulations which put local people's lives at risk.

“The Trading Standards team regularly check that fireworks are being stored safely and I hope the seriousness of the fine will deter anyone from thinking they can get away with storing fireworks in a dangerous way.”

UK, Local athlete joins the most successful team in Europe Rhodri Humphreys, an employee of Fairbanks Environmental Ltd, has been selected as a member of the TRI UK triathlon team in 2006, and will be representing sponsors TRI UK, FOOR, MPOWER eyewear, Saucony, Aquasphere, Carnac, Easton, Fizik and Cannondale in a series of national and international races throughout the 2006 season.

In 2005 the TRI UK race team enjoyed successes that secured their reputation as one of the most successful teams in Europe with 100 top three finishes, over 250 top three age group finishes and numerous Great Britain and home nations team appearances.

Co-owner of TRI UK and Team Manager Ali Boon commented: “Rhodri was a natural choice when we were selecting our team for 2006. We have grown the race team to a 50+ strong team which is now the envy of the Triathlon world, Rhodri‘s dedication and loyalty meant that he was an obvious choice for the team. We are looking forward to a year of success together”.

Rhodri joined his fellow team members at the team’s launch held this weekend in Yeovil Somerset. The launch saw team members swim in the TRI UK endless pool, go for a team run and bike training session as well as collect their sponsored team kit from 2006 sponsors TRI UK, Cannondale, Saucony, MPOWER eyewear, Aquasphere, Easton, Carnac and FOOR. Rhodri, a former National standard swimmer comments, “I have made the transition from being a competitive swimmer to triathlete over the past year.

The support of TRI UK, will be an invaluable support. The company have provided me with some of the expensive equipment required to compete at a high level and have given me expert advice on training and nutrition”.

In June this year, Rhodri will be competing in the UK stage of the World half Ironman championships, held at Wimbleball, Exmoor. He will be raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.

TRI UK, established 15 years ago, is the largest Triathlon retailer in the world and offers a full store and mail order service. They have been responsible for introducing many brands to the UK market and this year are sponsoring the team in association with Cannondale, Saucony, MPOWER eyewear , Aquasphere, Easton, Fizik, Carnac and FOOR. To find out more about the team and their sponsors visit the TRI UK race team section on the internet site www.triuk.com or call the store on 01935 414142.

UK, Fire crews in Buncefield blast exercise Fire crews in East Sussex have carried out an emergency exercise based on the Buncefield oil depot blast in December.

More than 100 firefighters, including representatives from Kent and the Isle of Wight, were involved in the simulation in Eastbourne on Sunday March 27th.

They had to respond to a mocked-up leak and explosion from a cylinder at the town's Finmere Road gas depot.

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said the crews had "coped very well" with the operation.

"Rather than waiting until the day it happens, we now know our contingency plans will work," said station

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

commander Adrian White, who directed the exercise.

The fire crews were joined by emergency colleagues from Sussex Police, Eastbourne Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Southern Water and EDF Energy. Mr White said the multi-agency approach had proved a success. "We can all train within ourselves, but we don't normally get the opportunity to train with other brigades. ”We have a duty of care to ensure we test our own preparations "We got a lot of learning points out of the exercise, including awareness of working with other agencies."

The fire crews first had to simulate dispersing a gas cloud, before making "a huge water curtain" to keep five other gas cylinders cool and prevent the fake blaze from spreading to them. Mr White said the exercise, carried out with storyboards, was "make-believe but with realism there". "Fires of this nature may be rare but we have a duty of care to ensure we test our own preparations," he added.

UK, Spill costs Cable and Wireless over £200,000 An international communications company based in Swindon was ordered to pay more than £29,500 by Swindon Magistrates Court on April 12th after polluting a 14km stretch of three rivers with up to 8 tonnes of red diesel – killing more than 2,000 fish and some birds.

Cable and Wireless Plc, of the 15

News Windmill Hill Industrial Estate, Swindon, pleaded guilty to polluting the Westlea Brook, the River Ray and the River Thames on 23 January 2005, contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991. Magistrates fined the company £20,000 and ordered it to pay £9,562.40 in costs.

More than 2,000 stickleback fish died in the Westlea Brook following the incident, as well as a swan, three kingfishers and two moorhens. The true impact on birdlife is difficult to estimate as some may have left the area as a result of the incident. Other birds suffered chemical burns and had their feathers coated in oil. The diesel killed all of the insect life and most of the fish in the Westlea Brook downstream from the discharge point. The River Ray was also effected with insect life described as being slow moving or moribund.

Otters and water voles have struggled to make a comeback in the River Ray catchment and the Environment Agency are concerned that they will have been adversley effected by this oil spill.

The Environment Agency received numerous reports from members of the public on 23 January that red diesel was spilling into the Westlea Brook and the River Ray, in Swindon. These prompt reports enabled the Environment Agency to attend the incident quickly thus reducing the potential impact on the River Ray. Environment Agency officer who attended the site and found that red diesel was coming from a surface water culvert close to Stoney Beck Close, Westlea where there was a strong smell of diesel in the air. The officer said that the Westlea Brook ‘looked like a river of diesel’.

Environment Agency officers installed oil booms to stop oil spreading further.

With the help of Thames Water they began tracing the source of the pollution through almost 2km of underground water pipes back to the Windmill Hill Industrial Estate. Officers inspecting the industrial estate soon identified the source of the diesel at the Cable and Wireless site, Windmill Hill Industrial Estate. Near to the company’s Energy Centre, there was a strong smell of diesel and they saw oil stains on pipes in the concrete yard which drained away to a surface water gully next to them.

The company explained it had more than half a million litres of red diesel on site. The diesel is used to run 16 generators that perform various functions to provide back up power to web-hosting equipment. The company said that a valve and pump failure had caused the fuel dump tank to overflow through the vent pipes and then into a surface water drain which leads directly 16

into the Westlea Brook.

Samples taken by Environment Agency officers on 24 January clearly link the diesel found in the surface water drain on the Cable and Wireless site to the diesel found along the Westlea Brook and the River Ray. Cable and Wireless instructed clean up crews to deal with the diesel, with the total cost of the clean up reaching £180,000. But despite this action, the incident still severely affected three rivers with adverse impacts to wildlife and on the recreational use of the watercourses for several months.

Robert Iles, Environment Officer with the Environment Agency, said “Companies who keep oil on their premises, particularly in large quantities such as this, have a duty to ensure that a full environmental risk assessment is carried out. A detailed management system should be in place to safeguard the environment against the effects of any spillage”. “The identification of possible off-site impacts is a key part of such a plan. This company failed to carry out an adequate environmental risk assessment”. “There was also no alarm system or routine checks which may have alerted the company to the problem. As a result of this incident the company has now taken steps to ensure these controls are in place.”

“This incident had a devastating impact along the Westlea Brook, the River Ray and the River Thames. It has resulted in damage to a valuable urban wildlife corridor with the loss of thousands of insects and fish, which will take some time to return. Effected birds such as the Kingfisher may take longer to reestablish their territories. “We are pleased that the court has reflected the impact the pollution had in imposing the maximum possible fine of £20,000 at Swindon Magistrates Court.” Mr Flemming Chair of the Magistrates bench said “Environmental issues are of great concern to all of us. Industry and large companies such as Cable and Wireless should lead the field in environmental standards and set an example.”

UK, The disappearing petrol station in the UK Oil companies are closing petrol stations in a drive to cut costs despite making record profits. Eleven forecourts a week are now being closed and the number owned by oil companies rather than supermarkets or other retailers - fell by more than 300 last year, figures from the Energy Institute show.

Its retail marketing survey reveals

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that Britain now has fewer forecourts than in 1914 - even though combined diesel and petrol sales set a record last year. Oil companies complain that volumes might be high but margins are pitifully small and Shell has been putting pressure on its forecourt managers to take on "clusters" of stations to save costs. The company is also planning a huge new service centre in Poland, in an unusual move that could lead to hundreds of job losses throughout its European operation. The move surprised oil industry experts but Shell said it was part of a wider global move to develop regional centres for some back office functions.

"As a global company, operating in over 140 countries, we use service centres to provide support functions for our business. We continually keep the provision of these service centres under review to provide high quality and cost competitive support functions," said a spokesman. Final agreement is still being sought from Polish authorities about setting up an office in Krakow where 400 jobs will be created initially.

Eventually 800 Polish staff could be hired to handle certain billing functions for continental Europe. Other countries were considered before Shell decided on Poland, partly on the basis of cost.

Sources close to the company insisted no British jobs would be lost because the billing functions for the UK and Ireland are handled in Glasgow. Both Shell and BP have announced record annual profits this year.

UK, Morrisons to open UK’s first bioethanol E85 pump British supermarket group Wm Morrison said it planned to open the UK's first bioethanol E85 filling pump on Wednesday, tying in with the first deliveries of the Saab 9-5 BioPower flex-fuel car. Bioethanol E85 (a blend of 85 percent bioethanol and 15 percent petrol) will retail for two pence per litre less than petrol, and can contribute to a cut in the harmful effects to the environment caused by burning fossil fuels, Morrisons said.

Morrisons, the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain, will locate the UK's first bioethanol E85 pump on the forecourt of its Albion Way, Norwich site, to be immediately followed by supplies at another four of its sites in eastern England. "Creating demand for this product will, in the medium to long term, present major opportunities for UK farmers to supply their excess cereals capacity to bioethanol manufacturers," Morrisons said in a statement.

News Morrisons said the availability of the fuel, branded as Harvest BioEthanol E85, had been timed to coincide with the first customer deliveries of the Saab 9-5 BioPower, which was officially launched in Britain in November 2005.

Saab BioPower technology enables its cars to run on either the potent yet environmentally-friendly fuel BioEthanol E85, or on pure petrol, without any adjustment required by the driver. Saab is a unit of General Motors Corp. Ford Motor Co.'s Ford Focus FFV can also use BioEthanol E85, a Morrisons spokesman said.

UK, Fireworks firm blasted in court A pyrotechnics company has been fined £5,000 on April 13th after five tonnes of fireworks including a rocket named the mother of all bombs' were found dangerously stored at an Edmonton warehouse.

Trading Standards officers discovered the illegally stored fireworks during a raid at a warehouse close to the busy North Circular Road. Harlow-based Mars Pyrotechnics Ltd claimed it was no longer responsible for the fireworks as it had sold them to an agent. But magistrates said the company was still responsible for ensuring the fireworks were safely stored and issued the fine for failing to meet their health and safety obligations.

Ray Brewer, Enfield Council's assistant director for the environment, said: "For the company to claim it was no longer responsible is just not on and especially when it is trading in potentially dangerous goods. "It has a duty to ensure its goods end up in the right hands and are safely stored." He added: "The important thing is my officers, along with the police, were able to seize the goods which were stored dangerously. "The consequences of five tonnes of fireworks exploding so near the North Circular Road and busy offices could have been disastrous."

UK, Oil company ordered to pay out £14,000 for inadequate safe system of work after explosion at refinery Total Lindsey Oil Refinery Limited (TLOR) has been fined £14,000 following a prosecution brought by the

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an explosion at its refinery in Immingham, North Killingholme.

HSE's investigation found that TLOR failed to adequately manage risks posed to workers carrying out maintenance on its behalf on a crude oil storage tank. Following the conclusion of the case, Mike Nind, HSE's investigating inspector, said: "The incident could have been prevented by a number of simple and reasonably practicable measures including improved awareness of the hazards and risks, proper supervision of work activities and better monitoring and auditing of safety critical tasks."

The explosion happened on 14 December 2005 while work was being carried out on a storage tank that was out of service. As part of the work, TLOR had contracted Jacobs Catalytic Ltd to use oxy-acetylene cutting equipment to cut brackets on the tank's floating roof. The floating roof consisted of 38 hollow pontoons that provide buoyancy to allow the roof to float on the surface of the oil as the tank is emptied or filled. At the time of the incident, the tank was empty and the roof was at the bottom. Before work started all remaining oil and sediment from the space between the underside of the floating roof and the tank floor had been washed to a 'hydrocarbon free' standard. However, as the workers, who were standing on top of the roof, cut through the brackets a build-up of flammable oil vapour inside one of the hollow pontoons was ignited causing an explosion that blew several workers off their feet, with some reporting landing four to five metres from where they had been standing.

Fortunately, none of the workers were seriously injured.

The HSE investigation found that TLOR had failed to preserve an adequate record of pontoons that contained leaks. In particular, although the presence of crude oil within the pontoon had been originally identified and recorded in 1988, this information was not preserved and not passed on to the contractor carrying out the work. As a result, the leaking pontoon was not cleaned out before the cutting work started. The investigation also found that TLOR had failed to ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment of the potential for explosive was undertaken.

TLOR's procedures required that their procedures did require staff to inspect all pontoons for leakage and vapour build-up prior to cutting work, this was not done.

Total Lindsey Oil Refinery Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc.

Act 1974 (HSWA) at Grimsby and

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Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court on 21 March 2006 in that it did not ensure the safety of persons not in their employment. The company was fined £14,000 with costs of £518.

UK, Topless car wash in Britain Britain's first topless carwash has opened its doors - and is already raking in the cash.

Male drivers enjoy the car wash in Burbage, Leicestershire, because a team of nice looking girls do the hard work. The business is taking £900 a day as eager punters queue up for a saucy rinse.

Customers are charged £25 to have their motors washed by four girls in bikinis, but for an extra £5 the girls, who can earn £100 - £200 a day, will go topless.

Businessman Jon Bevins opened 'Bubbles 'n' Babes' last week on an industrial estate near Hinckley in Leicestershire. He said: "We offer a safe, fun and active service but are only introducing a little bit of harmless fun to having one's car washed."

But the sexy business has already got local residents in a lather. Local councillor Brian Edwards said: "A lot of people think it shouldn't be allowed. If you ask me anyone who pays £30 for a car wash has got more money than sense.

UK, IRA fuel smuggling ‘Drove oil giants to abandon Ulster’ Fuel smuggling by the IRA has contributed to major oil companies pulling out of Northern Ireland, it was claimed yesterday. Esso, BP and Shell no longer directly own filling stations in Ulster, where police believe crossborder fuel smuggling and illegal selling of treated diesel is rife.

Less than 48 hours before the body monitoring IRA activity publishes its next report, the Petrol Retailers' Association claimed that "gangland" fuel smuggling had had a bearing on the commercial decisions made by oil companies. The trade is estimated to be worth £130 million a year and illegal petrol and diesel is thought to account for 50 per cent of road fuel used in the province.

Ray Holloway, the director of the organisation representing 6,000 businesses, has been asked to give 17

News evidence to MPs on the Northern Ireland affairs committee next month.

He claimed yesterday that diesel laundering, whereby criminals remove the dye that identifies cheaper off-road diesel, had affected the quality of fuel available in Ulster. The dye is removed by adding acid to the fuel, which is then sold to drivers at a profit. Unless the acid is neutralised, the fuel can ruin engines. "Fuel integrity is probably part of the whole review process the oil companies carry out when they are looking at Northern Ireland," Mr Holloway said. "The commercial ability to trade in that total environment is what the oil companies are looking at."

Tomorrow sees the publication of the International Monitoring Commission's latest report into paramilitary organisations. Any suggestion that the IRA is still engaged in criminality after its promise to embrace democracy last year will prove damaging to the peace process. Police have long suspected the IRA of running a sophisticated cross-border smuggling operation. Ian Paisley Jnr of the Democratic Unionist Party said: "My understanding is that the IRA is by far the biggest player in fuel crime here, and the Government hasn't any idea how it is going to deal with it."

According to Mr Holloway, the tax differential that results in fuel being substantially cheaper in the Republic of Ireland had led to smuggling. South of the border a litre of unleaded petrol costs around 72p compared with 90p in Northern Ireland. Diesel is also around 72p per litre against 96p in Ulster. Esso, Shell and BP logos are still seen in Ulster though the petrol stations are not directly owned by the companies but run by businesses licensed to sell their fuel. Mr Holloway said the companies' decision to sell was also influenced by the rise of supermarket petrol stations, a UK-wide trend to sell, and crossborder shopping.

Adler and Allan Clean Up at Buncefield The blast that ripped through the Buncefield oil terminal on 11 December caused the largest fire in peacetime Europe. It raged for over 72 hours before it was finally extinguished by Fire Brigades brought in from all over the country.

Once the fires were out the priority was to uplift and dispose of product and fire water from tank bunds and transfer any remaining product to other facilities.

The task was given to emergency response contractors, Adler and Allan, who possessed the unique skill set required, namely: disaster recovery 18

expertise, PETREG tankers, low-flash pumping equipment, jetting and pollution control equipment, highly trained staff and the ability to mobilise to site immediately.

The project has required close liaison with the Fire Brigades, the Police, the Health and Safety Executive, The Environment Agency, the Health Protection Agency and several branches of local government.

The priority throughout has been the need to make the site safe as quickly as practically possible whilst protecting the environment and the public.

UK, Tank teetering on the brink A huge fuel tanker was left perched on the edge of mountainside - tilting dangerously towards homes beneath. A major evacuation and recovery

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operation was launched after the seven-and-a-half tonne tanker left the mountain road above the villages of Trelewis and Bedlinog.

The tanker, carrying 8,000 litres of diesel, was left leaning sideways with a quarter of a mile drop. A mum-of-three told how she had feared the tanker could have exploded above her home.

Samantha Szura, 35, of Bedlinog Road, said: 'When vehicles have gone over before they've landed on the main road.

'If that tanker had done the same there would have been a big explosion, with all that fuel. 'It was frightening.'

Police evacuated homes in the tanker's direct path after being called out about 9am yesterday. All surrounding roads were closed.

Samantha, whose husband Julian was at work, was warned about the tanker by a call from her parents-in-law, who live on the same road. Luckily children Tyler, 12, Brittany, eight, and seven-

News year-old Cody, off school due to the council strike, were at Samantha's mum's house in Aberdare. She said: 'I was just making a cup of tea when a policeman came round and told me I had to leave, and that there wasn't much time. 'I threw a few things together. I was just glad the children weren't there as I would have been in more of a panic. 'The tanker looked like it was right on the edge. 'If it had been in the morning and had come off the mountain, the children would have been in bed. I'm so relieved it was okay in the end.'

Fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene, and utility companies. A chemical incident unit and heavy rescue unit from Pontypridd were on standby. The tanker had to be secured with winches before the diesel was transferred to a second tanker, and a 25-tonne tow truck was used to recover the vehicle. The all-clear was given at about noon. 'It was very close to the edge, a foot further over and who knows,' said Sergeant Malcolm Poole, of the northern sector traffic unit.

The tanker is thought to have been delivering to local farms when it got into difficulties. The nearside wheels had dug into the soft verge off the carriageway and the vehicle grounded on the edge, making it difficult for the driver to get back up on to the roadway.

Bedlinog independent councillor Leighton Smart: 'If the tanker had gone off the edge, one of those houses could have been in the line of fire. 'It's only a matter of time before someone gets killed. That road is deadly. 'I have complaints about lorries using it all the time.' Sergeant Poole said an alternative route may be looked at for the company involved. He said: 'We are checking what weight restrictions may be in place for that stretch of road and whether or not there has been any breach.'

UK, Texaco pays the price for pollution Fuel company Texaco Limited and a local fisherman were fined by Alnwick Magistrates’ Court on Monday 3 April, for a spill of diesel at Boulmer Village, Northumberland. Texaco Limited was ordered to pay a £2,000 fine and £783 costs. Ian McQueen, 59, of Boulmer Village, Northumberland, was also fined £120 and £500 costs.

The court heard that Texaco Limited delivered diesel to fisherman McQueen, with no previous problems, but on May 17, 2005 an Environment Agency officer met a tanker driver at Boulmer Village where a spill of diesel had taken place

from the filling of a mobile bowser, used to fill boats. A number of litres had been delivered before the fuel tank became unbalanced and tipped up. Texaco was told of the spill and sent out contractors to start a clear up.

Officers were concerned that the spill was discharging onto nearby Boulmer beach – classed as a site of Special Scientific Interest.

The spill contaminated water, ground and rock pools, causing a pollution incident that visibly affected wildlife. Environment Agency lead investigating officer Ross Lowrie said: “This was an unfortunate incident that was totally avoidable. The Northumberland coastline is one of the region’s best assets and all businesses have a duty to protect it, from the fisherman to the multinational oil supplier. “Fortunately the spill was dealt with properly and there has been no long-term impact on this ecologicallyimportant coastline, but lessons should be learnt. The law states that new oil storage containers must have secondary containment in case of a spill and we advise that they are sited in a secure place so accidents like this don't happen.” In mitigation it was said that McQueen did not know how the spill had happened. He was sorry the incident had happened. He would ensure that his tank was sited in a more appropriate place when it came to be filled in future.

UK, South Armagh.

Raid dismantles diesel operation Illegal fuel was seized in the raid A fuel plant with the capacity to produce 100,000 litres of illegal laundered diesel per week has been dismantled in South Armagh. Customs and police officers recovered 13,500 litres of laundered fuel during the search of farm buildings at Crossnenagh Road, Derrynoose, Keady. More than three tones of toxic sludge was also cleared from the site.

The Customs service said the plant would have caused an annual revenue loss of about £2.25m. The night time raid which was carried out on Thursday 6th April, also netted pumps, compressors, filtration and storage equipment. "This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few individuals," Maggie Eyden of the service's head of detection in Northern Ireland said. "Revenue and Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest

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businesses," she added. "People need to be aware of the potential environmental damage that can be caused by the indiscriminate dumping in our countryside of the waste products from the laundering process." In another Customs operation on 6th April, 5,100 litres of illegal fuel was seized from a lorry which crashed after a police chase on the Killyleagh Road in Armagh. One man was arrested and bailed to re-appear at a later date to help Customs with their inquiries.

E85 With a new fuel E85 being offered for sale at UK filling stations the APEA together with the Energy Institute are working on a draft for Guidance on the storage and dispensing of the new fuel, which contains 15% petrol and 85% ethanol and has some different characteristics to unleaded petrol.

This safety and environmental guidance when completed will supplement the guidance offered in the Blue Book on filling stations.

A first draft has been made and this is being circulated for comment to representatives of the stakeholders who contributed to the writing of the 2nd Edition Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations.

Comments on the draft should be made to technicalchairman@apea.org.uk

Bidding frenzy on tiny Dublin petrol station A small petrol station in Dublin is expected to fetch £6m from developers seeking to boost the apartment boom.

The price translates to nearly 4,000 Euro per square metre for the half-acre site in one of Dublin's most sought after development areas. Agents Hamilton Osborne King (HOK) expect huge interest with offers by private tender being finalised next month. Located on the Merrion Road near Tara Towers Hotel, the station should attract a bidding war given its residential zoning.

Early surveys suggest it could accommodate 55 mainly two-bedroom apartments. New units in the area sell from £300,000 for a one bed and £500,000 for a two bed.

Increase in NI Firework injuries Injuries caused by fireworks rose by more than 50% Firework injuries over the 2005 Halloween period rose by more than 21

News 50% in Northern Ireland.

According to figures published by the government on Friday 9th February, 86 people suffered wounds in the period between 11 October and 12 November 2005. Nearly three-quarters of those injured were under 20 and 90% of them were male.

The most common injuries were to the hands and wrists, followed by the face, head or neck area. Thirteen children aged 10 or younger were injured. Health Minister Shaun Woodward urged people to pay "serious attention" to the figures. "These figures should be going down not up,"he said.

UK, Belfast. Customs officers smash illegal fuel laundering plants Fuel laundering plants capable of processing over £2m worth of fuel each year have been closed down in south Armagh. Three plants discovered by customs officers on Friday near Cullyhanna were capable of producing 80,000 litres of laundered fuel per week.

Officials dismantled two sophisticated laundering plants in farm buildings and dealt with a third mobile unit. They also recovered 30,000 litres of contaminated fuel and seized a fuel tanker, pumps and filtration and storage equipment.

Laundering by-products which can harm the environment, including 5,000 litres of sulphuric acid and 7,000 litres of toxic contaminated sludge were cleared from the site. Senior customs official Colin McAllister, said: "Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. "If these sophisticated operations to illegally remove the chemical markers in duty-rebated fuel had not been shut down, it would have meant an annual revenue loss of around £2,250,000. "This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few individuals."

A lorry carrying around 5,000 litres of hazardous laundering waste was abandoned last week at the roadside in Co Armagh. "People need to be aware of the potential environmental damage that can be caused by the indiscriminate dumping in our countryside of the waste products from the laundering process," Mr McAllister added. "They need to consider what happens to the waste by-product and the damage caused by contamination to arable land and our water and rivers."

During another multi-agency operation last Tuesday, customs officers seized 26,000 litres of diesel.

22

The fuel was recovered from storage tanks at oil distribution premises on the Dundalk Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh. Two fuel tankers containing 1,900 litres of diesel fuel were and a third with 21,600 litres of green diesel (rebated fuel from the Republic of Ireland) were also seized.

UK, Scotland, Glasgow trader facing rocket for selling fireworks A rogue trader is facing court action after being caught selling fireworks without a licence. Trading standards chiefs swooped on the store in the southside of the city following a tip-off, and discovered a huge haul of more than 50 fireworks boxes.

City council chiefs, who are also investigating three other businesses for selling fireworks to under-age buyers, are preparing a report for the procurator fiscal on the new case. Anyone caught breaching the laws on the sale of fireworks faces a maximum fine of £5000 or six months in jail.

The shop owner was found to have various boxes of fireworks and several packets of rockets on the premises. He is also understood to have claimed he was unaware of the new restrictions on the sale of fireworks - despite highprofile warnings being issued over the last year. Councillor Sheila Gilmore, head of the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership, said: "Many people will not associate January as being a problematic time for firework sales but already this month our staff had to seize more than 50 boxes of fireworks from a trader in the city. "In the past year we have seen an improvement in both public complaints about fireworks, as well as fewer underage sales. It is important that we maintain this. "We want to remind traders in the city of the restricted period for firework sales and warn them that the council will take strong action against anyone who does not comply with the restrictions."

Businesses across Scotland have been banned from selling fireworks without a licence since January 1, although special dispensation was allowed between January 26 and 29 to cater for the Chinese New Year celebrations. Under the new legislation, fireworks can only be sold without a licence in the three weeks running up to Bonfire Night, for four days in the run-up to Hogmanay and for four days around Diwali, the Indian festival of light, in November.

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The council said complaints about the sale of fireworks had dropped 48 per cent in 2005 compared to the previous 12 months, largely as a result of the new legislation. A spokesman for the council's environment and consumer services department said the trader could not be named because of the pending court action. He added: "We suspect this is an isolated incident, but we are keen to remind traders of the rules.

Any trader wishing to sell fireworks from now until mid-October will require a licence from the council and we will take tough action against any trader who breaches the restrictions. "Any member of the public who believes fireworks are being sold illegally can report the matter to trading standards on 0131-529 3030. We've not issued any licences for the period between now and October.

UK, Scotland, Brookfield. Three hurt as petrol tank explodes Three workmen were injured today in a petrol tank blast. The explosion, at a contractors' yard in Renfrewshire, was so intense debris from the yard smashed a window in a nearby house.

The three men were taken by ambulance to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. One of the workmen was treated for minor facial injuries and the other two for shock. All were later released.

The blast happened around 10.45am as the workers were removing an old petrol tank from a disused part of the W H Malcolm yard in Brookfield, near Johnstone. It sent debris across the yard smashing a window in a nearby house in Woodside Road. Two fire engines from Johnstone and a specialist technical support unit from Govan, rushed to the scene.

Firefighters made the site safe by applying a blanket of foam inside the tank, which was buried underground. A spokesman for the company said: "Workers were removing an old petrol tank from the ground. "There were obviously small pockets of vapour trapped in the pipes. "While they were cutting through the pipes this caused a small explosion" A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "The area was quickly contained and there was no risk to the surrounding area. "Two crews from Johnstone were called and we also had back up from our technical support unit.

"However, as we knew what kind of substance we were dealing with they were able to stand down. "We put a

News foam covering over the inside of the tanker to make sure there was no material left inside. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said: "It is thought there was some kind of spark which led to an explosion." Health and safety officials were due at the yard later today.

EU, Fuel tax cut could help halt loss of struggling scottish petrol stations Council is investigating a cut in fuel tax as a means of keeping threatened rural filling stations open. France has won a concession from the European Union that lets it cut up to 3 per cent from fuel tax in rural areas affected by depopulation and hardship. The trial will run until 2011. This is being monitored

by Highland Council, which has for years been fighting high pump prices.

Experts believe the prices have contributed to the closure of a number of independent rural petrol stations as motorists seek cheaper deals from supermarket filling stations. The French move is designed to devolve power to cut fuel duty to its regions in certain circumstances. Alison Magee, the Highland Council convener, is investigating the possible use of the concession. She has argued some people in remote communities in the Highlands depend on cars and have to travel long distances to reach services.

Ken McCorquodale, policy officer with the council, said: "We are saying that the French are coming up with innovative policy ideas for trying to reduce the cost of fuel, particularly in rural areas, and that is the sort of measure we should be coming up with in the UK. The impetus has to come from the very centre of government in the UK. "This is a problem for some of our communities, not those in Inverness but certainly beyond the inner Moray Firth area. We need to help rural motorists and low-income households in peripheral areas who do have high costs of travel."

Last year petrol prices in some rural areas went through the £1-a-litre barrier and there is a price differential of at least 7p between fuel in Inverness and most rural communities. This can mean a difference of over £3 on a tankful of petrol, and £4 compared to pump prices in central Scotland. Since 1975 the number of filling stations in the Highlands has fallen from 348 to 105, with some closing due to new supermarkets with petrol pumps being built onsite. Mr McCorquodale said:

"The undercutting of fuel prices by supermarkets makes fuel retailing very competitive across the UK, although prices in Highland remain stubbornly above UK averages. "It however makes fuel retailing beyond the Highland capital within rural and peripheral communities very difficult.

Supermarkets sometimes are able to retail fuel at a price that fuel distributors cannot purchase the product at. The position is worse-still for smaller, independent fuel retailers across rural Highlands." He said no rural filling station survived only on fuel sales.

Instead they relied on attached shops and restaurants. Ray Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailers' Association, said: "What is needed in Scotland is a plan for a future strategic network of filling stations and a means of delivering equal prices for motorists in rural areas.

"But we have a government that is not prepared to look at any means of addressing the issue of the price differential between the Central Belt and the rest of Scotland. "Here we have at least something happening in France and we need to understand what the implications are." But Tony Mackay, of Inverness-based Mackay Consultants, said the French system would be unworkable. He said it could lead to drivers coming into rural areas to fill up or people smuggling cheaper petrol.

A Treasury spokesman said he was aware of the French move but said: "It's something we would consider as part of the process of reviewing taxes.

However it conflicts with our environmental strategy as you could have freight travelling long distances just to fill up."

EU, 150 million Euro offered for Statoil’s Irish station network A number of local groups are lining up to buy Statoil’s network of service stations in Ireland, which has attracted bids of more than €150m, according to informed sources.

DCC, the Jim Flavin-led quoted conglomerate, and Topaz Energy, the consortium headed by Neil O’Leary that acquired Shell’s operations here, are both believed to have submitted bids this month. These are joined by Musgrave, the Cork-based grocery wholesale giant keen to gain a foothold in the forecourt market. John Sweeney, the west of Ireland oil distributor and an underbidder on Shell is also said to have done so. Shane Reihill, chairman of venture capital companies Trinity and Hibernia, and a former chief executive

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and finance director of Tedcastle Holdings, the family’s oil and fuel company, was another bidder. A number of international groups are also in the running. These include Tesco, the British multiple with a handful of petrol stations here, and Irving Oil of Canada.

Maxol, the country’s largest independent, is not believed to have entered the race nor has BWG, a cash and carry rival of Musgrave. Niall McFadden, a financier who took a close look at Shell, and Des Hurley of East Cork Oil, which has a joint venture with Statoil, are also believed to have stepped out of the race.

About 30 expressions of interest were received by Statoil for its Irish operation, with several more lodged with Merrill Lynch in London, which is handling the sale. Statoil has 236 stations in its network, of which 69 are companyowned. It is Ireland’s biggest petrol retailer with a 20% market share and employs 1,100 staff.

EU, Repsol gives up long-term supply agreements in Spanish petrol station The European Commission said that Repsol SA has terminated exclusive long-term supply contracts with hundreds of Spanish service stations, in line with commitments entered into following a commission antitrust investigation. Moreover, Repsol has undertaken not to sign any new exclusive supply contracts lasting longer than five years and will not purchase any petrol stations that it does not supply.

The commission has now closed its investigation into whether Repsol's supply contracts violated EU rules on restrictive business practices.

Press Releases ExperianÒ acquires Catalist ExperianÒ, the global information solutions company, has acquired Catalist, a leading international provider of information on the retail petroleum and garage forecourt market.

Charles Burton, Managing Director of Experian’s Business Strategies division, which is an international provider of retail data, analysis and consultancy, commented: “The acquisition of Catalist will 25

News enable Experian to expand its retail property offer into the new but important market place of fuel and convenience retailing.

This complements our existing services and will enable us to provide retailers with a more complete view of their market opportunities, combining analytical expertise with operational management information.

“Catalist has a strong international presence and we aim to capitalise on our combined strengths throughout Europe and Asia Pacific with further expansion plans in North America. Our aim is to develop a worldwide retail and property offering which will further consolidate our market leadership.”

Description of Catalist Catalist has established itself as the leading source of petrol forecourt information and is the only company in the world to maintain complete, consistent and current information on outlets in over 20 countries across four continents. Catalist maintains a team of some 200 surveyors and has collected information on over 130,000 retail sites with more than 100 key data items per site in every country surveyed. Data provided includes the daily fuel price, size of shop, range of facilities, size of forecourt, location attributes and number of pumps. The databases cover most of Western Europe, India, Japan and South East Asia.

Catalist provides a comprehensive range of information to the retail petrol market including: • daily fuel price data for competitive pricing • demographic profiles for catchment area analysis • site analysis and evaluation • branch network planning • sales volume forecasts • drive time information • sales territory planning.

Rationale for acquisition The acquisition further strengthens Experian’s aim to become a global retail and property intelligence group with a worldwide offering, enabling it to take its service into new markets. Catalist and Experian will build on each others’ strengths to offer worldwide retail property consultancy, customer data and analysis. Experian will use the Catalist data to develop new 26

international solutions to provide clients in all markets and sectors with improved customer insight, market forecasting and operational intelligence in their retail business performance.

Catalist will become part of Experian’s Business Strategies division, which is already a leading provider of European retail property data, analysis and consultancy. Experian’s Business Strategies division currently provides strategic advice to many of Europe’s top retailers helping them to evaluate and plan their networks, forecast sales, optimise store space, manage their relationships with existing customers and target new ones. Its Goad retail supply database is the definitive source of retail property information in the UK and Ireland.

Nigel Lang, Founder and Managing Director of Catalist, added: “The synergies between Catalist and Experian will allow us to offer our diverse client base new and better products and add new data sets to our existing services, thus allowing clients greater knowledge about who their customers are and how to make the most of potential markets. We are delighted to be part of Experian’s leading global offering.”

The acquisition of Catalist is consistent with Experian’s global strategy of acquiring complementary businesses that provide new products, new data or entry into new vertical or regional markets, while leveraging the core assets of Experian.

Enquiries: Experian Bruno Rost Experian Press Office 0115 968 5009 07967 567012

Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy and Salotex Oy Merged on March 31st 2006 Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy (THT) and Salotex Oy, both companies involved in the oil distribution industry have merged their business operations on the 31st March, 2006.

In the new company structure, THT will be responsible for the installation and service operations for both companies. Salotex will focus on product and system development as well as sales. As a result of this merger, the companies will be able to offer their

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customers a more efficient and flexible approach, as well as wider range of products.

THT specialises in all aspects of installations, maintenance and assembly of fuel distribution and management systems. In cooperation with its subcontractors, THT provides nation wide coverage to many major oil companies throughout Finland. The company also provides consulting services in oil handling regulation related issues e.g. building permits, environmental licenses, risk assessments, etc. Currently Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy looks after more than 600 retail service stations for various oil companies all over Finland.

Salotex Oy specialises in fuel measurement solutions and installations as well as fuel stock management. Salotex consults and trains companies in managing the fuel stocks, minimizing leakage and environmental risks. Salotex also has supplied fuel stock monitoring systems for more than 2000 sites in Finland, Russia and the Baltic countries. Salotex has developed telematic systems that are utilized for railway crossing security control in Finland.

The trend towards field-service outsourcing, tightening environmental requirements and the increasing demand for efficiency in oil distribution provides good opportunities for the future development for the oil industry and wet stock management in general.

THT and Salotex both have long established relationships with their customers who are M.O.C.’s, public authorities and subcontractors involved in the business.

The new company will trade under the name of Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy and employs 11 people with a turnover of more than two million euros.

The managing director of the merged company will be Mr. Tapani Virtanen, formally MD of THT and the chairman of the board is the previous Salotex Oy’s Managing Director, Mr. Olli Salonen.

New trading address is: Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy Pikkukorventie 9, FI-37150 NOKIA, Finland Tel. + 358 207 434080 Fax + 358 3 342 6440 Further information: Tapani Virtanen Olli Salonen tapani.virtanen@tht.inet.fi olli.salonen@salotex.com +358 400843 003 +358 400638 588

News

Tune into 102 BP Ultimate launches the highest octane fuel available on UK forecourts - BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded 24 April 2006: BP Ultimate today unveils its revolutionary high-octane fuel. Launching at selected sites* in the south east, BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is the most advanced, highperformance petrol sold on any forecourt in the UK. Designed specifically for private motor sport enthusiasts, BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is a tuned engine’s dream come true. Meeting the same high specifications of fuels used in the pinnacle of motor sport in Formula One racing and the World Rally Championships, the fuel has an octane number of 102 and has been formulated

circles, having been involved in the development, manufacture and supply of fuels to the F1 community over the last twenty years. Fuels of this type have not been readily available to the public previously, but now we have introduced BP Ultimate 102 unleaded specifically for private motorsport enthusiasts based on our product technology in this field. This fuel has a range of features to allow increased performance from the most highly tuned engines, alongside all of the benefits that drivers expect from BP Ultimate fuels. We are delighted to make this remarkable fuel easily accessible from our forecourts.”

High Octane BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded has the highest octane rating available on any forecourt in the UK. It is the only service station fuel which truly reflects the properties of fuels used at the cutting edge of motorsport, making it the most highly specified unleaded fuel available at forecourt.

Crystal Clear Purity BP Ultimate 102 is a precise recipe using a completely different manufacturing process compared to conventional refining. This processing results in a fuel with exceptional quality without the main impurities found in ordinary fuel. This is demonstrated by the crystal clear appearance, compared to the yellowish colour of typical petrol – the only forecourt fuel in the UK to boast this characteristic.

Less Harmful to the Environment In addition to its unique performance qualities, BP Ultimate 102 is also less harmful to the environment than ordinary fuels: • Its unique purity and superior evaporation properties improve the combustion process in the engine, which means that less of the fuel is emitted as partially burnt pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons.

to allow highly tuned engines to perform at their best. What’s more BP Ultimate 102 unleaded also fully complies with BS:EN228 (the UK specification for unleaded petrol) which means that it can be legally used on the road.

BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded is so exclusive that it’s ‘hand made’ in small batches at BP’s Speciality Fuels Technology Centre in the UK, using the same expertise employed for Formula 1 fuels manufacturing. Paul Beckwith, VP, Fuels Product Management for BP comments: “BP is widely acknowledged for its fuels technology expertise across a range of transport fuels and has an excellent reputation in Formula 1

Testing BP Ultimate 102 Unleaded has been developed for vehicles tuned for increased performance. In the range of vehicles we tested, where the ignition was remapped, Ultimate 102 gave typical power benefits of between 4.0 and 7.5 per cent above normal Ultimate Unleaded 97.

On a very high performance, turbo charged vehicle, with boost pressure increased, the power benefits seen included an increase in maximum power of 37 bhp (8.6%), and as much as 60 bhp (16%) at some points in the engine speed range.

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• Its sulphur free formula will improve the operation of the catalytic converter, reducing exhaust emissions.

• With less that 0.1% benzene, BP Ultimate 102 unleaded is safer to handle and less harmful to the environment and is the only automotive petrol not classed as carcinogenic.

• The fuel contains a high performance oxygen containing bio-component, which means that overall greenhouse gas emissions – associated with global warming – are reduced, helping to protect the environment.

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Articles

APEA 2006 Conference, Exhibition and Inaugural awards Plans for APEA 2006 are well underway. The event takes place on 2nd November at the Royal Court Hotel, a beautiful venue set in 20 acres just outside Coventry.

The range of conference topics chosen for 2006 provides a wide appeal to the cross section of the downstream sector ranging from legislation, innovation, health & safety and environmental issues. A strong panel of speakers has been brought together to address these two themes in an invigorating program.

The early line-up includes a presentation from Phil Maud of William Morrison who will highlight the ecofriendly benefits of E85, the innovative bio-ethanol branded fuel which was launched in the UK earlier this year.

The new generation of unmanned sites around the UK – with a specific focus on their safety aspects – will be looked at by a spokesperson from ASDA. Stefan Kunter from the German organisation, FAFNIR, will provide the European viewpoint on Stage II Vapour Recovery and will be followed by a joint casestudy presentation from Steve Rowe of Surrey County Council and ESSO who

will examine in depth the LAPS scheme concerning the roll out programme of the "On the Run" convenience sites.

The APEA 2006 Awards is a new initiative aimed at recognizing achievement in and contribution to the industry – and promises to be the highlight of the APEA Dinner.

Nominations for awards in the following categories are now open: Health, Safety and Environment (sponsored by Shell), Quality (sponsor to be announced), Customer Service (sponsored by Total) and Innovation (sponsor to be announced).

Nomination/entry forms and full details on the judging criteria can be obtained from admin@apea.org.uk. Additionally, entries can be submitted via the website www.apea.org.uk.

More exhibition space than ever before has been dedicated to the event.

Booths are 2mx3m (space only) and for the first time will be open throughout the entire event, including the Dinner. By increasing the number of booths available and indeed by allocating more exhibition time, the organisers aim to give exhibitors more value for money and provide the visitors with the

opportunity to see more throughout the day.

Awards dinner places cost £55.00 per person – or £550 for a table of ten – and are now available for reservation. The organizers of APEA 2006 have also negotiated special rate of just £130 per person + VAT for a conference place, lunch, awards dinner and bed & breakfast package at the Royal Court Hotel.

All booth reservations, table bookings and rooms will be sold on a first-comefirst-serve basis. Bookings for any of these can be made through Emma Faure or Fiona Horan at Downstream Events Ltd. Contact emma@downstream-events.com or fiona@downstream-events.com for further details.

For further details: Emma Faure/Fiona Horan Downstream Events ltd 25 Bassein Park Road London, W12 9RN Email: info@downstream-events.com www.downstream-events.com

Guidance regarding Security of Tankers at Fuel distribution Sites

By Dennis Ricketts, HM Fire Service Inspectorate The following advice was issued by Mr Dennis Ricketts, HM Fire Service Inspectorate in a circular dated 6th February 2006 and addressed to Fire & Rescue Authorities Summary The Department for Transport (DfT) recognise that there is a need to improve the security of vehicle ignition keys at fuel distribution sites, particularly with regard to leaving keys in the vehicles, which has sometimes been the practice in order to move the vehicles quickly in case of fire. In a time of heightened security this practice needs to be reviewed. The security aspect should now be included in any risk assessments. This circular provides the guidance given to sites by DfT which fire and rescue services should take into account during any assessments of such sites.

1.0 Background 1.1 The Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate of the Department for Transport (DfT) have identified the need for improvements in vehicle ignition key controls at fuel distribution sites.

1.2 The current practice at many such 32

sites is to leave loaded vehicles on site unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

This practice has normally been implemented following consultation with the local fire and rescue service, the theory being that, in the event of a fire, the vehicles may need to be moved quickly.

1.3 DfT have raised concerns about these procedures from a security perspective. Their general advice to drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods is to never leave keys in or on the vehicle. DfT have therefore agreed, in consultation with ODPM, the following best practice for such sites.

2.0 Best practice for vehicles at fuel distribution sites 2.1 If the risk to safety of loaded tankers from fire is greater than the risk to security, then keys should be left in the vehicle ignition. However, given the vulnerabilities at sites that store loaded vehicles, it is more likely that the security risk will be greater. In these instances the following is recommended: 2.2 Filled tankers should be parked, as far as practicable, from large storage tanks.

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

2.3 The vehicles should be locked and the keys kept in a secure place (usually the gatehouse of the site) with controlled access to them. Pre-planning should identify such sites.

2.4 Keys should also be marked, so that emergency services are able to identify which vehicle they belong to, and be immediately available to authorised personnel 24/7.

2.5 Site staff should be trained in the action required in the event of fire threatening tankers and this should be coordinated with the local fire and rescue service.

2.6 Sites should institute an audit process to ensure that the procedures are maintained.

3.0 Actions by fire and rescue services 3.1 Fire and rescue services should be aware of and take account of these recommendations when they are consulted by site owners regarding their fire safety risk assessments and ensure a balanced view is taken regarding the fire safety and security of such sites.

Diary Date

AGM, Conference, Exhibition Industry Awards and Dinner 2 November 2006 The Royal Court Hotel, Warwickshire For event enquiries contact: info@downstream-events.com

• Debate

• Case Studies

• New Products

• Demonstrations

• Industry Recognition

• Networking

Articles

Innovative flange system from Risbridger

By Steve Foley & Graham Stuart, Risbridger Ltd Risbridger have a long established reputation for designing & manufacturing high quality innovative products for the petroleum industry. The latest addition to their product range includes a flanged system, which is designed to eliminate large threaded joints, and minimise the total number of connections inside the man chamber.

It is no coincidence that most industries using pipework over 25mm have switched to flanged systems. A flanged system offers many competitive advantages over threaded pipework and these include: • Flange joints are considerably faster to install.

• The RIS-FLANGE system reduces the total number of joints by over 50%.

• Flange gasket joints are more reliable than threaded sealant joints.

• Flange joints are considerably easier to maintain.

• All RIS-FLANGE modules can be individually removed & serviced without any pipework disruption.

• Reduced installation maintenance time & cost.

and

The swivel joint at the base of each tank lid allows easy rotation through 360 degrees and alignment with a n y containment entry face.

This feature overcomes the old problem of threaded joints tightening in r a n d o m orientation positions and subsequent under or over tightening in an attempt to align pipework runs.

The RISF L A N G E system uses a compatible flanged lid to the customers preferred layout. This lid is to the EN 12285-1 code compliant with C.E.N. Standards for opening and thickness. Blind taped holes in the lid for the flange bolts do not require sealing. The compact design of the RIS-FLANGE systems

3” or 4” Overfill Prevention valve RIS-FLOAT sensor assembly RIS-VENT elbow assembly RIS-SUCTION assembly Including suction deflector to prevent pulling debris and sludge from tank bottom

Tank lid (EN.12285-1 code)

RIS-FLANGE Adaptor for gauging applications - 2”, 3” and 4” combinations available.

(Delrin ‘insulation core’an option)

Illustration shows a typical tank lid assembly as used with a suction pump system, illustrating a possible layout of RIS-FLANGE components

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components allows maximum flexibility and choice for tank lid layouts to suit both suction and pressure delivery systems.

The advantages of this flanged lid assembly over weld socket lids include: • Weld free construction eliminates a multiple leakage source.

• Fully zinc plated for greater corrosion resistance especially the underside compared with painted weld socket lids.

• Flange design allows suction or siphon tube withdrawal without expensive tank lid removal for resealing, following repair or inspection.

The system utilises proven neoprene impregnated bonded cork gaskets.

These offer excellent service life especially compared to hard setting sealants. These gaskets feature compressibility and memory to withstand temperature expansion and ground movement induced stress.

Assembly or disassembly requires only light hand tools.

Further information about RISFLANGE can be obtained from either Steve Foley at Risbridger (08456 44 23 23) or Trevor Mason at Purfleet Forecourt Services (01708 864380) www.risbridger.com 35

Articles

UK Petrol Station Numbers Continue to Drop

By Jamie Thompson The Energy Institute have just published their annual *UK Retail Marketing Survey as a supplement to the March Petroleum Review. This publication details the number of service stations currently offering petrol for sale to the public. * This survey can be purchased direct from the Portland Press on +44 (0) 1206 796351 price £20 each and provides interesting statistics and information These surveys have recently become more accurate as they utilise the information collected by Catalist who record the details of all filling stations,

Multi tank and dispenser stations were not really commonplace until the oil companies began their construction programme in the 1920’s & 30’s with the commencement of marketing fuel and oil from filling stations.

The current report estimates the number of services stations to have peaked

in

approximately

the

mid

40,000!

1960’s

at

From

my

recollections when a young petroleum inspector

the

figure

quoted

was

between 50,000 to 55,000 in the late 1950’s, however that figure may have including many of the unbranded and dealer sites.

smaller

What is interesting about this years report is that it attempts to compare the figures to those produced some 90 years ago. Ray Holloway of the Petrol Retailers Association claims that the number of Service stations is currently at its lowest, (currently 9,764) since 1912.

The number of vehicles in 1912 was estimated was around 80 per station, however petrol stations then were nothing like those we see to day and certainly at that time most would have had a single tank and pump, many of which would have dispensed from the kerbside.

36

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

Articles developments being driven by the need for more commercial functions and information. Thanks to technological developments self service equipment is now much smaller, the once large cabinets housing electro-mechanical relays and counters being replaced with neat enclosures and small counter top consoles, providing integrated pump control

with

full

point

of

sale

functionality.

The major players in the industry are still the oil companies operating 61% of UK forecourts but by far the most included sites which stored petrol not

them

selves.

for retail purposes.

Early

pioneers

such

as

Alan

company

Pond and Gerald

representatives were pushing to sell

Ronson showed

their products and to encourage as

the industry the

many premises as possible to retail fuel.

way forward and

As the accompanying photographs

today only 272 of

show many of these were not really

the 9,764 service

suitable and would certainly not meet

stations in the

our current standards for petrol storage

UK are not self-

and dispensing.

service.

At

that

time

oil

In 1960 there were over 4,000 petrol

Original

self

stations in London alone and most of

s e r v i c e

these would have been attended

equipment was

service as self-service did not really get

developed

underway until the early 1960’s.

a r o u n d regulators

The introduction of self-service was

requirements,

quite a step for the industry and

but

as

time

especially the regulators who appeared

progressed

to need convincing that it was safe to

have

allow members of the public to serve

equipment

we seen

efficient are the supermarkets who with only 12% of the UK forecourts account for an estimated 33% of UK sales.

New

fuels

are

now

being

developed and the industry has had to react. Currently there are 650 sites retailing Autogas (LPG), 110 selling Bio-diesel, 234 retailing Bio-ethanol. New products are being introduced and we are seeing E85 being offered for sale and 1 site offering Hydrogen.

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

39

Articles

Automatic Temperature Compensation for Motorists

By Peter Barlow, Technical Consultant to the Petrol Retailers Association A little history The Yom Kippur war and the oil price shocks of the 1970's did a lot more than just affect the price of petrol, they changed dramatically how the oil industry functioned in getting product to the marketplace. Previously, with oil at around $2.50 a barrel, motor fuels were made uniformly through the year and placed in huge seasonal storage tanks designed to cater for the higher summer demand. In those tanks the fuels cooled from the high temperatures at which they were produced to ambient temperature. However, with OPEC flexing its muscles and oil reaching $40 a barrel, working capital tied up in seasonal storage became a major issue. So through the 1980s refineries were reconfigured to supply 'just in time' product and 1984 saw the start of complaints from petrol retailers about wet stock losses. These were caused by metering into road tankers hot motor fuel which then cooled, shrank and the

40

retailer did not have the volume invoiced to sell on. Thus began the hot fuel saga.

1992 provided the first letter in Trading Standards Review by Edward Kenna of Gwynedd Trading Standards on hot fuel from Shell's Stanlow refinery in Cheshire. In 1994, the Petrol Retailers Association's national survey of wet stock losses convincingly demonstrated that the refineries were the culprits. By 1996, in response to PRA probing, Cheshire Trading Standards questioned its powers to act on this issue under Weights and Measures law. It suggested that the PRA seek changes to the law. The same year the PRA wrote to the Energy Minister with little effect. The next year, with a change of Government, the PRA wrote to the Consumer Affairs Minister in an attempt to initiate legislative change and this letter was passed to National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML), an agency of DTI,

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for a report. There was no immediate action by NWML for budget reasons, but in 1998 more oil companies started to give wet stock allowances to retailers for deliveries from affected distribution terminals. Mobil had done this since 1988 from its Coryton refinery on the Thames estuary. In 1999 NEL (formerly the National Engineering Laboratory) reported to NWML, which by then had found some funds, with the recommendation that Standard Temperature Accounting (STA) be introduced on a voluntary basis for transactions from oil company to petrol retailer and from retailer to motorist.

The PRA accepted this recommendation, the oil companies did not.

What is Standard Temperature Accounting?

From a knowledge of the density of a fuel, and by using the Petroleum Measurement Tables, it is possible to

Articles obtain the thermal coefficient of expansion of the fuel and so determine what the volume of a fuel at a given temperature would be at any other temperature. More specifically, the calculation is used to correct volume at the measured temperature to volume at a standard temperature for the purposes of trade. For most countries including the UK the standard temperature is 15 °C. Litres of petroleum product measured at 15 °C or corrected to 15 °C are called standard litres.

BP, which acquired Coryton refinery from Mobil, had an extreme hot fuel problem. To resolve the thorny issue the company started to equip itself to progressively introduce STA over the winter of 2001/2002 for fuels sold to petrol retailers. Shell had already equipped itself to be able to do this by June 1993 but had not implemented it for retailers although it had included STA volume on the road tanker bills of lading not shown to retailers. BP intended to roll out the system across the country. However, it found that, while the retailers receiving hot diesel from Coryton terminal welcomed the change, retailers receiving cooler fuel from inland terminals protested strongly at their unexpected financial losses.

These losses occurred because, with delivered volume in standard litres, they could be selling fuel at an annual average underground tank temperature of, say, 12 ºC but buying it as though it were at 15 ºC. That is to say, BP had created an artificial 'hot fuel' problem for these retailers. Because petrol will shrink by 0.125 % in volume per degree Celsius on cooling, this meant that retailers with an average tank temperature of 12 ºC would have a built-in annual average 'loss' on petrol of 0.37 % by volume due to STA alone.

Also, because the 'trial' was commenced in winter the immediate losses would be greater because underground tank temperatures would be lower than average so creating a seasonal cash flow problem. After a few months BP reverted to non-standard litre measurement and terminal allowances.

Around the same period, in response to Court actions taken by Esso involving ex-licensees, a group action of ex-Esso licensees instituted counterclaims on the basis of stock losses resulting from the delivery of hot fuel.

The licensees' argument in the High Court was that because: a) STA effectively eliminates the uncertainties associated with fuel temperature;

b) oil volume for duty payment purposes was measured in standard litres, and c) the Hydrocarbon Oil Regulations, as amended in October 1993, requires volume delivered from duty point installations to be given in standard litres on delivery notes; Esso should have measured its volume to licensees by STA from October 1993.

Interpreting contract terms and custom and practice, Justice MooreBick rejected the retailers counterclaims, but in the course of his ruling did state that "Standard temperature accounting is fairer or more accurate", and that, "If service stations were equipped for standard temperature accounting right through to the point of delivery to the motorist this argument [STA to the retailer] would have a great deal of force".

By his ruling Justice Moore -Bick perpetuated what one QC called "… the Alice in Wonderland world in which a litre is whatever an oil company says it is" and; "The Oil company variable litre - a litre measured at whatever temperature the oil company chooses".

Nevertheless, he did, at the same time, point to the metrological way forward.

Automatic Temperature Compensation STA to the motorist is not a new concept. It was introduced first in Hawaii in 1974 as temperature correction because of high fuel temperatures. It was called Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) when introduced in Canada in 1990 as a response to wide seasonal swings in ambient temperature, higher fuel costs and deliveries of hot fuel. But we have to move back to this side of the Atlantic to see the mover and shaker in Europe, which is Belgium. When oil companies in Belgium wanted to introduce sealed compartment deliveries with no check for the retailer on the volume actually loaded or delivered, Belgian retailers protested to their Government which then legislated to require oil companies to meter fuel off the tanker in standard litres. Predictably, mirroring the BP retailer experience, retailers receiving fuel from cool terminals discovered they were having higher losses. Back to the Government which, last year, then wrote legislation to introduce ATC for the motorist. So Belgium would have the metrological system recommended for the UK by NEL. This legislation is currently being processed through other EU Member States to see whether

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there is sufficient support for a Directive on the subject. If not, Belgium will have its legislation in place by the middle of the year.

Fuel dispenser manufacturers are currently developing their ATC-enabled models for Europe, while Kraus Global which produced the first ATC kits to fit to existing dispensers in Canada is preparing for the explosion of interest in Europe. Kits are being evaluated in Denmark and Germany as well as in Belgium, Holland and here in the UK by NWML. How does ATC affect meter verification At present only the Kraus Global system is available for discussion, but it would be surprising if this pattern was not the one used by other suppliers also. Essentially, the kit comprises a temperature sensor giving fast response to changes in product temperature plus the necessary preprogrammed circuit cards along with a second display positioned within the dispenser housing. With input from the temperature sensor in the fuel line, the cards compute the number of standard litres corresponding to the metered volume and correct the signal to both dispenser and cashier displays.

Externally, the motorist will see no change but dispenser display will register standard litres rather than nonstandard litres. Within the dispenser housing, however, a second display shows the product temperature, programmed product density and uncompensated volume on demand for the purposes of meter verification. It also indicates error modes such as temperature probe failure or pulser error.

Alongside the temperature sensor in the fuel flow is another pocket to allow verifiers to confirm with their own equipment the correct functioning of the temperature probe. Verifiers can check the meters, as they do now, but using the internal non-standard litres display. With the latter and the fuel temperature they can determine the volume in standard litres, by reference to the API Tables, and compare this with the dispenser's main display.

The Measuring Instruments Directive There are two aspects of the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) which are of significance in the introduction of ATC. The first is the Article which states that a measuring instrument which is type-approved in one Member State can legally be sold and used without further type approval 41

Articles in any other Member State. The second is the fact that the MID brings into European and UK law for the first time the requirements of the 1995 Report R117 by the intergovernmental organisation for legal metrology, OIML. In OIML R117 : Measuring systems for liquids other than water, the use of STA is recommended as a base condition for motor fuels.

millions upon million of pounds to petrol retailers and motorists, yet there has been no coherent strategy within Government for dealing with the manifest measurement inequities for which currently exist. In contrast, other countries have taken the lead to introduce legislation which ensures fairer measure for retailer and motorist alike.

Because service station dispensers are prescribed measuring instruments the full impact of the MID applies and so it will be legally possible after 31st April 2006 to introduce ATC to the motorist in the UK as long as the dispensers are type-approved by NWML but after 26th October 2006 it will be possible to do so with dispensers type-approved in any EU Member State.

By requiring metering off the road tanker in standard litres the Belgian Government has set the pattern to address both hot fuel and underdelivery from distribution terminals.

These measures have been closely followed by legislation introducing automatic temperature compensation for the retail sale of fuel to motorists.

In Summary The national systems in place for measuring fuel to petrol retailers and to motorists have no integrity or metrological consistency.

Clear evidence of systematic under-delivery to retailers is incontrovertible. Hot fuel consignments result in losses of

Forecourt equipment manufacturers are now preparing to market conversion kits and temperature compensating dispensers in Europe. This, together with the Measuring Instruments Directive, will facilitate the introduction of the standard litre for motorists from 2006 onwards. Petrol retailers and local authorities as well as national governments should welcome such

changes because they ensure that, in summer or in winter, in Aberdeen or Brighton, and whatever the petrol brand, delivering distribution terminal or retail outlet, motorists will be buying the same amount of energy in their litre.

This is not the case at present. After all, it is energy which powers vehicles not litres. Additionally, ATC will: - provide a level of integrity for the measurement system which it does not currently possess; - improve retailers' stock reconciliation, and so improve environmental protection as well as reducing risks to health and safety; - ensure that hydrocarbon duty payment by motorists is exactly as levied by the Treasury on every load; - mean that the price on the pole becomes more meaningful; - pave the way for the use of the standard litre throughout the petroleum measurement chain.

Not a bad achievement, is it?

Are We Regulating Correctly?

By Brian Baker, Milton Keynes Council It seems a long time since March 1974 when I began my training as a Petroleum officer with the Isle of Wight Fire Brigade. In those days, things seemed to be an awful lot simpler than they are today, even though there were some 32, 660 retail sites throughout the UK as opposed to the 9,764 that exist today* This was at the time when fire authorities were taking over the responsibility for petroleum licensing and enforcement from local authorities following a major re-organisation of local government in 1974. At that time our role was principally controlling the risk of fire, it would be some 15 years or so before seeing the introduction of environmental legislation.

At that time a typical installation comprised of single skin steel tanks with galvanised steel screwed and socketed pipework. There may have been a small canopy and perhaps a small shop or Kiosk where payment was made. Car ownership was still seen as a privilege, with very few households having two cars or more as is commonplace today.

According to statistics recently produced by the Energy Institute’s Retail Marketing Survey (March 2006) 42

in the early 1970’s there were approximately 15 million cars on UK roads compared with the 32 million that are to be seen today.

Public transport was subject to greater use and social life styles were completely different, ( including antisocial behaviour). We did get the occasional “mickey” (Malicious False Alarms) but arson was not the problem it is today, estimated as being responsible for more than 50% of all fires.

In fact my time as a Petroleum Inspector was spent more on inspecting the construction of filling stations as opposed to today’s workload which is largely spent investigating leaks. Back then we relied on that magnificent tool, “the dipstick” which was chalked to get an accurate reading!

Incident Reporting At that time fire brigades were strict on the discipline of reporting fires and “special services” (those of a non fire nature but where ‘Humanitarian’ services were rendered). Fires involving petrol filling stations would generally

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have been included in the fire statistics recorded by the Home Office Fire Department. Should a fuel spillage or leak occur it would have been recorded as a ‘special service’ which sometimes brought about a charge levied on behalf of the fire brigade. Consequently, meaningful records were available without the aid of a computerised database, Much of that custom and practice continued into the 1990’s but as local government continued its reorganisation programme we now have some 156 Petroleum Licensing Authorities across the UK, - almost three times more than existed 20 years ago?

As there is now no mandatory requirement to report incidents, other than those reportable under RIDDOR (Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995), much of this valuable information goes unrecorded.

Looking at the Legislation I recall having a conversation with the late Steve Rooker of the HSE some years ago and I recall his remarks and

Articles opinions that Petrol Filling Stations were no more dangerous than anywhere else, as they (the UK’s Health & Safety Executive) had not observed any particular recurrent issues with licensed Forecourts.

In fact, during the mid 1990’s consideration was being given to repealing all petroleum legislation and replacing it with the Petrol Filling Station Regulations 1999.The result of which would have been petrol forecourts coming under the remit of local authority departments such as Environmental Health.

As has been typical of our industry, where no consensus of agreement could be reached, nothing happened until the Chemical Agents and the Explosive Atmospheres Directives were issued in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

Eventually we were to see the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) come into effect on 9th December 2002 which exclude the need to licence workplaces that did not dispense petrol to the public.

The SELCOG Initiative For probably the first time in many years some degree of order was restored by finally re-regulating. From my own experience I have seen prescriptive licensing conditions reduce to what are almost functional requirements with an approach based on risk assessment in order to ‘eliminate’ or ‘reduce’ the risk of incidents.

I felt that the time had come to throw my hat into the ring. For too long I felt we had been de-regulating without any credible data being applied, whether primary (such as first hand accounts) or secondary (those reported to Petroleum Licensing Authorities).

I discussed this at my regional group meeting, known as SELCOG (South & East Licensing Co-ordinating Group).

This group which represents 31 Petroleum Licensing Authorities reports to a national body known as the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group (PELG) which in turn represents all UK regions together with representatives from other bodies such as the UK Petroleum Industries Association (UKPIA) LACORS (Local Authority Coordinating Body for Regulatory Services), the Petrol Retailers Association and the Environment Agency. This group comes under the chairmanship of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). The purpose of this group is to influence the making of regulations, offering guidance, and to review the various legal aspects surrounding the storage and dispensing of petroleum products.

To return to my point, the members of SELCOG listened intently to my submission that until we understand what we should be doing in terms of legislation, we must accept the distinct probability of incidents occurring. It seems appropriate that the Government of the day had commissioned the Hampton Report which called for the de-regulation of industry wherever possible. This was an initiative aimed at reducing overlap legislation which was seen to be a burden on business.

The issue here was to determine what constituted an actual ‘Incident’, and whether or not it should be reported. It was jointly agreed that an incident was any occurrence which required a formal investigation or follow up. This was somewhat complicated by the Data Protection Act as there is a duty imposed on all Local Authorities not to divulge matters which may be deemed sensitive or not necessarily required for public consumption (The Freedom of Information Act accepted) The following format was agreed on for each PLA to report on a quarterly basis the number of incidents involving:• Leaks from Tanks and Pipelines • Spillages • Fires on Forecourts

Leaks from Tanks & Lines

62

Spillages

57

Fires- All Types

33

LPG Leaks & Cold Burns

21

Wet Stock Variances

38

Impact Collisions

22

Use of Illegal Portable Containers 42 Legal Notices Served

21

Total Number of Incidents

297

Take into consideration that SELCOG represent only one region of the country it is not inconceivable that there are potentially some 2,000 incidents of concern occurring each year! Yet there is a move to reduce prescriptive burdens?

Are there seasonal trends or other indicators that we should be looking at?

Analysing

the

reports

which

are

available reveals that LPG Incidents appear to occur more in winter months.

Are there other trends which statistical analysis could reveal, and therefore assist us in preventing?

Now ask yourself – Are we Regulating Correctly? I am not so sure.

Bibliography Retail Marketing Survey March 2006 Energy Institute

• LPG Leaks • LPG Cold Burns • Wet Stock Variances • Impact Collisions on Forecourts • Reported Use of Illegal Portable Containers • The Number of any Legal Notices Served Footnote; Added in 2006 was provision for report of illicit domestic storage Bearing in mind that the incidents recorded are those that have been diligently reported and do not include those which were not the subject of specific investigation it is fair to suspect that the final figure would be somewhat higher. Initial responses indicated:-

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45

Articles

THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM AND EXPLOSIVES ADMINISTRATION Company Number: 2261660 ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 December 2005 These are the abbreviated accounts of the Association for year ending December 2005. Members can see the full accounts by going to the ‘APEA Business’ Page on the APEA website, www.apea.org.uk and logging on with your membership user id and password . Full accounts will also be presented at the AGM. I N D E X (page 1) Page No:

1

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE COMPANY

2

ABBREVIATED BALANCE SHEET

3

NOTES TO THE ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM AND EXPLOSIVES ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 247B OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1985 We have examined the abbreviated accounts set out on pages 2 to 3, together with the financial statements of The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration for the year ended 31 December 2005 prepared under Section 226 of the Companies Act 1985.

This report is made solely to the company, in accordance with Section 247B of the Companies Act 1985. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we are required to state to it in a special auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE AUDITOR The director is responsible for preparing the abbreviated accounts in accordance with Section 246A of the Companies Act 1985.

It is our responsibility to form an independent opinion as to whether the company is entitled to deliver abbreviated accounts prepared in accordance with Sections 246A(3) of the Act to the Registrar of Companies and whether the accounts to be delivered are properly prepared in accordance with those provisions and report our opinion to you.

BASIS OF OPINION We have conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2006/3 “The special auditor’s report on abbreviated accounts in the United Kingdom” issued by the Auditing Practices Board. In accordance with that Bulletin we have carried out the procedures we consider necessary to confirm, by reference to the financial statements, that the company is entitled to deliver abbreviated accounts and that the abbreviated accounts to be delivered are properly prepared. The scope of our work for the purpose of this report did not include examining or dealing with events after the date of our report on the financial statements.

OPINION In our opinion the company is entitled to deliver abbreviated accounts prepared in accordance with Sections 246A(3) of the Companies Act 1985, and the abbreviated accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with that provision.

ENSORS Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors 46 St Nicholas Street IPSWICH IP1 1TT 27 March 2006 46

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Articles ABBREVIATED BALANCE SHEET (page 2)

As at 31 December 2005 FIXED ASSETS

Note

2005

2004

£

£

1,698

2,401

51,141

56,593

210,001

180,183

261,142

236,776

94,091

78,280

NET CURRENT ASSETS

167,051

158,496

NET ASSETS

168,749

160,897

8,840

8,840

Profit and loss account

159,909

152,057

MEMBERS’ FUNDS

168,749

160,897

Tangible Assets

CURRENT ASSETS

2

Debtors Cash at bank and in hand

CREDITORS:

amounts falling due within one year

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

Capital reserve

These abbreviated accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part VII of the Companies Act 1985.

Approved by the board on 16 January 2006 and signed on its behalf:

M J Silmon Director

The notes on page 3 form part of these financial statements.

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47

Articles NOTES TO THE ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS (page 3) For the year ended 31 December 2005 1.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Basis of Accounting The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Small Entities (effective January 2005).

b) Tangible Fixed Assets Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off the cost of each asset over its estimated useful life: Computer and Office Equipment Fixtures and Fittings

– 33 1/3% on cost – 25% Reducing Balance

c) Foreign Currencies Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are taken to the profit and loss account.

d) Cash Flow Statement The company qualifies as a small company under the Companies Act 1985. The directors have elected to take advantage of the exemption under FRS1 not to prepare a cash flow statement

NOTES TO THE ABBREVIATED ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 December 2005 (Continued) Computer & Office Equip £

Fixtures & Fittings £

Total £

Cost At 1 January 2005 Additions At 31 December 2005

19,558 19,558

4,938 4,938

24,496 24,496

Depreciation At 1 January 2005 Charge for the year At 31 December 2005

18,329 410 18,739

3,766 293 4,059

22,095 703 22,798

Net Book Value At 31 December 2005 At 31 December 2004

819 1,229

879 1,172

1,698 2,401

2.

3.

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

The company is limited by guarantee. In the event of the company being wound up, each member has undertaken to contribute such amount as may be required, but not exceeding £1, to the assets of the company.

48

New APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507

Branches Midlands The meeting was held at the premises of Intapart Automotive recycling at Daventry.

Following a fascinating presentation of the framework behind the development of this high technology car reprocessing plant, by Mr Paul Owen of Rozone Ltd, we were given a demonstration of the recovery of the liquids from a typical car. This was followed by the delicate use of a grab to remove the radiator and the engine from the same Vectra before passing the shell for crushing. A salutary demonstration of the power of air bags was given as part of the process of decommissioning a vehicle Following lunch we were given a talk from Mr. Brian Baker on the current state of the national association and a presentation on the Buncefield incident.

AGM Apologies were received from 9 members, ironically 2 of whom had had car problems Committee Nominations Chairman – Hylton Reid Proposed by Tom Hocking seconded by Alec O’Beirne Secretary – Tom Wigfull Proposed by Tom Hocking seconded by Alan Fitzpatrick Branch Rep – Tom Hocking Proposed by Tim Deeks seconded by Rex Wheeler Treasurer- Rex Wheeler Proposed by Tom Wigfull seconded Alan Fitzpatrick

Committee Members Rob Tunnicliff Tim Deeks Alan Fitzpatrick Proposed by Tom Hocking seconded by Tom Wigfull Tom Wigfull Branch Secretary Eastern The APEA Eastern Branch meeting and AGM took place at the current home of the Eastern Branch on April 20th 2006 at The Limes Hotel, Needham market. The accounts were submitted to the members attending and approved as true and correct and were duly approved. The auditor was reappointed. The outgoing Chairman reported on the past years meeting. The Secretary reported on business matters and the Branch accounts remain in a healthy position. The branch rep expressed a familiar theme of the need to engage for the association to healthy.

Additional accounts are available to members on request.

Brian Baker had indicated his wish to stand down as chairman having served the Branch for a four year stint. Our best

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wishes and warm thanks go to Brian for his enthusiastic contribution and dedication to the Branch. We also congratulate him on having given up smoking and wish him well with this.

An election of Branch posts took place and voted on (notice for nominations advised to members in calling notice). The following individuals below were duly elected to serve the Branch during the coming year .

Chairman: John Boudry, Cookson and Zinn Ltd. Secretary & Treasurer Anton Martiniussen, ELAFLEX Ltd re-elected Branch Representative Ian Taylor, re-elected Auditor Mike Ahlston Essex County Council, re-elected Events committee: Jamie Thompson Paul Craven John Brooks

51

Branches The members thank the all those served during the past year and congratulate the successful appointments.

The Eastern branch continuous to attract the best speakers and to provide its members with information on the issues of the day. This event was well attended and did not disappoint with good audience participation.

Speaker: Joe Bradley. The Environment Agency, gave a detailed and informative talk on PPG3. Pollution Prevention Guidance Speaker: Stefan Kunter, MD of Fafnir Germany talked on Monitoring Systems for Stage II Vapour recovery on Forecourts. The German experience.

Speaker: John Turnbull. GMI – talked about gas detectors for detection of Petroleum Speaker: Brian Baker, Milton Keynes Council “Buncefield”. The cost of this is simply staggering and no doubt there will be many lessons to be learned. Our thoughts go to all those who have been affected by this explosion. The largest in Europe since the 2nd world war. Our admiration goes to all those brave individuals who were involved in whatsoever way in tackling this fire and those supporting all the services.

We thank all the speakers for giving of their time and for their excellent presentations.

Arrangements are being made for the executive to meet to draw up an agenda and prepare meetings/events for the coming year. Please rake a look at the Branches web site for updates.

An early proposal has been made for the EB to make a visit to Frankfurt for the Automechanika Show in September. Anyone wishing to go with the Eastern Branch on this trip should contact the branch secretary immediately so we can gauge level of support. We attended some years ago and the event was most enjoyable. If you have any suggestions or ideas of what would make Eastern Branch events even more Interesting or would like to get involved with Branch activities do let the secretary know. A quick phone call or short email is all it takes.

For your diary make a note of the APEA Annual AGM Conference and exhibition on 2nd November.

52

North West Branch was held on the 18th May in Skelmersdale. See the APEA website for details. A full report will appear in the next issue of the Bulletin.

Scotland The Scottish Branch held its 2006 AGM on 20 April 2006 at Chatelherault Hunting lodge near Hamilton.

35 members attended at this new venue where there is a lecture theatre and dining area. The committee stood down and the following members were elected to serve on the Scottish Branch Committee for 2006 – 2007.

Chairman - Gareth Bourhill Secretary/Treasurer - Peter Lennon Branch Representative - Ian Hillier Members - Paul Devine, Alan Hamilton, John Lafferty George MacNeill who has been a committee member for many years decided not to stand for membership of the committee this year. The chairman thanked George for his dedication to the Scottish Branch since it was reformed in 1995.

Audited accounts were presented and approved by the meeting With the business part of the meeting over Gareth introduced Professor Gill of Oceans esu who gave an illustrated presentation on reed bed technology used in the treatment of water polluted with hydrocarbons.

This was followed by Ian Burns of Fairbanks Environmental whose talk was on DSEAR Assessment Services based on Regulations 5 to 11.

Kevin Eastwood of BOSS (British Oil Security Syndicate) outlined his organisations fight against forecourt crime including Drive offs, Card Fraud and No Means of Payment.

The final speaker was Chris Smith a health and Safety consultant who gave a very interesting talk on the new Working at Height Regulations.

All members were presented with a CPD certificate for 3.5 hours and the Chairman wished all a safe journey home.

Ian Hillier Branch Representative North East Nothing to report at present

Anton Martiniussen Branch Secreatary & Treasurer

Southern Nothing to report at present

North West The Spring meeting and AGM for the

Yorkshire & Humberside Nothing to report at present

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Branch Representative Contact Details Ian Taylor - Eastern Fenstanton Manor, Cambridge Road Fenstanton, Cambridge PE28 9HS Tel: 01480 463 739 Mob: 07768 552072 iantaylor@enterprise.net Tom Hocking - Midlands D Berry & Co (PFS) Ltd Unit 130 Middlemore Ind Estate Kentish Road, Birmingham B21 0AY Tel: 0121 558 4411 Fax: 0121 555 5546 enquiries@dberryandco.co.uk Mike Silmon - North East W O Silmon Ltd Industry Road, Heaton Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE6 5XB. Tel: 0191 224 0777 Fax: 0191 224 0707 associationtreasurer@apea.org.uk Geoff Oldham - North West Suresite Ltd 3 Eastway Business Village Olivers Place, Fulwood Preston Lancashire PR2 9WT Tel: 01772 790901 Fax: 01772 790902 jgo@suresite.co.uk Ian Hillier - Scottish Inverclyde Council Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock PA15 1LY Tel: 01475 717171 Fax: 01475 712747 ian.hiller@inverclyde.gov.uk Philip Monger - Southern Petrol Retailers Association Meadowside, West End, Sherbourne St John, Basingstoke, Hants. RG24 9LE. Tel: 01256 850164 Fax: 01256 851273 philmongerpra@ukonline.co.uk TBC - Yorkshire & Humberside

Training

2006 Course Dates Petrol Filling Stations Construction and Environmental Awareness 17/18 May

Manchester

18/19 Oct

Luton

Petrol Filling Stations Audit and Inspection 27/28 Sept

Fireworks and Explosives

25 May

Birmingham

20 Sept

Luton

2 November

Leeds

27 Sept

Birmingham

LPG Installations

DSEAR

5 Oct

8 June

Northampton

9 Nov

Canterbury

Luton

Luton

Joint course - 2 days each Construction and Environmental Awareness and Audit and Inspection 12 - 15 June

Electrical Installations An Awareness

Wetstock Management 22 June

Manchester

16 Nov

Canterbury

Dublin

Courses will be designed around the new TCB Document, Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations.

Please contact the APEA Business Manager on 0845 603 5507 or at admin@apea.org.uk if you wish to find out about purchasing a copy. APEA Members can purchase the guide at the discounted rate of £40 (non member rate £120).

It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses.

All courses can be booked online at www.apea.org.uk on the ‘Training’ page.

Bespoke courses can be made available provided the minimum number of Delegates is 8. This offers a discount.

For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - Training Coordinator, (contact details on page 3) or Brian Humm, Training Chairman 84 Dunblane Road, Eltham, London SE9 6RT

APEA Training Team

Mobile: 07818 097141

e-mail: brian.humm@london-fire.gov.uk

Gareth Bourhill

Phil Lambeth

Senior Incorporated Electrical

Senior Engineer

Jamie Thompson Independent Consultant

Engineer The DH Morris Group

Paul Craven

Bob Conlin Director

Petroleum Officer Suffolk County Council

BP Global Alliance

John Dallimore

Fairbanks Environmental

Independent Consulting Engineer Brian Humm Petroleum Officer

John Dallimore &Partners

Tom Armstrong Senior Project Engineer

LFEPA Richard Wigfull Brian Baker Fire Safety & Petroleum Officer Milton Keynes Council

Eddie Furniss

Consulting Engineer

Independent Trading Standards

J. Wigfull & Son

Consultant

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53

Membership To join the APEA simply complete the form below and forward to the APEA office with a cheque or your credit card details completed below or fax on +44 (0) 845 603 5507 or complete the online application form at www.apea.org.uk APEA, PO Box 106, Saffron Walden, Essex. CB11 3XT. United Kingdom Membership Types Individual membership: £30.00 includes one copy of the Bulletin per quarter and one copy of Yearbook Corporate membership: £130.00 includes five copies of the Bulletin per quarter and five copies of Yearbook (one representative per company) Full Name Company/Authority Position Membership type

Individual £30.00 pa

Corporate £130.00 pa

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