United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
(OS-420 WF)
EPA510-F-93-003
April 1993
4>EPA UST Program Facts
Preventing Leaks:
Technical Regulations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regulations
EPA designed the technical regulations for
underground storage tanks (USTs) to reduce
the chance of releases from USTs, increase
the likelihood of finding releases quickly
when they do occur, and secure prompt
cleanup. Owners and operators are
responsible for detecting, stopping, and
cleaning up leaks and spills.
Leak prevention for new USTs (installed
after 1988)
USTs installed after December 1988 must be
fiberglass-reinforced plastic, corrosion-
protected steel, or a composite, and must be
designed, constructed, and installed in
accordance with a national code of practice.
All of these types of systems are protected
against corrosion, which lessens the chance
of leaks. Piping also must be protected.
Upgrading existing USTs (installed before
1988)
Before EPA regulations were issued, most
tanks were not equipped with release
prevention or detection features. Now, EPA
regulations require that, by 1998, all tanks
must be protected against corrosion (for
steel tanks and piping) and equipped with
devices that prevent spills and overfills.
Older tanks must be replaced or upgraded
by fitting them with corrosion protection and
spill and overfill prevention devices to bring
them up to new-tank standards.
Under the compliance schedule (see
chart), all existing UST systems must
meet the standards for new tanks, be
closed in accordance with regulations, or
be upgraded with the following features
by 1998:
Corrosion protection. Three
methods are used. One technique
is to line the inside of the tank
with a corrosion-resistant
fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
Another technique is to use
cathodic protection, that is, a
technique that involves reversing
the electric current that causes
corrosion by using either
sacrificial anodes or impressed
electrical current. A third
technique is to combine a
fiberglass-reinforced plastic lining
with cathodic protection. Piping
must also be protected.
• Spill and overfill prevention.
Technologies include a spill
containment device combined
with either an automatic flow
shut-off device to stop product
flow during delivery, or an
overfill alarm.
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Closure of existing USTs
To close a tank permanently, an owner or
operator must:
Notify the regulatory authority 30
days before closing,
• Determine if the tank has leaked and
damaged the environment and, if so,
take appropriate notification and
corrective actions,
Empty and clean the UST
according to standard safety
practices, and
Remove the UST from the
ground or leave the UST in the
ground but fill it with an inert
solid material.
Leak Prevention Requirements for USTs
Type of Tank
or Piping
Corrosion Protection
Requirements
Spill/Overfill Prevention
Requirements
Deadlines
New tanks (installed
after December 1988)
Coated and cathodically
protected steel or
fiberglass or steel tank
clad with fiberglass
Existing tanks
Same options as for new
tanks plus cathodic
protection system or
interior lining or both
New piping (installed
after December 1988)
Coated and cathodically
protected steel or
fiberglass*
Existing piping
Same options as for new
piping or cathodically
protected steel
At installation
December 1998
Catchment basins and
either automatic shutoff
devices or overfill alarms
At installation
Corrosion protection
deadline for all piping is
December 1998
*Or others determined by the implementing agency to be no less protective.
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Reporting and record-keeping
requirements for all tanks
UST owners must notify state or local
authorities of the existence of an UST
and its leak prevention and leak detection
measures, or of the permanent closure of
an UST. Technical regulations also set
guidelines for notifying authorities of
leaks of any size or spills of more than
25 gallons.
Owners and operators must also keep
records on:
• Inspection results for the cathodic
protection system, if one is used,
Repairs or upgrades, and
Site assessment results after
permanent closure, which must
be kept for at least three years.
State financial assistance funds
The cost of complying with prevention
and other requirements will be a burden
to some owners and operators, especially
those with older tanks. Seventeen states
have established financial assistance
programs that serve to mitigate the
overall economic impact of the UST
regulatory program. These assistance
programs provide funds or low-interest
loans to help owners upgrade or replace
their tanks.
Preventing Leaks: Technical Regulations is one
in a series of fact sheets about underground
storage tanks (USTs) and leaking USTs. The
series is designed to help EPA, other federal
officials, and state authorities answer the most
frequently asked questions about USTs with
consistent, accurate information in language the
layperson can understand. Keep the fact sheets
handy as a resource. This fact sheet addresses
federal regulations. You may need to refer to
applicable state or local regulations, as well.
For more information on UST publications, call
the RCRAlSuperfund Hotline at 800 424-9346.
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