Document eB8X0Gd3ww56ZZqd8gXN9rmM

To: From: Cc: Bcc: Received Date: Subject: undisclosed-recipients <undisclosed-recipients:; > ehs-alert <ehs-alert @api.org> 2005-12-01 16:54:56 GMT EHS Alert & EHS Regulatory Report 12.01.05 The API EHS Alert is a biweekly summary of environmental, health, and safety activities that API is working on for the benefit of member companies. If you would like to subscribe, or unsubscribe, to the API EHS Alert newsletter, please e-mail the editor at ehs-alert@api.org. AIR U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) Recommendations to API. On October 26,2005 the CSB issued two safety recommendations to API as a result of its investigation of the March 2005 incident at BP's Texas City refinery. The CSB recommended that API consider developing guidance on the safe placement of trailers near process units and that API notify our membership "to take prompt action to ensure the safe placement of occupied trailers away from hazardous areas of process plants." For more information, please see the CSB's website at www.csb.gov. CONTACT: Erik Milito, Office of General Counsel, 202-682-8273 or militoe@api.org. CLIMATE API Submits Comments on Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. On November 7th, 2005, API submitted comments on the 2006 UN-IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories for the Energy, Industrial Processes and Waste volumes. Review and comment is undertaken concurrently by individual experts and by governments. These guidelines will be revised, taking into account both the Government and Expert comments received and sent to governments for consideration at the 25th Session of the UN-IPCC to be held in April 2006. CONTACT: Karin Ritter, Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs, 202-682-8472 or ritterk@api.org or Steve Crookshank, Policy Analysis, 202-682-8542 or crookshanks@api.org. HEALTH Shanghai Health Study Third Annual Meeting A Success. On November 1-3, 2005, API helped organize the 3rd Annual meeting of the Shanghai Health Study (SHS). The SHS is an international, multi-year research program designed to investigate potential health effects from occupational exposures to benzene. Research investigators reported on the progress from the Case Control, Disease Progression and Molecular Epidemiology projects, which use data generated by the Sino-American Joint Clinic and Molecular Laboratory (JCML) at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. The SHS is funded by an independent consortium of petroleum and chemical SHELL-MCCLURG-065218 companies and is administered by API. CONTACT: Bruce Jarnot, Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs, 202-682-8473 or jarnotb@api.org. Nanotechnology, Lead and Pollution Prevention Recommendations Reviewed by EPA Advisory Committee. On October 11-14, 2005, the National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee reviewed several draft recommendations for submission to the EPA Administrator by the end of 2005. An important informational paper on options for a voluntary program for data collection and chemical management of nanoscale materials will be forwarded to the Administrator pending revisions made at the meeting. Other draft recommendations reviewed included a strategy to encourage multi-stakeholder use of the large amount of hazard data being made publicly available in the High Production Volume Challenge Program. API is a member of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Federal Advisory Committee and participates in the development of all formal recommendations to the EPA Administrator. CONTACT: Howard Feldman, Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs, 202-682-8340 or feldman@api.org. Right -To-Know API Comments on ICRs Related to NOx Administrative Reporting Exemption. On November 3, 2005, API submitted comments to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on EPA's Adjustment of Information Collection Requests (ICRs) for Notification of Episodic Releases of Oil and Hazardous Substances and Continuous Release Reporting Requirement. In the comments, API argued that EPA (1) has not analyzed the impact of omitting from the reporting exemption NOx releases that occur as the result of accidents or other malfunctions; (2) underestimates the burden reduction that could be achieved by an effective administrative reporting exemption; and (3) has not sufficiently analyzed options for an administrative exemption that would encompass releases over 1,000 Ibs of NOx in 24 hours. Further, API staff and member company representatives from the upstream and downstream segments met with EPA on November 7 to discuss the ICR comments and API's position on the proposed NOx administrative reporting exemption. CONTACT: Derek Swick, Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs, 202682-8341 or swickd@api.org. TRAINING, EDUCATION & MEETINGS API Launches API University API has launched a new training initiative, API University, which provides continuing education for the oil and gas professional. API University offers more than 300 E-Learning courses, and a wide variety of instructor-led courses, presented by industry experts. Topics include operational risk, asset integrity, natural hazards, safety, reliability, security and quality/environmental auditing. For more information, visit www.api-u.org. PUBLISHER'S CORNER We welcome your comments and suggestions and encourage distribution to member company staff. The Alert is not intended for distribution beyond member companies; it has been developed as a benefit of API membership. Questions or comments about API EHS Alert newsletter? Contact the editor at ehs-alert@api.org. SHELL-MCCLURG-065219