Tanks/Underground #1.19 • August 2010 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency • 520 Lafayette Rd. N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 • www.pca.state.mn.us 651-296-6300 • 800-657-3864 • TTY 651-282-5332 or 800-657-3864 • Available in alternative formats t-u1-19
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has made changes to certain requirements for operating Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. While most rules remain the same, there are changes that may affect you as the owner of a regulated UST.
Are you thinking about replacing older tanks or piping, adding on to your current UST system, or perhaps building a new service station?
All new underground tanks, as well as any associated piping, fuel dispensers, and submersible pump heads, must have a secondary containment design, meaning a liquid-tight barrier to capture and detect leaks.
For secondary containment tanks (sometimes called doublewalled tanks), you will need to check monthly for liquids in the interstice between the walls and document the check. If the interstice has a continuous automatic liquid sensor with alarm, you will just need to perform an annual function check of the sensor.
Do all your tanks have drop tubes?
Drop tubes extending to within six inches of the tank floor are required for all tanks. New gasoline tanks must have a drop tube extending to within six inches of the tank floor if the facility has greater than 10,000 gallons monthly throughput.
Are all dispenser shear valves securely anchored?
Secure anchoring of breakaway valves under dispensers must be maintained.
Are you ready for sump checks?
Monthly checks of all sump areas (fill pipe spill buckets, submersible pump areas, and under-dispenser areas) are now required.
If you have a submersible sump pump with liquid-tight containment and a liquid sensor alarm, the sump may be checked annually.
Checking the sump means lifting the lid and looking for spilled or leaked product, water, or debris, and cleaning out the sump if necessary.
Keep a record of sump checks. A checklist is available from the MPCA, or owners can make their own.
Does your piping use an automatic line leak detector system?
Minimum qualifications for performing annual detector function tests, and new test procedures, have been specified.
Testers must be MPCA-certified contractors, have received testing approval from the manufacturer, or be specifically qualified by reason of training or experience.
Owners may not perform the tests unless they are qualified.
Obtain the test result record from the contractor and keep it. What Tank Owners need to know about the New Underground Storage Tank Rules t-u1-19 • August 2010 Page 2
Do you have an impressed current type of cathodic protection system for your tanks and piping?
The system’s rectifier must be checked every 60 days. Record the volt and amp gauge readings, date, and initials of the person doing the check. If the gauges read “0”, the system is not operating and must be repaired. Owner-operators may do this.
A corrosion expert must inspect the system for effective protection at least annually, rather than every three years as previously.
Do you have a sacrificial anode type of cathodic protection system for your tanks and piping, e.g. STIP3 tanks?
If your system is designed with external testing stations, the three-year tests and post-repair tests may be performed by the owner/operator, using a voltmeter. Record and maintain the results.
External test stations must test all piping as well; if they are not designed to do this, use a qualified cathodic protection tester.
Do you have a high level alarming system for protection during tank fills?
The alarm must always be audible to the fill operator (driver). For example, sounding at an indoor control panel would not be adequate. To verify this, you should periodically check that the alarm sounds and can be heard from the truck fill position.
Do you have any tanks with internal linings?
Due to lining failure concerns, these tanks must be emptied, entered, and internally inspected by a qualified third-party inspector at least every five years.
New requirements cover pre-notification, inspection techniques, and reporting.
Very minor repairs are allowed; however, if the lining ever fails, the tank must be permanently closed.
Are your tanks going to be inactive for some period of time?
After 90 days of inactivity, temporary closure is required. This means the tanks must be completely emptied and a notification form must be filed with the MPCA. Any rectifier must be kept on, and any cathodic protection system must be tested every year or three years, as applicable.
After one year of inactivity, the tank owner must request and receive written approval to extend the temporary closure period, otherwise the tanks must be permanently closed. This means closed-in-place (filled with an inert substance) or removed from the ground.
After five years of inactivity, all tanks must be permanently closed.
Have you recently sold or purchased property containing USTs, or are you thinking about doing so?
Prior to closing the transaction, the seller must notify the purchaser of the purchaser’s duty to notify the MPCA.
Purchaser must file a notification form with the MPCA for the change in ownership, and must certify that all operators, including lessees, have read the UST rules and know how to operate and maintain UST systems.
Need more information?
Visit the UST Program at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/cleanup/ust.html. The sithas forms, fact sheets, and other information about USTs and UST requirements.
You can also call the MPCA at 651-296-6300 or 1-800-657-3864.