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Underground fuel tanks might not be compatible with ethanol

Ontario’s Technical Standards and
Safety Authority (TSSA) is warning producers with underground fuel
tanks that upgrades may be needed as the province moves toward five per
cent ethanol content in gasoline.

Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is warning producers with underground fuel tanks that upgrades may be needed as the province moves toward five per cent ethanol content in gasoline. According to a document authored by Sandra Cooke, technical leader of the Fuels Safety Program, the Ontario government is close to passing a regulation that will require five per cent ethanol content in gasoline by 2007. This mix may be incompatible with some underground fuel tanks, mainly those that are fibre-reinforced plastic underground storage tanks manufactured before December 31, 1978. According to Cooke “if ethanol is introduced into tanks that are not compatible with the product, it could cause structural degradation of the tank that could lead to leaks.” The TSSA is urging producers with underground tanks installed and/or manufactured before 1978 to have them replaced. For more information, please contact the TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.