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In anticipation of BLR’s upcoming underground storage tank (UST) Master Class, Emily Remmel sat down with copresenter Dennis Oberdove, owner and president of Tank Integrity Services, to get a sense of the daily troubleshooting issues that arise on the ground when testing UST systems.
In mid-September, approximately 800 underground storage tank (UST) professionals gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, for the 25th National Tanks Conference and Expo, which was cosponsored by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC). The event summoned state and federal regulators, tribal representatives, the regulated community, environmental consultants, and tank industry experts under a single […]
UST owners and operators are facing a new set of requirements issued by the EPA. According to the EPA, the new UST regulations shift the focus from the design, construction, and installation of equipment; release detection; and cleanup of releases to the proper maintenance of existing equipment and the need for operator training.
Changing environmental situations often requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revisit policies and interpretations of regulations even if the rules themselves are not amended. A case in point is a 1997 EPA policy that precluded the regulation of bio-oils (e.g., vegetable and animal oils) that have been used as lubricants, or for other […]
Since 1988, the UST regulations required that tanks be made of or lined with materials that are compatible with the substance stored. Since that time, many new biofuel blends have come on the market. The 2015 UST amendments add new compatibility notification, demonstration of compatibility, and recordkeeping requirements concerning certain biofuels. Notification. UST owners and […]
No longer deferred The 1988 UST regulations deferred several types of USTs from regulations. Under the 2015 amendments, three types of tanks were removed from the referral list and must comply with the 2015 UST regulations. USTs for emergency power generators. The new UST amendments removes the deferral for USTs solely to store fuel for […]
The EPA suggests that the guides be used to help identify and consider key factors related to VI assessments, risk management decisions, and mitigation. Vapor intrusion is also of particular concern to property owners, municipalities, and real estate developers, especially those involved in revitalization of a perceived brownfield. Note. While the recommendations in these guides […]
After 27 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new regulations for underground storage tanks (USTs). Expanding on the 1988 regulations, the new regulations aim to curb releases of petroleum and hazardous substances into the environment. The EPA estimates that 6,000 UST releases are discovered annually. To minimize these releases, the revisions focus directly […]
Who Will Be Paying the Compliance Costs? The EPA estimates $160 million in annual compliance costs for the final UST regulation. Motor fuel retailers, which account for roughly 80 percent of UST systems, are expected to bear approximately 70 percent of the total costs. Previously deferred tanks—emergency generator tanks, airport hydrant fuels distribution systems, and […]
Recap: What Is Section 8(e)? TSCA Section 8(e) is a single short paragraph that has been the source of widespread confusion since TSCA became law in 1976. Section 8(e) simply states that U.S. chemical manufacturers (including importers), processors, and distributors must notify the EPA within 30 days of obtaining information that reasonably supports the conclusion […]