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An EHS Hero® subscriber recently asked our experts at BLR® what regulations, if any, applied to a 500 gallon propane tank used for an emergency generator. Do aboveground storage tank (AST) rules apply? What about Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans or programs? The answer is brief, but helpful—not only to this individual, but […]
Q. Is turpentine covered under Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) and what are the spill containment requirements for AST of turpentine?
What ASTSWMO UST Task Force Found The ASTSWMO UST Task Force solicited information for fiscal year 2012 from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia in an effort to determine the violations most often encountered during UST compliance inspections. Responses were received from 35 states and territories, covering nearly 59,000 UST inspections […]
Why You Have to Worry About Every AST Just a note before getting into preventing ruptures. Even if some of your ASTs do not contain a hazardous or regulated substance, their failure could damage nearby tanks that do contain hazardous substances and cause releases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can cite a number […]
ASTs are storage tanks that are aboveground, regardless of whether they are used to store petroleum products, hazardous waste, or other hazardous material. There are a variety of overlapping federal laws and regulations that govern ASTs, and most are highly regulated on the state and local level. There are specific inspection requirements for hazardous waste […]
Used oil generators include all persons who produce used oil through commercial or industrial operations and vehicle services. The regulations exempt household “do-it-yourselfers,” farmers under certain conditions, vessels at sea or at port, and mixtures of used oil and diesel fuel under certain conditions. If used oil is mixed with hazardous waste, it must be managed […]
The federal regulations you should consider when developing management practices for ASTs include: Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations for tank vapor control, air toxics, and pollution reduction The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) hazardous substance reporting requirements The Clean Water Act (CWA)-incorporated OPA that […]
Managing UST compliance takes a long-term commitment for facility operators who have to fill out dozens of forms and checklists and maintain accurate records, to mention a few of the many requirements. But even those facilities that are doing everything right should anticipate an inspection at some point, with or without prior notice.
When deciding whether to install an underground storage tank (UST) or an aboveground storage tank (AST) for petroleum or hazardous substance storage, or when managing the daily tank operations, you need to consider the very different regulations related to ASTs and USTs. These tips—based on federal regulations—will help you make informed decisions related to USTs […]
Storage Requirements The rules state that generators must not store used oil in units other than tanks, containers, or units regulated under 40 CFR 264 or 40 CFR 265 (40 CFR 279.22(a)). (Tanks include both aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and underground storage tanks (USTs)). According to EPA, this does not mean that the ASTs or […]