United States       EPA 510-F-95-002
         " Environmental Protection  June 1995
          Agency

          Solid Waste And Emergency Response (5403W) ~
AERA-Don't Wart
          Until 1998

          Brief Facts
 Was your underground storage tank
 installed before December 22, 1988?

 You need to act now to meet a
 deadline in December 1998...
                 Printed on Recycled Paper

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Don't Wait...

Was your underground storage
tank (UST) installed before
December 22, 1988?

If the answer is "yes,"
by December 22,  1998, you must:

•  Upgrade the UST by adding
   spill, overfill, and corrosion
   protection,  OR

•  Replace it with a new UST that
   has spill, overfill, and corrosion
   protection, OR

 »   Properly close the old UST.

 The information that follows will
 help you upgrade, replace, or
 close USTs.

 Remember the deadline:
 December 22,  1998.
 Spill  Protection

 Spills often occur at the fill pipe when
 the delivery truck's hose is disconnected.
 You must add spill protection by
 installing a "spill bucket."  A spill bucket
 is a catchment basin sealed around the

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existing tank from the damage of
corrosion.  You have three choices:

• Add cathodic protection, OR

• Add tank interior lining,  OR

» Combine cathodic protection AND
  tank interior lining.

Cathodic Protection

There are two types of cathodic
protection  and both must be  designed by
corrosion experts. One type, sacrificial
anodes, is  commonly used with new,
steel tanks having corrosion-resistant
coatings. For existing bare metal tanks,
corrosion experts recommend another
type called an "impressed"current
system." This system supplies a
continuous underground electrical
current that protects the UST from
corrosion.

Tank Interior Lining

To protect a tank from corrosion, trained
professionals must empty the tank, clean
the interior to a white metal surface,
check the soundness of the tank, make
any necessary repairs, add a  thick layer
of noncorrodible material, and conduct
follow-up inspections.

Note: Flexible inner liners (bladders) that fit
inside a tank do not meet the tank interior
lining requirements.


Piping

Existing  piping must also be protected
from corrosion. Piping made of (or

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enclosed in) noncorrodible material (such
as fiberglass) meets the corrosion
protection requirements! Existing metal
piping must have cathodic protection,
and new metal piping must have
cathodic protection and a corrosion-
resistant coating.


Replacing USTs

Existing USTs can be replaced only by
properly installing new USTs that have
spill, overfill, and corrosion protection.
Don't forget, all  new and existing USTs
must meet leak detection requirements.


Closing USTs

If USTs are  not closed properly, they can
leak and create problems. You need to
notify the regulatory authority that you
intend to  close your UST. Then make
sure only trained professionals safely and
correctly  close your UST.


Get More Info FREE

EPA has a 16-page booklet available that
provides much more detail on meeting
the 1998 deadline.  You can order this
free booklet by calling EPA's toll-free
Hotline at 800 424-9346 and asking for
Don't Wait  Until 1998: Spill, Overfill,,
And Corrosion Protection For USTs. You
can also use the Hotline to ask questions
about UST  requirements.

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