Section 245.421. Performance standards for underground storage tank systems

(a) New underground storage tank systems.

(1) Underground storage tank systems installed or replaced after November 10, 2007, must have total secondary containment, which consists of double-walled tanks, double-walled piping (for piping that routinely contains and conveys regulated substances (product)) and liquid-tight containment sumps. The sumps must be installed at piping connections that routinely contain and convey product from the tank, such as tank-top sumps and dispenser pan sumps, that allow for release detection monitoring of the system (See PEI RP 100). Also, new or replacement tank systems installed with pressurized product piping systems must be equipped with automatic line leak detectors and automatic pump shutoff devices that meet the requirements of § 245.445(1) (relating to methods of release detection for piping).

(2) At least 30 days prior to the installation of a new or replacement tank or underground storage tank system installed after January 9, 2008, or within another reasonable time agreed upon by the Department, owners and operators shall notify the Department of the proposed installation on a form provided by the Department.

(3) An owner or operator of a tank system changing from unregulated to regulated service shall provide certification by a Department-certified installer or inspector that the tank system meets new tank system requirements, using the registration form (See § 245.41 (relating to tank registration requirements)) prior to placing product into the tank and operating the storage tank system.

(b) To prevent releases due to structural failure, corrosion or spills and overfills for as long as the underground storage tank system is used to store regulated substances, owners and operators of new and existing underground storage tank systems shall ensure that the system meets the following requirements:

(1) Tanks. A tank must be properly designed and constructed. A tank or portion of a tank including the outer metallic wall of a double-walled tank that is underground and routinely contains product shall be protected from corrosion in accordance with a code of practice developed by a Nationally-recognized association or independent testing laboratory, using one of the following methods:

(i) The tank is constructed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

(ii) The tank is constructed of steel and cathodically protected in the following manner:

(A) The tank is coated with a suitable dielectric material.

(B) Field-installed cathodic protection systems are designed by a corrosion expert.

(C) Impressed current systems are designed by a corrosion expert and allow determination of current operating status as required in § 245.432(a)(3) (relating to operation and maintenance including corrosion protection).

(D) Cathodic protection systems are operated and maintained in accordance with § 245.432.

(iii) The tank is constructed of a steel-fiberglass-reinforced-plastic composite.

(iv) The tank is constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures if:

(A) The tank is installed at a site that is determined by a corrosion expert not to be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life.

(B) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with clause (A) for the remaining life of the tank.

(2) Piping. The piping and ancillary equipment that routinely contain regulated substances shall be protected from corrosion and deterioration. New piping systems that routinely contain and convey regulated substances from the tank must be double-walled with liquid-tight containment sumps and dispenser pan sumps installed in accordance with paragraph (4)(ii). Whenever more than 50% of the existing piping that routinely contains and conveys product from the tank is replaced, the entire piping system that routinely contains and conveys product from the tank shall be replaced meeting the requirements for new piping systems in this subsection. The portions of the product piping system, including joints, flexible connectors and ancillary equipment that are in contact with the ground must be properly designed, constructed and protected from corrosion in accordance with a code of practice developed by a Nationally-recognized association or independent testing laboratory using one of the following methods:

(i) The piping or component is constructed of nonmetallic material such as fiberglass reinforced plastic or other noncorrodible and UL listed material.

(ii) The piping or component is constructed of metal and cathodically protected in the following manner:

(A) The piping is coated with a suitable dielectric material. The wrapping of piping with tape or similar material alone does not meet this requirement.

(B) Field-installed cathodic protection systems are designed by a corrosion expert.

(C) Impressed current systems are designed by a corrosion expert and allow determination of current operating status as required in § 245.432(a)(3).

(D) Cathodic protection systems are operated and maintained in accordance with § 245.432.

(iii) The piping is constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures if:

(A) The piping is installed at a site that is determined by a corrosion expert to not be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life.

(B) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with clause (A) for the remaining life of the piping.

(3) Spill and overfill prevention equipment.

(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (iv), to prevent spilling and overfilling associated with product transfer to the underground storage tank system, owners and operators shall ensure that their systems have the following spill and overfill prevention equipment:

(A) Spill prevention equipment that will prevent release of product to the environment when the transfer hose is detached from the fill pipe—for example, a spill catchment basin or spill containment bucket.

(B) Overfill prevention equipment that will do one or more of the following:

(I) Automatically shut off flow into the tank when the tank is no more than 95% full.

(II) Alert the transfer operator when the tank is no more than 90% full by restricting the flow into the tank or triggering a high-level alarm.

(III) Restrict flow 30 minutes prior to overfilling, alert the operator with a high level alarm 1 minute before overfilling, or automatically shut off flow into the tank so that none of the fittings located on top of the tank are exposed to product due to overfilling.

(ii) Bypassing overfill protection is prohibited for example, bypassing the flow vent valve with coax vapor recovery or a spill bucket drain valve is prohibited.

(iii) Ball float valves may not be used on suction pump systems having an air eliminator, or on any system having coaxial stage-1 vapor recovery systems or receiving pressurized pump deliveries.

(iv) Owners and operators are not required to use the spill and overfill prevention equipment specified in subparagraph (i) if the underground storage tank system is filled by transfers of no more than 25 gallons at one time.

(4) Installation.

(i) Tanks and piping shall be properly installed and system integrity tested in accordance with a code of practice developed by a Nationally-recognized association or independent testing laboratory such as API 1615 and PEI RP100, and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

(ii) Newly installed spill containment buckets, tank-top sumps, dispenser pans and containment sumps must be constructed to be liquid-tight, and shall be tested prior to use of the system to confirm liquid-tight construction using a hydrostatic test, vacuum test or other Nationally- recognized liquid-tight testing procedure or method recommended by the containment equipment manufacturer.

(iii) Overfill prevention equipment shall be properly installed and tested in accordance with a code of practice developed by a Nationally-recognized association, and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. When ball float valves are used, the valve shall be installed with extractor fitting and ball floats must be readily accessible (not requiring excavation) for removal and operational verification.

(c) Certification of installation. Owners and operators shall ensure that a certified installer has installed the tank system by providing a certification of compliance on an appropriate form provided by the Department.

The provisions of this § 245.421 amended November 9, 2007, effective November 10, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 5979. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (234724) to (234726).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 245.403 (relating to applicability); 25 Pa. Code § 245.422 (relating to upgrading of existing underground storage tank systems); 25 Pa. Code § 245.423 (relating to registration requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 245.425 (relating to reuse of removed tanks); 25 Pa. Code § 245.434 (relating to repairs allowed); 25 Pa. Code § 245.435 (relating to reporting and recordkeeping); 25 Pa. Code § 245.442 (relating to requirements for petroleum underground storage tank systems); 25 Pa. Code § 245.445 (relating to methods of release detection for piping); and 25 Pa. Code § 245.451 (relating to temporary closure).