Chelsea River Bulk Petroleum Storage Facilities NPDES Permits
Background
On September 30, 2022, U.S. EPA issued five final NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act for bulk petroleum storage facilities located along Chelsea River (also known as Chelsea Creek). 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 final permits, additional information and resources, 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 issued final permits for the following facilities: 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, jet fuel, and fuel oil. Petroleum products and additives are 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 areas. The petroleum products are transported off-site by tanker truck, ship, or pipeline. EPA subsequently issued a minor permit modification for the Gulf Oil Terminal in Chelsea due to a change in ownership. Additional information is provided below:
2022 Permit Documents
On September 29, 2022, EPA issued final NPDES permits for the five bulk petroleum storage facilities located along Chelsea Creek. These five permits are effective December 1, 2022, pending appeal. The five final permits, EPA's Response to Comments document, and additional resources are provided below:
- Final Global Permit (pdf)
- Final Chelsea Permit (pdf)
- Final Irving Permit (pdf)
- Final Gulf Permit (pdf)
- Final Sunoco Permit (pdf)
- Final Response to Comments (pdf)
- Outfall Maps (pdf)
Additional Resources:
Individuals with further questions concerning these permits may contact: Shauna Little, Industrial NPDES Permits at (617) 918-1989 or [email protected].
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)
- Irving Oil Revere Terminal, Revere, MA, MA0001929 (pdf)
- Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal, Boston, MA, MA0004006 (pdf)
- Gulf Oil Terminal, Chelsea, MA, MA0001091 (pdf)
- Chelsea Sandwich LLC, Chelsea, MA, MA0003280 (pdf)
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)
- Gulf Oil Terminal Errata Notification (2/11/21) (pdf)
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)
- Sunoco Logistics East Boston Terminal Errata Notification (2/11/21) (pdf)
EPA held a Virtual Public Hearing on 3/29/21 and a Virtual Public Meeting on 3/15/21.
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)
- Gulf Oil Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0001091) (pdf)
- Global REVCO Terminal (Revere) (MA0003298) (pdf)
- Global Petroleum Terminal (Revere) (MA0003425) (pdf)
- Global South Terminal (Revere) (MA0000825) (pdf)
- Irving Oil Terminal (Revere) (MA0001929) (pdf)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (East Boston) (MA0004006) (pdf)
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)
- Gulf Oil Terminal (Chelsea) (MA0001091) (pdf)
- Global REVCO Terminal (Revere) (MA0003298) (pdf)
- Global Petroleum Terminal (Revere) (MA0003425) (pdf)
- Global South Terminal (Revere) (MA0000825) (pdf)
- Irving Oil Terminal (Revere) (MA0001929) (pdf)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (East Boston) (MA0004006) (pdf)
Note: EPA made corrections to Draft Permit MA0004006 provided below.
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.
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)
- Gulf Oil Limited Partnership Final Permit (pdf)
- Global REVCO Terminal, LLC Final Permit (pdf)
- Global Petroleum Corporation Final Permit (pdf)
- Global South Terminal, LLC Final Permit (pdf)
- Irving Oil Terminal - Revere Final Permit (pdf)
- Sunoco Logistics Terminal (ConocoPhillips East Boston Terminal) Final Permit (pdf)
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 are provided below.
The NPDES permit for Coastal Oil permit number MA0004375 that was terminated is provided below.