EPA’s 2015 Underground Storage Tank Regulations Compliance Deadline Is October 2018
New Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations may soon apply to USTs in your state. In some states, new regulations impacting the way USTs are installed and managed are already in effect.
On July 15, 2015, the EPA published new 2015 UST regulations that strengthened existing 1988 UST regulations. The new regulations increased emphasis on properly operating and maintaining UST equipment to prevent and detect UST releases—a leading source of groundwater contamination in the United States. The 2015 UST regulations became effective on October 13, 2015, and required states with EPA-approved UST programs to update their regulations within three years, by October 2018.
As of January 2018, 15 states and territories have completed the updates (click https://www.epa.gov/ust/state-underground-storage-tank-ust-programs#2015update for a list of states and territories where the new regulations are in effect). The remaining states with EPA-approved UST programs will be completing updates over the next several months. For states without EPA-approved UST programs, UST operators must follow the schedule in the EPA’s 2015 UST regulations.
The new UST regulations change certain portions of the 1988 UST technical regulations published in 40 CFR 280. Additionally, the 2015 UST regulations add new operation and maintenance requirements and address some UST system types that were deferred in the 1988 regulations. A few highlights to the new regulations include:
New secondary containment requirements for new and replaced tanks and piping.
New operator training requirements.
New periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST systems.
New requirements to ensure UST system compatibility before storing certain biofuel blends.
Removal of past deferrals for emergency generator tanks, airport hydrant systems, and field-constructed tanks.
Click https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/regs2015-crosswalk.pdf for a summary of the 1988 UST regulations versus the 2015 UST regulations.
Nearly all businesses with USTs will be impacted by these new regulations and will be required to demonstrate compliance with the regulatory changes. Depending on their location, UST owners and operators may be required to obtain compliance with the new regulation in accordance with a mandated schedule. Nova works with UST owners and operators to understand application of UST regulations to their specific sites and to ensure UST systems are in compliance with both EPA and state requirements. Please contact our compliance team if you have any questions regarding the new UST regulations.
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John Bale | Environmental Engineering & Compliance Group | E-mail | 952-448-9393