Tennessee’s UST Operator Training Program is administered by the Environment and Conservation Agency/Board/Commission in the Underground Storage Tanks Division. The State of Tennessee is very proactive in educating tank owners and now has an active website for UST operator training. The State requires every UST system to have a trained operator by August 8, 2012. Tennessee defines the A/B/C operators as:
- “Class A Operator” means any person having primary responsibility for on-site operation and maintenance of underground storage tank systems and has successfully completed training requirements for this operator class in accordance with paragraph (2) of Rule 1200-01-15-.16.
- “Class B Operator” means any person having daily on-site responsibility for the operation and maintenance of underground storage tank systems and has successfully completed training requirements for this operator class in accordance with paragraph (2)of Rule 1200-01-15-.16.
- “Class C Operator” means any on-site employee having primary responsibility for addressing emergencies presented by a spill or release from an underground storage tank system and has successfully completed training requirements for this operator class in accordance with paragraph (2) of Rule 1200-01-15-.16.
Tennessee has two testing options which will be acceptable for Operator Training:
- Tennessee has developed a Tennessee-specific UST System Operator Exam administered by the International Code Council.
- Successfully passing the ICC National UST System Operator Exam will also be recognized by the State.
Anyone completing the State’s Tank School will be considered as having met the training requirements for UST Operator Training. Tennessee has also developed a free web-based training option for Operator Training called “Tank Helper“. Training records of operator training must be kept only as long as the person serves as a Class A, B, or C operator at the facility, but not longer than three (3) years. Retraining may be required if there is a significant operational compliance violation found by the Division.
Tennessee has created a wonderful list of PST compliance documents that will be very helpful to tank owners in their state. When you have questions about tank compliance, financial responsibility, and technical guidance, they make it easy to find answers. They even mailed a CD called the Compliance Took Box to each tank owner in TN. You may review the full Rules of the Tennessee Department of State online. Current Tennessee UST Rules are also online. You can always email us if you have questions, too.
Tennessee Operator Training Requirements state:
Class C Operator training may be provided by the tank owner, a trained Class A or Class B Operator in accordance with guidance published by the Division, or by successful completion of Class C Operator training using the Division’s web-based operator training program.
TAIT is approved to offer Class C UST Operator Training in Tennessee. Operators will still need to have the sign or manual available, but the course meets the training requirement. The manual or sign will be owner and even site specific. Here is what the rules say is required:
c) If a UST facility has a person(s) on site, at least one person on site must be a Class C Operator whenever the facility is operating. No later than August 8, 2012 a sign or instruction manual must be placed where the Class C operator would be expected to see it during the normal course of their work. At a minimum, it must include the following:
1. Name and number of contact person for emergencies and monitoring equipment alarms, and
2. Local emergency numbers, and
3. Employee’s role in responding to spills and overfills, and
4. Procedures for handling warnings, alarms, and response from leak detection console (if applicable), and
5. An instruction to maintain a safe distance from any potential hazards.
Click here to order the Tennessee Class C UST Operator Training course. Email us if you have any questions about Tennessee’s Class C UST Operator Training.