Chelsea River Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities NPDES Permits
- Background
- Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Hearing
- Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Meeting
- Public Notice
- Draft Permits
- Environmental Justice Analysis
- 2014 Permit Documents
- 2005-2006 Permit Documents
Background
On February 10, 2021, U.S. EPA issued five draft NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act for bulk petroleum storage facilities located along Chelsea River (also known as Chelsea Creek). EPA is also issuing an updated environmental justice analysis (EJA) that discusses the potential human health and environmental impacts of the permits on minority and low-income communities. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is issuing similar permits to these facilities under the state’s Clean Waters Act. Further information, including copies of the draft permits, public notice, environmental justice analysis, and key historical documentation is available on this web site using the links below. Documents may be downloaded and printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
EPA is issuing draft permits for the following facilities at this time: Global Companies, LLC Terminal in Revere (MA0000825); Gulf Oil Terminal in Chelsea (MA0001091); Irving Oil Revere Terminal in Revere (MA0001929); Chelsea Sandwich Terminal in Chelsea (MA0003280) and Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal in Boston (MA0004006). These facilities receive, store and distribute petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and fuel oil. Petroleum products and additives are primarily received in bulk quantities by ship or barge at marine vessel docks and transferred to aboveground storage tanks located within each facility’s tank farm area. The petroleum products are transported off-site typically by tanker truck, ship, or pipeline. A single permit, MA0000825, will be issued for three Global Companies LLC facilities that were previously permitted individually under MA0000825, MA0003425, and MA0003298. The permits propose to limit the amount of pollutants entering Chelsea Creek. In addition, the Global Companies LLC facility permit also proposes to limit the amount of pollutants entering a tributary leading to Sales Creek. For more background on these facilities, EPA has provided a simple fact sheet below.
- Chelsea River Bulk Oil Terminal Community Information Sheet (PDF) (3 pp, 580K)
- Hoja informativa de la comunidad de la terminal de petróleo a granel del río Chelsea (Spanish) (PDF) (3 pp, 199 K)
- Planilha de informações do Terminal de Graneleiros de petróleo no Rio Chelsea (Portuguese) (PDF) (3 pp, 201 K)
- Fich Enfòmasyon Kominotè sou Tèminal Petwòl An gwo Flèv Chelsea (Haitian Creole) (PDF) (3 pp, 197 K)
Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Hearing
Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Hearing on 3/29:
Access ZoomGov Meeting: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1612237465?pwd=UVR5RUNBR0ZHQ3pRNzhMS1FKNHk2Zz09
Presentations:
- English: Chelsea Creek Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities Draft NPDES Permits and Environmental Justice Analysis (PDF) (15 pp, 916 K)
- Spanish: Borradores de permisos del NPDES y Análisis de Justicia Ambiental para las instalaciones de almacenamiento a granel de petróleo de Chelsea Creek (PDF) (15 pp, 846 K)
- Haitian Creole: Pèmi NPDES Pwojè Enstalasyon Estokaj Chelsea Creek Bulk Petroleum ak Analiz Jistis Anviwònmantal (PDF) (15 pp, 820 K)
- Portuguese: Projeto das instalações de armazenamento de petróleo a granel de Chelsea Creek, licenças do NPDES e análise de justiça ambiental (PDF) (15 pp, 881 K)
Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Meeting
Chelsea River Clean Water Act Permits Virtual Public Meeting on 3/15:
Recording of ZoomGov Meeting: https://youtu.be/NMWbSQJE23Q
Presentations:
- English: Chelsea Creek Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities Draft NPDES Permits and Environmental Justice Analysis - Informational Meeting, March 15, 2021 (PDF) (33 pp, 1.4 MB)
- Spanish: Borradores de permisos del NPDES y Análisis de Justicia Ambiental para las instalaciones de almacenamiento a granel de petróleo de Chelsea Creek - Reunión informativa, 15 de marzo de 2021 (PDF) (33 pp, 1.5 MB)
- Haitian Creole: Pèmi NPDES Pwojè Enstalasyon Estokaj Chelsea Creek Bulk Petroleum ak Analiz Jistis Anviwònmantal - Rankont Enfòmasyon, 15 Mas 2021(PDF) (34 pp, 1.4 MB)
- Portuguese: Projeto das instalações de armazenamento de petróleo a granel de Chelsea Creek, licenças do NPDES e análise de justiça ambiental - Reunião informativa, segunda-feira, 15 de março de 2021 (PDF) (34 pp, 1.6 MB)
Public Notice
EPA provided notice of a 60-day public comment period for five draft NPDES permits and an EJA on February 10, 2021. The public notice is provided below.
- Public notice: MA0004006, MA0003280, MA0001929, MA0001091, & MA0000825 (PDF) (4 pp, 86 K)
- Aviso Públic: MA0004006, MA0003280, MA0001929, MA0001091, & MA0000825 (Spanish) (PDF) (4 pp, 86 K)
- Nota Pública: MA0004006, MA0003280, MA0001929, MA0001091, & MA0000825 (Portuguese) (PDF) (4 pp, 86 K)
- Avi Piblik: MA0004006, MA0003280, MA0001929, MA0001091, & MA0000825 (Haitian Creole) (PDF) (4 pp, 86 K)
The comment period for the five draft NPDES permits and EJA closes on April 11, 2021.
EPA will be hosting a virtual public meeting on March 15, 2021, at 7:00 PM (ET). During the meeting EPA will present an overview of the draft permits and an environmental justice analysis related to the permits. EPA will also respond to clarifying questions from meeting participants. To attend the meeting participants must pre-register. To register please fill out the form here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/144083945961
EPA will be hosting a virtual public hearing on March 29, 2021, at 7:00 PM (ET). During the hearing EPA will accept oral comments from any interested person on the draft permits and an environmental justice analysis related to the permits. EPA will not respond to comments or questions, other than procedural questions, during the March 29, 2021 virtual public hearing. To attend the hearing participants must pre-register. To register please fill out the form here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/144218010953
Closed captioning as well as interpretation services into Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole will be provided at both meetings.
The meeting and hearing will be hosted through Zoom for Government. For the best experience, attendees may wish to download the Zoom for Government application on your device. Participants may also join by telephone. Details will be included with your registration.
If you have questions concerning EPA’s virtual public meeting and hearing, need special assistance, or need help registering, please contact Jeffrey Norcross (Norcross.Jeffrey@epa.gov or (617) 918-1839).
By participating in EPA hosted virtual meetings and events, you are consenting to abide by the agency's terms of use. In addition, you acknowledge that content you post may be collected and publicly disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, litigation requirements, and/or any other public disclosure obligations.
Draft Permits
On February 10, 2021, EPA issued draft NPDES permits for the five bulk petroleum storage facilities located along Chelsea Creek for a 60-day public comment period. The five draft permits are provided below:
- Global Companies LLC Terminal, Revere, MA, MA0000825 (PDF) (291 pp, 4 MB)
- Irving Oil Revere Terminal, Revere, MA, MA0001929 (PDF) (154 pp, 3 MB)
- Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal, Boston, MA, MA0004006 (PDF) (155 pp, 3 MB)
- Gulf Oil Terminal, Chelsea, MA, MA0001091 (PDF) (158 pp, 3 MB)
- Chelsea Sandwich LLC, Chelsea, MA, MA0003280 (PDF) (171 pp, 3 MB)
Note: EPA made corrections to Draft Permit MA0001091 on February 11, 2021 as follows:
- Gulf Oil Terminal, Chelsea, MA Draft NPDES Permit (Revised 2/11/21) (PDF) (158 pp, 3 MB)
- Gulf Oil Terminal Errata Notification (2/11/21) (PDF) (2 pp, 145 K)
Note: EPA made corrections to Draft Permit MA0004006 on February 11, 2021 as follows:
- Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal, Boston, MA Draft NPDES Permit (Revised 2/11/21) (PDF) (155 pp, 3 MB)
- Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal Errata Notification (2/11/21) (PDF) (2 pp, 144 K)
EPA did not issue draft NPDES permits for two facilities that were issued in 2014. These permits are for Global REVCO LLC, permit number MA0003298, and Global Petroleum LLC, permit number MA0003425. The reason these were not issued is that the outfalls previously covered by these two permits are now included in the permit for Global Companies LLC, permit number MA0000825 that EPA issued as one of the five drafts. EPA plans to terminate NPDES permit number MA0003298, and permit number MA0003425 once the final MA0000825 permit is issued.
If you have further questions concerning these permits, please contact: Shauna Little, Industrial NPDES Permits (Little.Shauna@epa.gov or (617) 918-1989)
Environmental Justice Analysis
As noted above, EPA issued an EJA on February 10, 2021. The EJA is provided below.
- Environmental Justice Analysis for Clean Water Act Chelsea River Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities (PDF) (31 pp, 487 K)
- Análisis de Justicia Ambiental para los Permisos del Sistema Nacional de Eliminación de Descargas de Contaminantes en Virtud de la Ley de Agua Limpia Para las Instalaciones de Almacenamiento de Petróleo a Granel Ubicadas a lo Largo del Río Chelsea (Spanish) (PDF) (32 pp, 468 K)
- Análise de Justiça Ambiental para a Lei da Água Limpa Licenciamento do Sistema Nacional de Eliminação de Descargas de Poluentes das Instalações de Graneleiros do Rio Chelsea (Portuguese) (PDF) (31 pp, 476 K)
- Analiz Jistis Anviwònmantal pou Clean Water Act Pèmi Sistèm Nasyonal pou Eliminasyon Dechè Polyan pou Enstalasyon Estokaj Petwòl an Vrak nan Chelsea River (Haitian Creole) (PDF) (31 pp, 433 K)
If you have further questions concerning the Environmental Justice Analysis, please contact: Marcus Holmes (Holmes.Marcus@epa.gov or (617) 918-1630).
2014 Permit Documents
The final permits, response to comments and supporting documentation for the seven terminals, listed by their respective NPDES permit numbers, are available as follows:
- Chelsea Sandwich Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0003280) (PDF) (283 pp, 2.8 MB)
- Gulf Oil Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0001091) (PDF) (278 pp, 3.2 MB)
- Global REVCO Terminal (Revere) (MA0003298) (PDF) (289 pp, 3 MB)
- Global Petroleum Terminal (Revere) (MA0003425) (PDF) (294 pp, 2.9 MB)
- Global South Terminal (Revere) (MA0000825) (PDF) (278 pp, 2.8 MB)
- Irving Oil Terminal (Revere) (MA0001929) (PDF) (279 pp, 2.9 MB)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (East Boston) (MA0004006) (PDF) (294 pp, 3.4 MB)
The draft NPDES permits for seven bulk petroleum storage facilities located along Chelsea Creek issued on March 14, 2014 are provided below.
- Chelsea Sandwich Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0003280) (PDF) (116 pp, 2.2 MB)
- Gulf Oil Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0001091) (PDF) (113 pp, 2.6 MB)
- Global REVCO Terminal (Revere) (MA0003298) (PDF) (122 pp, 2.3 MB)
- Global Petroleum Terminal (Revere) (MA0003425) (PDF) (127 pp, 2.3 MB)
- Global South Terminal (Revere) (MA0000825) (PDF) (111 pp, 2.2 MB)
- Irving Oil Terminal (Revere) (MA0001929) (PDF) (112 pp, 2.4 MB)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (East Boston) (MA0004006) (PDF) (130 pp, 3.1 MB)
Note: EPA made corrections to Draft Permit MA0004006 provided below.
- Summary of Corrections (PDF) (4 pp, 86 K)
- Correction Notice to Permittee dated April 11, 2014 (PDF) (2 pp, 509 K)
The public notice period for the 2014 draft NPDES permit was March 14, 2014 to May 12, 2014. EPA held a public meeting and hearing on April 17, 2014 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. The 2014 public notice is provided below.
- Public Notice, March 14, 2014 (PDF) (4 pp, 132 K)
- Anuncio Público, 14 de marzo de 2014 (PDF) (5 pp, 24 K)
The Environmental Justice Analysis in support of the permitting actions issued on March 14, 2014 is provided below.
- Environmental Justice Analysis in Support of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits for the Chelsea River Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities (PDF) (34 pp, 1.5 MB)
- Análisis de justicia ambiental en apoyo de los permisos del Sistema Nacional de Eliminación de Descargas de Contaminantes para las instalaciones de almacenamiento de petróleo a granel del río Chelsea (PDF) (36 pp, 1.1 MB)
2005-2006 Permit Documents
The 2005-2006 permits were jointly issued by EPA and the MADEP in 2005 and 2006. The permits are available at the links provided below:
- Chelsea Sandwich, LLC Final Permit (PDF) (15 pp, 595 K)
- Chelsea Sandwich, LLC Permit Attachments (PDF) (248 pp, 8.5 MB)
- Gulf Oil Limited Partnership Final Permit (PDF) (12 pp, 487 K)
- Gulf Oil Limited Partnership Permit Attachments (PDF) (97 pp, 4.2 MB)
- Global REVCO Terminal, LLC Final Permit (PDF) (14 pp, 546 K)
- Global REVCO Terminal, LLC Permit Attachments (PDF) (153 pp, 8.5 MB)
- Global Petroleum Corporation Final Permit (PDF) (18 pp, 787 K)
- Global Petroleum Corporation Permit Attachments (PDF) (356 pp, 9.9 MB)
- Global South Terminal, LLC Final Permit (PDF) (13 pp, 531 K)
- Global South Terminal, LLC Permit Attachments (PDF) (88 pp, 3.1 MB)
- Irving Oil Terminal - Revere Final Permit (PDF) (12 pp, 494 K)
- Irving Oil Terminal - Revere Permit Attachments (PDF) (92 pp, 3.6 MB)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (ConocoPhillips East Boston Terminal) Final Permit (PDF) (16 pp, 81 K)
A joint public information meeting and public hearing was held in Chelsea, Massachusetts on April 27, 2005 for six of the permits listed above and the permit terminated for Coastal Oil. EPA’s Responses to Comments and additional materials related to the 2005-2006 permits are provided below.
- Chelsea Creek Fuel Terminals Responses to Comments (PDF) (21 pp, 97 K)
- April 2005 Public Meeting Presentation (PDF) (27 pp, 1.4 MB)
- Chelsea Creek Fuel Terminals Summary Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 457 K)
- Chelsea Creek Fuel Terminals Public Notice (PDF) (4 pp, 190 K)
The NPDES permit for Coastal Oil permit number MA0004375 that was terminated is provided below.