In a move to comply with “wording” demands of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission will hold a special meeting Thursday to make changes in the definitions in its Underground Storage Tanks rules.
“It’s a matter of wording,” explained Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Commission. “We just holding this emergency meeting in order to make sure Oklahoma state rules match those of the EPA.”
The Thursday morning meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. and involve a discussion of the rules to amend the state rules at the request of the EPA.
“It will not change the jurisdiction of the state,” added Skinner.
As outlined in the proposed rulemaking changes, one effort will be to include an expanded definition of “underground storage tanks” and specific requirements for what is called Statistical Inventory Reconciliation.
The Petroleum Storage Tank Division said it’s necessary to adopt the rules on an emergency basis because of the recent “promulgation of EPA Rules, which significantly modified the manner of regulatory oversight of underground storage tank system owners and operators. New rules are needed to align Oklahoma to the new EPA regulatory structure,”
It’s reported the EPA wants ‘wording’ changes, including the definition to include “and pipeline.” Another change sought by the EPA is to require the ‘monthly’ Statistical Inventory Reconciliation or reports to be filed every ’30 days.’
Corporation Commission officials emphasize the EPA recommendations do not change the jurisdiction of the Commission over the underground storage tanks. The changes will not be new rules but “little tweaks.”