Law on new underground tanks : interim prohibition on installing unprotected tanks.

B«
Street, S.W.
hington, Dg
Over the last few years, thousands of
underground storage tanks containing
petroleum and hazardous chemicals have begun
to leak into the surrounding soil and
j'roundwater.
Congress recently passed a law requiring that all
:anks newly placed in the ground and intended
to contain petroleum and other hazardous
materials must be designed, constructed, and
installed to prevent leaks. The law states:

"INTERIM PROHIBITION"*

"...no person may install an
underground storage tank for the
purpose of storing regulated substances
unless such tank (whether of single or
double wall construction] —

(A) will prevent releases due to
corrosion or structural failure for the
operational life of the tank,

(B) is cathodically protected against
corrosion, constructed of noncorrosive
material, steel clad with a noncorrosive
material, or designed in a manner to
prevent the release or threatened release
of any stored substance, and

This Interim Prohibition went into effect on May
7, 1985 and will remain in effect until EPA
issues new underground tank standards.
expected in late 1987.
It is important that tank protection last for the
entire operational life of the tank. For this
reason, simple paint or asphalt coatings are not
adequate. A fine of up to $10,000 per day for
each tank can be levied for violation of this
prohibition.

* This prohibition is contained in the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) suctiun 9UO^ (g).
passed in November 1984. It includes old tanks which are
newly installed. Regulated substances include petroleum.
diesel fuel, and other substances defined as hu/ardous in
section 101 (14) of the Comprehensive Knvironmimlal
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 19HO,
except those regulated as hazardous wastes under RCRA.
Exception: The only exception to thn interim prohibition on
installing tanks without corrosion protection is when! soil tnsls
conducted in accordance with th« American Society fur Testing
and Materials (ASTM) Standard C.57-78 show that soil resistivity
where the tank is to be installed is 1 2.UOO ohm-cm or more.
Notification

Owners of new or old underground storage
tanks are required to notify the state in which
the tank is located of the existence of such
tanks, and to provide the tank's age, size, type,
location, and uses by May 8, 1986. Forms
required for notification are available from
designated agencies in each State. (A list of
these agencies can be obtained from EPA
Regional Offices listed below.)
EPA Region 1
JFK Federal Building
Boston. MA 02203
(617)223-6883
Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Maine, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont

EPA Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10007
(212) 264-0504
New Jersey, New York,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Field Component
Caribbean Field Office
P.O Box 792
San Juan, PR 00902
1809) 725-7825

EPA Region 3
6th and Walnut Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 597-0908
Delaware. Maryland.
Pennsylvania, Virginia.
West Virginia. District of Columbia

EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 881-3016
Alabama. Florida. Georgia,
Kentucky. Mississippi.
North Carolina. South
Carolina, Tennessee

EPA Region 5
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-7435
Illinois. Indiana.
Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, Wisconsin
EPA Region 6
1201 Elm Street
Dallas. TX 75270
(214) 767-2645
Arkansas, Louisiana.
New Mexico. Oklahoma,
Texas

EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KA66101
(913) 236-2852
Iowa. Kansas. Missouri.
Nebraska

EPA Region 8
1860 Lincoln Street
Denver. CO 80295
(303)293-1162
Colorada, Montana,
North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

EPA Region 9
215 Freemont Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 974-8119
Arizona, California, Hawaii,
Nevada, American Samoa. Guam.
Trust Territories of the Pacific

EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle. WA 98101
(206) 442-2782
Alaska, Idaho. Oregon,
Washington
(This publication may be reproduced.)

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                                         United States           November
                                         Environmental Protection Agency  1985
                                         Washington DC 20460
                                  I  i -• '   	 -    .    	      —	
                               SERA   The Law on
                                         New
                                         Underground
                                         Tanks

                                         Interim
                                         Prohibition on
                                         Installing
                                         Unprotected
                                         Tanks
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Library, Room 2404 PM-211-A
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC  20460
                                  HW
                                  EPAX'
                                  8608-
                                  0070

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