| New Underground Storage Tank Law May Become Effective July 1, 1998 |
| Hazardous Substance Underground Storage Tanks: What are They? More Stringent Upgrade Requirements? |
| The December ’98 Deadline Cometh |
The Underground Storage Tank regulation was passed in 1989 with the understanding that Ecology would regulate underground storage tanks in place of the Environmental Protection Agency; all regulated tanks would be upgraded, replaced or closed by December 1998; and the program would sunset in 1999.
Last year, Ecology began preparing for the sunset date by meeting with representatives of interested groups to determine what to do after 1999. The consensus was for Ecology to seek reauthorization.
Education, technical assistance, and enforcement (as a last resort) were the main push behind the group’s recommendation for reauthorization. After 1998, owners and operators of tanks will continue to request technical assistance from inspectors, sites will still require routine inspections, and enforcement actions will still be necessary in some situations.
Two changes are also proposed in the law: facility compliance tagging and increased license fees.
Under compliance tagging, tank owners or operators will receive a facility compliance tag that demonstrates the facility meets the 1998 upgrade requirements, license fees have been paid, and financial responsibility has been met. Without a tag, delivery of product cannot occur.
Compliance tagging should make it easier for those delivering product, because it will be placed in a visible and convenient location – a location where the fuel delivery person can easily see it. He/she will no longer have to check the Master Business License for proof of insurance. All the information required for lawful delivery will be on the compliance tag.
The change in license fees will mean a yearly increase to tank owners or operators of $25 (the current fee is $75 and the proposed fee is $100). Money collected from license fees will be used to help fund the existing tank program.
If the legislation passes, it will become effective this summer. For more information, please contact Barry Rogowski, Ecology UST Coordinator, (360) 407-7236.
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Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or any mixture of substances and petroleum where the underground storage tank is not defined as a petroleum underground storage tank. Examples of the type of substances that fall into this category are: acetone, ammonia, arsenic, benzene, chlorine, ethylene glycol (anti-freeze), formaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methanol, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), sulfuric acid, urethane. There are hundreds of other compounds. If you are uncertain whether what you store in your tank is a regulated hazardous substance, then contact the Ecology office nearest you. Phone number are listed on the back of this newsletter.
What are the requirements for hazardous substance tanks? The requirements are the same as that of petroleum underground storage tanks except the release detection requirement is more stringent. By December 22, 1998, hazardous substance underground storage tanks are required to have a secondary containment system and double-walled tanks or external liners. The tank piping must have a secondary containment system and an automatic line leak detector. These requirements may be found in the Underground Storage Tank Regulations Chapter 173-360 (WAC).
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The underground storage tank upgrade requirements are nearing. Have you upgraded your tanks yet? If you have, have you informed Ecology?
It is important that you and your service provider complete the repair/retrofit checklist, which indicates what upgrades have been completed, and send to Ecology. It is important to have the service provider sign the form. This certifies the work was done correctly. The checklist helps Ecology maintain accurate information as to which tanks have been upgraded.
If you’re not sure about the status of your underground storage tank system, call the regional office nearest you for assistance. An inspector may be able to visit your site and assist you in determining what upgrades you need or confirm what upgrades you already have.
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