August 2026 | Advocacy never slows down. This monthly brief is your window into what ILTA is tracking, influencing, and advancing, so you can stay informed on the issues shaping our industry.
On August 24, ILTA collaborated with Buckeye Partners to host Congressman James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) for a site visit to Buckeye’s terminal facility in Fairfax, VA. The goal of this visit was to educate Rep. Walkinshaw about the day-to-day operations at the facility and highlight the significant role federal policy plays in our nation’s infrastructure.
Why This Matters
An effective way to strengthen the association’s advocacy efforts is to educate legislators who influence the issues affecting our industry. Rep. Walkinshaw currently serves on the influential House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees regulatory bodies such as the United States Coast Guard and Department of Defense.
ILTA is looking to host additional site visits with members of Congress. If your organization is interested in hosting a visit, please contact James Privette, Senior Government Affairs Manager, at jprivette@ilta.org.
ILTA Will Host 2nd Annual CBC Energy Champions Reception
ILTA will host its second annual Energy Champions reception on September 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ET in Washington, DC, featuring Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA-2) as the guest of honor. This reception will coincide with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference and honor members of Congress who have advocated for our industry on Capitol Hill.
Why This Matters
For ILTA to continue to promote issues that will impact the terminal industry, it is imperative that we prioritize building relationships through regular education and engagement. U.S. Representative Troy Carter represents the second congressional district in Louisiana, encompassing a vast majority of New Orleans, which holds the most terminal facilities in the state. Rep. Carter also serves on both the House Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security Committees, giving him a role in shaping policy on issues central to ILTA’s legislative priorities.
Interested in attending the CBC Energy Champions Reception? Register to attend.
Safe Vessel Access Coalition Working Group Kickoff
The Safe Vessel Access Coalition, a joint initiative formed by ILTA, the American Waterways Operators, and the TIC Council, held its first working group meeting this month. Composed of marine terminal and barge operators, the coalition’s working groups will develop good practices to improve safety standards for personnel transfers between barges and terminals.
Why This Matters
According to the American Waterways Operators, more than 50 percent of mariner fatalities in the U.S. towing and barge industry are related to falls into the water. By bringing terminal and barge operators together, the coalition is developing shared guidance to help prevent future incidents and support a more consistent approach to personnel transfer safety.
ILTA Joins Associations in Comment on PHMSA Breakout Tank Rule
On August 3, ILTA joined the American Petroleum Institute (API), American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the Liquid Energy Pipelines Association (LEPA), and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) on a comment letter addressing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) breakout tank rulemaking.
In this rulemaking, PHMSA proposed to update its regulations for breakout tanks to incorporate the 5th edition of API Std 653 by reference, including authorization of risk-based inspection (RBI) procedures to establish inspection intervals for in-service breakout tanks.
Why This Matters
PHMSA’s original rulemaking placed a 25-year cap on RBI-based reinspection intervals. In this comment package, the industry coalition used member-provided evidence to argue that RBI reinspection intervals should not be capped, but if they must, that the cap be no less than 30 years. This approach better aligns with API 653 5th edition, ensuring the full safety, environmental, and economic benefits of the standard are implemented.
ILTA’s Government Affairs Committee will cover key legislative and energy policy issues during the Fall Joint Committee Meeting on Wednesday, September 23.
ILTA Advocacy During the 2026 Midterm Election will feature Jay Cruz, James Privette, and Matthew Ponticiello of ILTA, who will provide an update on ILTA’s advocacy efforts and where key legislative issues stand heading into the November elections.
The program will also include a Fireside Chat hosted by Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Jake Hinch of Marathon Petroleum Company and Philip Squair of Colonial Pipeline Company, focused on the current state of energy policy and its impact on the bulk liquid terminal industry.
Join us September 22–23 in Chicago for the Fall Joint Committee Meeting, open exclusively to employees of ILTA terminal member companies.
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