California’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality – Hazardous Materials Division will begin the process of single-walled Underground Storage Tank (UST) removal enforcement at the end of this year. What does that mean and why is it happening?
What is an Underground Storage Tank (UST)?
USTs are containers of varying size used to store substances below ground – most commonly, petroleum, hazardous materials, or hazardous waste. Underground tank storage has been practiced for decades, however, the quality of the tank construction has improved considerably in that time. Majority of older USTs were of steel, single-walled construction and prone to leaks and failures. Newer USTs are more robust, utilizing double-wall construction made of fiberglass or protected steel.
Why are USTs regulated and what has changed?
Groundwater is the primary drinking water source for approximately half of all Americans. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUSTs) have become a common source of groundwater contamination. State and federal level EPA programs have begun the process of enforcing better UST practices to protect groundwater resources. The design and construction requirements for USTs changed on September 25, 2014, when Senate Bill 445 was signed. One of the requirements outlined by the senate bill was “requiring all single-walled USTs to be permanently closed by December 31, 2025”.
What will be the new enforcements for USTs?
Single-walled USTs will need to be permanently closed by December 31, 2025, or the tanks will be considered out-of-compliance and could be “red-tagged”. A red-tagged tank is prevented from receiving fuel deliveries or dispensing fuel. Additionally, penalties may be accrued of up to $5,000 per day per tank for those who do not meet the deadline. The updated requirements for tanks is to have secondary containment (double-walled construction) for both the tank and pipes, as well as a continuous leak detection system. This means a double-walled tank with single-walled piping will still be considered out-of-compliance until the pipes are replaced.
What happens now?
UST owners and operators will be utilizing licensed underground tank consultants to remove tanks out-of-compliance. Leaking USTs are often discovered during removal, indicating more cases may be reported this year during the single-walled UST removals. Therefore, we expect an increase in LUST cases and remediation efforts throughout the country as these new requirements are enforced by the end of the year.
McAlister GeoScience is prepared to support UST owners and operators who have found themselves with a LUST case or other means of contamination. We can provide services, such as general sampling, soil remediation, groundwater monitoring, and finding a pathway to regulatory closure for a site (a.k.a. a site status of “No Further Action” required).
Whether you have questions, need a service, or have found yourself with a dirty property… we are here to help.
Contact us here.
Resources
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ustcf/sb445
https://www.epa.gov/ust
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/ust/single_walled.html
https://www.epa.gov/ust/releases-underground-storage-tanks