Updated Federal requirements from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the installation, reporting, spill and overfill prevention, corrosion protection, release detection, walkthrough inspections, compatibility, operator training, repairs, financial responsibility, release response, and closure of Underground Storage Tanks (UST) are now in effect.
New revisions by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to its UST regulations affect facilities like convenience stores, gas stations, airports, and commercial facilities. Major changes to the existing requirements include the following:
- Mandatory secondary containment for new or replaced tanks and piping
- Required training for tank operators
- Mandatory periodic maintenance and operational tests for facilities
- Elimination of deferrals for emergency generator tanks, airport hydrant systems, and field-constructed tanks
- New release-prevention and detection technologies
- State UST programs must begin incorporating EPA changes
These revisions will also help ensure that all USTs in the United States, including those on Native-American-owned lands, meet the same minimum standards.
Recent violations for failing to inspect and monitor tanks for leaks and rusting have resulted in total fines of more than $80,000. This is the first major revision to the federal UST regulations since 1988.
Upcoming Deadline
The revised Federal regulations require integrity testing for containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of petroleum product piping systems. This testing must be performed every three years, and the initial testing must be completed by October 13, 2018.
This includes the following common types of single-wall containment sumps:
- Submersible pump sumps located on top of the UST
- Containment sumps under dispensers & intermediate piping sumps
- Spill “bucket” fill port containment sumps
These new regulations also require functionality testing by October 13, 2018 of:
- Overfill protection devices (every three years)
- Leak detection equipment, sump sensors, automatic tank gauging probes, interstitial monitor probes, automatic line leak detectors, etc. (every year)
Beginning October 13, 2018, all facilities are required to do a 30-day and annual walkthrough inspection in addition to the quarterly Class B inspections.
For a summary of these requirements, please see the US EPA website.
How can GHD help?
GHD is an ISO 90001 certified, full service, world-wide design and construction firm providing complete bulk fluid management services to clients in the manufacturing, oil and gas, transportation, retails services, and other sectors. GHD offers consultation and assessment, inspection, upgrade, repair, and complete turnkey services on a reliable and consistent basis. We provide complete environmental support services, including emissions monitoring and management, emergency response, spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plans, site assessments, and remediation of leaks and spills.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Kowalski | +1 248 893 3400 | E: mark.kowalski@ghd.com
Matt Lamb, PE | T: +1 248 893 3400 | E: matt.lamb@ghd.com