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2015 Revised Underground Storage Tank Regulations

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2015 Revised Underground Storage Tank Regulations

We’ve been waiting for years for the update to finally be announced, and here it is: The requirements implemented on the effective date of the final UST regulation are those that either do not require significant education and outreach or apply to new installations, repairs, or releases. EPA is allowing up to three years for owners and operators to implement the requirements that require significant outreach, equipment to be upgraded or installed (such as for previously deferred UST systems), or scheduling and testing. During those three years, the regulatory/implementing agencies shall educate owners and operators about today’s new requirements and allow owners and operators to schedule testing. The exception to implementing the requirements immediately or in three years is that EPA is implementing the secondary containment requirement 180 days after the effective date of the UST regulation.

Keep in mind, we do not have the effective date, yet. We do know it will be soon, maybe tomorrow!

Here are the Implementation Time Frames for the New Requirements in an easy to read chart – Immediately, 180 days or Three Years

Chart of Implementation Time Frames for New Requirements

9 Note that EPA is requiring owners and operators to also submit a one-time notification of existence for these UST systems within 3 years of the effective date of today’s final UST regulation.

States with Approved UST Programs are going to have to incorporate the changes to the UST technical regulations.  They will have three years to reapply in order to retain their SPA status. Owners and operators in these states must continue to follow their state requirements until the state changes its requirements or until the state’s SPA status changes.
Map showing states with EPA State Program Approval

That means there will be three years grace period before we start seeing enforcement/NOVs for some of the required changes.

The owners and operators in 16 non-SPA states and territories must meet the federal requirements according to the schedule in the 2015 UST regulation. In addition, owners and operators will need to follow their state requirements. Indian country UST owners and operators must meet the federal requirements according to the schedule in the 2015 UST regulation.

Here is a Comparison that shows the 2015 Revised UST Regulations versus the 1988 UST Regulations. It’s a 10 page PDF Spreadsheet showing the highlights of the full 468 page document, called the Prepublication version of the final UST regulations. Some forms you may want to review are the New Ownership Change Notification Form and the Updated Notification Form. TAIT recommends all Owners and Operators download and read the updated MUSTs for USTs which provides a nice straightforward explanation of requirements when owning and working with underground storage tanks.

TAIT is an expert in and has been working with fueling systems and Underground Storage Tanks for over 50 years. Our Regulatory Affairs Manager Brian Harmon focuses on the regulatory environment and upcoming changes and his comments are integral to regulation changes such as this. ASK US your questions. Allow us to bid on your tank projects. Before making any quick decisions, let’s discuss your situation and your tanks and we can provide guidance on the most cost effective way to move forward to get you in compliance with the current and new regulations.

Visit the EPA’s Underground Storage Tanks 2015 Revised Underground Storage Tank Regulations page for all the details

In June 2015, EPA issued the 2015 underground storage tank regulation and the 2015 state program approval regulation. The revisions strengthen the 1988 federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations by increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining UST equipment. The revisions will help prevent and detect UST releases, which are a leading source of groundwater contamination. The revisions will also help ensure all USTs in the United States, including those in Indian country, meet the same minimum standards. This is the first major revision to the federal UST regulations since 1988.