Laughing Stock Farm, Freeport, Maine
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Laughing Stock Farm, Freeport, Maine |
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Other
Regulatory Considerations Although
biodiesel made at home for off-road use need not be registered, you should still
follow the many health, safety, environmental, quality and tax regulations and
standards to protect yourself, the environment, your business and employees, and
your equipment. Extremely hazardous materials, such as methanol, ethanol, sodium
hydroxide, sulfuric acid and others, are used to make biodiesel. When purchasing
these materials, obtain the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), study them
carefully, and take all the listed precautions. Long-term
health problems and serious injury can result from improper use of these
materials. Alcohol can present a serious fire or explosion risk due to its
flammability. OSHA, EPA, DEP and the State Fire Marshal
regulate handling and storage of these materials in Maine. Hazardous air emissions will, and hazardous waste
may, result from homemade biodiesel. The DEP and EPA regulate these emissions
and wastes. Any facility that stores more than 1,320 gallons aggregate or 660
gallons in any one container of any petroleum oil, vegetable or animal oil, or
biodiesel is required by the EPA to have a Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan in place. This includes farms, institutions, and
schools whether for profit or not, as well as other businesses. The Maine Revenue
Services and the IRS both tax biodiesel. Homemade biodiesel is not exempt
from these taxes or from the rules for dyeing fuel intended for off-road use. Off
road fuels are not subject to the same taxes as fuels intended for
transportation and are dyed to ensure that they are not used in on road
vehicles without taxes being paid. Although
these are not important considerations for anyone purchasing biodiesel from a
reputable dealer, anyone who makes homemade biodiesel must be aware of and
follow these rules, just as we would expect any responsible business to do. |
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Send mail to lisa@laughingstockfarm.com with questions or comments about our farmSend to ralph@rturner.com with questions or comments about our energy project.Copyright 2008, Laughing Stock Farm
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