API Groundwater Research Program API conducts research to assist the petroleum industry in dealing with its groundwater contamination problems. The research is aimed at the problems faced by the petroleum industry, including petroleum refineries, but is made available to those outside the industry as well. Research studies evaluate techniques and develop new methods to detect, monitor and cleanup groundwater contamination. Numerous manuals and reports have been published and periodic conferences and workshops on groundwater monitoring and cleanup techniques are sponsored. Compendium of Waste Minimization Practices The American Petroleum Institute sponsored a waste minimization practices compendium in the Summer of 1990 to summarize waste minimization techniques for oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing industries. The compendium contains a literature survey and case studies. Petroleum Environmental Research Forum The Petroleum Environmental Research Forum is an industry group that shares research costs and findings that relate particularly to the petroleum industry. The Forum has funded research on pollution prevention in the industry. API STEP Program The STEP (Strategies for Today's Environmental Partnership) program was developed by API member companies to address public environmental concerns by improving the industry's environmental, health, and safety performance; documenting performance improvements; and communicating them to the public. The foundation for STEP is the API Environmental Mission and the API Guiding Environmental Principles. The program also includes a series of environmental strategic plans; a review and revision of existing industry standards; documentation of industry environmental, health, and safety performance; and mechanisms for obtaining public input. In 1992, API endorsed, as part of STEP, adoption of management practices as an API recommended practice. The management practices contain the following elements: pollution prevention, operating and process safety, community awareness, crisis readiness, product stewardship, proactive government interaction, and resource conservation. The management practices are an outline of actions to help companies incorporate environmental health and safety concerns into their planning and decision making. Each company will make its own decisions on how and whether to change its operations. API has developed a compilation of resources that provide recommendations and guidance on various operational areas of the oil industry to assist API members with their implementation of the management practices. (Contact: Walter Retzch, API, 202-682-8598) VIII.C.2. Summary of Trade Associations The trade and professional organizations serving the petroleum refining industry are either specific to petroleum refining or to the petroleum production, refining and distribution as a whole. Further differences in membership are based on company size and ownership. More specifically, the large, multinational oil companies are members of industry-wide trade groups and the small, independent petroleum refiners are members of both industry-wide and small, independent trade groups. The major trade organizations are discussed below. American Petroleum Institute 1220 L St. NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 682-8000 Members: 300 Staff: 400 Contact: Alison Kerester The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the largest trade group for the petroleum refining industry, with the largest membership and budget. API represents the major oil companies, and independent oil producers, refiners, marketers, and transporters of crude oil, lubricating oil, gasoline, and natural gas. API conducts and promotes research in the petroleum industry and collects data and publishes statistical reports on oil production and refining. Numerous manuals, booklets, and other materials are published on petroleum refining to assist members in environmental compliance. National Petroleum Refiners 1899 L St. NW 1000 Phone: (202) 457-0480 Fax: (202) 457-0486 Members: 370 Contact: Norbert Dee, Ph.D. The National Petroleum Refiners Association (NPRA) was founded in 1902 and represents virtually all domestic refiners and petrochemical manufacturers using processes similar to refineries. NPRA's membership includes both large companies and many small and independent companies. Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 840 Washington, DC 20004 Phone: (202) 638-4400 Fax: (202) 638-5967 Members: 7500 Contact: Mr. Modiano The Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association was founded in 1917 and represents oil and gas producers, royalty owners, refiners, gasoline manufacturers, transporters, drilling contractors, supply and equipment dealers and wholesalers, bankers, and other individuals interested in oil business. American Independent Western Independent Refiners Association 801 S. Grand Ave., 10th Fl. Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 624-8407 Members: AIRA: 27, WIRA: 9 The American Independent Refiners Association (AIRA) was founded in 1983 and represents independent oil refiners and companies that supply services to the independent refining industry. The Western Independent Refiners Association (WIRA) was founded later to address the specific needs of refiners on the west coast. The associations are separate, but closely affiliated with many of the members of WIRA also members of AIRA. Neither organization has a full-time staff. Much of the associations' activities are carried out by members and outside consultants. Through the associations' cooperative environmental services, members are each responsible for a federal or state agency and/or office, monitoring the environmental issues, and reporting to members. Outside consultants are hired to look at safety and environmental compliance issues. The Western States Petroleum Association was founded in 1917 and represents oil and gas producers, royalty owners, refiners, gasoline manufacturers, transporters, drilling contractors, supply and equipment dealers and wholesalers, bankers, and other individuals interested in the oil business. IX. CONTACTS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/RESOURCE MATERIALS/BIBLIOGRAPHY' For further information on selected topics within the petroleum refining industry a list of contacts and publications are provided below: Many of the contacts listed above have provided valuable background information and comments during the development of this document. EPA appreciates this support and acknowledges that the individuals listed do not necessarily endorse all statements made within this notebook. |