Illinois Class A/B UST Operators
UST Operator Courses Available for Illinois
Course Descriptions
Our Illinois Class ABC Underground Storage Tank (UST) Operator Training Course was the first one approved by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Division of Petroleum & Chemical Safety in June 2012. Our course was also the first Illinois Class ABC UST Operator Course to be renewed and re-approved (February 2020) to address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) revisions to the federal UST regulations and the subsequent revised Illinois UST regulations. According to the OSFM UST Operator Training Provider List, several Illinois Class ABC trainers have not been re-approved. Our Illinois Class A/B UST Training Course covers UST operator classifications, UST systems, UST operation, UST release detection, financial responsibility and investigation and reporting of suspected and confirmed releases from USTs. Our Illinois Class ABC UST Operator Training Course includes an exam at the end of the course.
We have also developed and received approval from the Illinois OSFM of our Illinois Class C UST Operator Training Course designed to provide the initial Class C UST training needed to know how to recognize and respond to problems, alarms, fuel delivery, suspected releases, and spills at Illinois UST facilities. The training of the Illinois Class C UST operator is the responsibility of the Illinois Class ABC UST operator. Our training includes a method to create-specific UST procedures that the Illinois Class ABC UST operator can utilize to provide site-specific training to the Illinois Class C UST Operator.
Overview of Illinois UST Requirements
Illinois underground storage tank facilities are regulated by the Illinois OSFM Division of Petroleum & Chemical Safety. The Illinois UST rules & Illinois UST regulations are found in the Illinois Administrative Code, Title 41 (Fire Protection), Chapter I (Office of the State Fire Marshal), Part 172 through Part 177 (Contractor Licensing, General Requirements for Illinois USTs, Technical Requirements for Illinois USTs, Administrative Requirements for Illinois USTs, and Compliance Certification Requirements for Illinois USTs)).
The Illinois OSFM has rules governing Illinois UST operator training requirements. The Illinois UST operator training rules (41 Illinois Administrative Code 176, Subpart F) requires the owner or operator of each Illinois UST facility to train at least one employee in each of the following classifications:
- Illinois Class A UST Operator – The Illinois Class A UST operator is typically the owner or manager of a UST facility who has general knowledge of regulations governing USTs. The Illinois Class A UST operator has responsibility for providing the appropriate resources and staff to maintain compliance with Illinois UST regulations and federal UST regulations. Illinois Class A UST operators must be retrained every 4 years.
- Illinois Class B UST Operator – The Illinois Class B UST operator has responsibility for implementing the day-to-day, site-specific requirements including maintenance, operation, and record keeping at the Illinois UST facility. The Illinois Class B UST operator also has responsibility for training the Illinois Class C UST operators. Illinois Class B UST operators must be retrained every 4 years.
- Illinois Class C UST Operator – The Illinois Class C UST operator is the first responder to emergencies at the Illinois UST facility. At a typical convenience store, the Illinois Class C UST operator will often be the clerk or attendant at the gas station. At an industrial facility, the Illinois Class C UST operator could be a facility employee that works in the vicinity of the USTs. The Illinois Class C UST operator must understand how to recognize alarms or emergency conditions, how to respond to alarms or spills, and how to call the Illinois Class A or Class B UST operators and appropriate responders in case of an emergency or fuel spill. Illinois Class C UST operators must be retrained every 4 years.
In Illinois, if you are the owner or operator of one or more regulated USTs, you are required to:
- Maintain a List of Designated Illinois Class A/B & Class C UST Operators at your UST facility.
- Develop and implement an Illinois UST Operations and Maintenance Plan for your UST facility.
- Make sure all USTs, including those empty or in temporary closure, are registered with the Illinois OSFM utilizing the Illinois Online UST Notification Form.
- Obtain and maintain a Illinois OSFM Certificate of Financial Responsibility.
- Biennially, obtain a Renewal of the Illinois Motor Fuel Dispensing Permit.
- Notify the Illinois OSFM at least 30 days before beginning construction work at your Illinois UST facility.
- Notify the Illinois OSFM of any changes in ownership or any other important aspects (e.g. financial responsibility, UST operator, release detection, spill prevention, corrosion protection, etc.) within 30 days of the change.
The list above is not an exhaustive list of owner and operator requirements. The Illinois OSFM has published a list of Illinois UST Notices for operating, installing, replacing, removing, or registering an Illinois UST.
On October 13, 2015, USEPA finalized the first significant changes to the federal UST regulations since 1988. Illinois revised UST regulations were effective October 13, 2018. These Illinois UST regulation revisions are summarized in Target Date for Revised Illinois UST Regulations: 10/13/2018.
The most significant revisions to the Illinois UST regulations went fully into effect on October 13, 2018 and are listed below.
- UST system compatibility demonstration;
- Monthly UST walkthrough inspections;
- Annual UST walkthrough inspections;
- Tri-Annual UST spill container and UST containment sump testing;
- Annual UST overfill prevention equipment inspections;
- Annual UST release detection equipment testing; and, but not limited to,
- Emergency Generator UST System and Airport Hydrant UST Requirements.
If you have questions about Illinois UST regulations, Illinois UST operator training, or any other Illinois UST requirements, you may contact the Illinois OSFM Petroleum & Chemical Safety by website or by phone at (217) 785-1020.
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