Options & Costs for 1998 If you are an owner or operator of an underground storage tank (LIST), you may be asking: "What options are available for upgrading, replacing, or closing my UST to meet the 1998 regulatory requirements?" and "How much do these options cost?" To help you answer these questions, the table on the back of this page describes various options and provides estimated costs for equipment and labor. Costs are based on a single UST system. These estimates do not include additional costs such as equipment repair or site cleanup, which may be necessary. We also want you to know that the lowest cost choice may not necessarily be the best choice. You should discuss the options with contractors to find out which choice is right for your facility. EPA's publication, Don't Wait Until 1998, provides information on cathodic protection, corrosion protection options, and spill and overfill protection requirements. For a free copy of this booklet and information on other EPA publications about USTs, call EPA's toll-free RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 800 424-9346. The bullets below highlight some information you should know about protecting metal USTs from corrosion: State and local regulations may be more stringent than the federal regulations. Check with your state agency. Impressed current systems and galvanic anode systems are two ways to protect metal USTs from corrosion by using cathodic protection. These methods are discussed in Don't Wait Until 1998. Combining internal lining and cathodic protection (CP) can provide greater protection than using either alone. Internal lining protects an UST from internal corrosion, but external corrosion can occur. CP properly applied to the exterior of the UST will protect its exterior from corrosion, but internal corrosion can occur. Underground used oil tanks with capacities greater than 110 gallons must be upgraded, replaced, or closed by December 1998. • Internal linings, when used as the sole corrosion protection upgrade, must undergo periodic inspections. The initial inspection must occur within 10 years of lining followed by subsequent inspections at least every 5 years. • If you add cathodic protection to an UST that was lined earlier, you will need to periodically inspect the lined tank and operate and maintain the CP system according to the regulations. However, if you assess the UST to ensure that it is structurally sound and free of corrosion holes before adding the CP, you do not have to inspect the lined tank periodically. ; • Metal piping must be replaced or upgraded with CP. An impressed current system is usually designed so that the metal piping is also protected from corrosion. While it is not practical to add a galvanic anode system to an existing metal UST, it may be practical to add anodes to small portions of metal piping such as flexible connectors. You might use galvanic anodes, for example, if you have a fiberglass tank with steel piping or metal flex connectors. • CP systems need to be operated and maintained in accordance with federal regulations. Regulations require an initial check of the CP system within 6 months of installation and subsequent checks every 3 years to ensure that the CP system is protecting the UST from corrosion. In addition, an impressed current system must be checked every 60 days to ensure that it is operating properly. • Never turn off your impressed current system. Your USTs are not protected from corrosion when this system is off. Here's a tip for saving money during future reinspections of a lined tank: Have a manway installed in the tank at the same time it is lined. The manway will allow entry into the tank for future inspections without repeatedly excavating the top of the tank. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Underground StorageTanks August 1996 ------- Options & Costs for 1998 Costs below are shown as: VL = Less than $200 L = $200-$1,000 M = $1,000-$2,000 H = $2,000 - $5,000 VH = More than $5,000 Please note: Costs are based on a single UST system; costs include only equipment and labor (no continuing maintenance or repair costs); costs may vary widely nationwide; costs were estimated in August 1996 and may change. Action UPGRADE Corrosion Protection Choose 1 -» Spill Protection Overfill Protection Option Cathodic -» Protection (CP) -» Internal Lining -» -> CP & Lining -» (simultaneously) •» -» Spill bucket Choose 1 •> Choice* Integrity Assessment (Choose 1) > Internal inspection >• Statistical method > Remote video camera > Robotic method Installation: > Galvanic anodes (piping) > Impressed current systems Internal Inspection Lining Application Internal Inspection Lining Application Installation: x Galvanic anodes (piping) >- Impressed current systems Spill bucket > Ball float valve > Automatic shutoff device > Overfill alarm Cost M-H M-H L-M M VL-M H M-H M-H M-H M-H VL-M H VL-L VL-L L M-H Required Periodic Actions (cost per action) None None None None Operation and maintenance of corrosion protection None Lining inspections None None Operation and maintenance of corrosion protection None None Cost L L-M L All sites Site check for all tanks L-VH None (assuming no cleanup costs) CLOSE REPLACE AFTER CLOSING** Choose 1 -* >" Closure in-place L-VH None • >• Removal & disposal H-VH • Single-Walled Tank Double-Walled Tank Single-Walled Piping (per tank) Double-Walled Piping (per tank) > Fiberglass > Coated & cathodicaily protected steel >• Clad tank >• Fiberglass >• Coated & cathodicaily protected steel > Clad tank >• Fiberglass > Coated & cathodicaily protected steel >- Fiberglass >- Coated & cathodicaily protected steel H-VH H-VH H-VH VH VH VH L-M L-M M-H M-H None Operation and maintenance of corrosion protection None None None None Operation and maintenance of corrosion protection None None * Not all choices are allowed in all states. ** Spill and overfill protection also required for tanks, as described above. 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