Transcript Underground Storage Tank Management Regulations for

Underground Storage Tank
Management Regulations for
Commercial Heating Oil Tanks
RI Department of Environmental Management
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Disclaimer
The purpose of this session is to provide you with a
general overview of certain regulatory requirements.
As such, the remarks offered by DEM
representatives are merely intended as opinions,
offered to assist you in understanding how the
regulations may be applied in general. These
opinions should not be taken as attempts to apply
the regulations to specific factual scenarios. They
are offered without familiarity with all of the facts
presented by a given situation and, therefore, you
should not act in sole reliance upon the opinions
provided. Specific questions about the application of
environmental regulations to individual cases should
be directed to the Department’s Office of Technical &
Customer Assistance, or to the Office of Waste
Management, UST Section. Nothing said today
should be taken as being binding upon the
Department- neither the Department’s interpretation
What is a UST?
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10% or more of its volume (including piping) is
underground
Holds petroleum product or hazardous material
Also includes holding tanks serving floor drains
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Why regulate USTs?
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Small leaks of petroleum products or hazardous
materials from USTs can contaminate large
groundwater supplies
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Leaks can also create health and fire hazards in
nearby buildings
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Program Elements for
Heating Oil USTs
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UST Registration
Existing System Requirements
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Spill Protection
Leak Detection
Abandonment Prohibition
Tank Closure
New/Replacement Tank Standards
– New Installation Standards
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UST Registration
 USTs
storing fuel oil for heating
commercial facilities must be registered
with DEM - including schools
 Commercial USTs storing motor fuel or
hazardous materials must also be
registered
– includes waste oil USTs
– includes holding tanks serving floor
drains
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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UST Registration (cont’d.)
 Annual
fee- $50 per tank (municipalities
exempt); DEM issues annual certificate
 Application provides information on
tank system age, construction, contents
and ownership
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Assistance
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Existing System RequirementsSpill Protection
 Spill
containment required on all
registered USTs since January 1, 1993
– three gallon capacity
– above-ground fills exempt
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Existing System RequirementsLeak Detection
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Leak detection is not specifically required for USTs
holding heating oil for on-site consumptive use
DEM recommends periodic tightness testing, and
other inventory controls, as good management
practices
– DEM licenses testers and approves test methods
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All releases must be reported immediately to
DEM, the local water supplier (if sensitive area),
and the local fire authority
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Existing System RequirementsAbandonment Prohibition
 Abandonment
means the relinquishment or
termination of possession, ownership or control of USTs, by
vacating or by disposition, without meeting the closure
requirements...; or the action of taking a UST or UST system out of
operation for a period of greater than 180 consecutive days without
the prior permission of the Director...
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No UST may be abandoned- there are no
exceptions
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Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis
(temporary closure)
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Existing System RequirementsTank Closure
Closure of commercial tanks must be pre-approved by DEM
– $75 application fee
DEM conducts inspection of excavation
– must schedule closure inspection
Residues must be managed appropriately
– must be transported off-site by permitted hazardous
waste transporter
Tank must be cut/cleaned per Fire Marshal’s regulations
Closure Assessment only required for motor fuel USTs
Closures-in-place only approved under special conditions
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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New Installation Standards
Application must be submitted to DEM
 Must be approved before installation
 New UST facilities may not be
constructed in wellhead protection areas
(replacement tanks are allowed)
 Substantial modifications of UST systems
must also be pre-approved
 USTs serving floor drains have special
requirements
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RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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New Installation Standards (cont’d.)
Tanks must be double-walled, steel tanks
must have corrosion protection
 Piping must be double-walled, with
containment sump
 UL or ULC listed, National Codes of Practice
 Entire system precision tested upon
installation
 Spill containment and overfill protection
required
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RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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General Approval Process
Submit scope of work to DEM thirty (30)
days in advance
 Written approval from DEM required prior
to commencement of work (including
product piping replacement)
 Notify DEM 48 hours prior to installation
 Written verification of completion within
fifteen (15) days
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Assistance
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Installation Paperwork
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completed registration application
detailed site plan (plans for new facilities require
PE stamp) including location of:
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all tanks and piping
dispensing units
groundwater monitoring wells
water table elevation
public water supply wells or reservoirs within 400’
facilities served by private wells within 200’
proposed and existing buildings and associated structures
boundaries of the facility
north arrow
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Installation Paperwork (cont’d.)
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Cross-sectional view of the tank
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depth of excavation
bedding thickness
backfill depth
supports and anchorage used
dimensions and thickness of traffic pad
Equipment list and written description
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tank(s)
piping
leak monitoring systems
spill/overfill protection methods
corrosion protection methods
operation and maintenance requirements for any of the above
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UST Professional Certification
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Individuals who conduct precision tests must now be
licensed by DEM
Installers must be licensed by RI Dept. of
Labor/Division of Professional Regulation, and
certified by applicable equipment manufacturers
DEM encourages voluntary efforts by UST installers,
removers, and corrosion protection experts to obtain
certification from a non-profit testing agency- the
International Fire Code Institute
– we hope to make this certification mandatory
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Self-Audit Checklist
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Are all your USTs registered?
 check DEM registration database
 make sure registration fees are paid in full
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Make sure required documentation is submitted
 spill containment installation notices
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Plan for replacement
 remove/replace (old) tanks
 evaluate new storage technology- UST vs AST
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Gasoline or generator fuel USTs? Leak detection,
1998 upgrade requirements, and others apply
Questions and Answers
 What
about above-ground storage tanks?
– ASTs are regulated by DEM
– Installations are approved by local authorities
 What
about the 1998 upgrade requirements?
– These only apply to motor fuel USTs, and fuel oil
distribution USTs.
 What
about financial responsibility?
– This is only required for motor fuel USTs, and fuel
oil distribution USTs.
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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Any questions? Call us at277-OTCA (6822)
Tom Epstein- ext. 7501
fax 222-3810
UST Program
222-2797
Eric Beck- ext. 7504
fax 222-3813
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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or visit the
Office of Technical & Customer Assistance
at our new home-
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235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908
first door on left from the
Beach Street entrance
RI DEM/Office of Technical and Customer
Assistance
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