Section 245.542. Containment requirements for above- ground storage tank systems

(a) Containment structures must be compatible with the substance stored and minimize deterioration to the storage tank system.

(b) Containment areas shall be designed, maintained and constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices adhering to Nationally-recognized codes of practice such as NFPA, NACE, ACI or API and in compliance with State and Federal requirements.

(c) Secondary containment under the tank bottom and around underground piping must be designed to direct any release to a monitoring point to meet leak detection requirements. Secondary containment shall be provided on a new tank at installation, and shall be provided on an existing tank at reconstruction or relocation of the tank or when the tank floor is replaced (See API 650 Appendix I). Permeability of the secondary containment must be less than 1 x 10^-7 cm/sec at anticipated hydrostatic head and shall be verified at the time of installation.

(d) Aboveground tanks must have emergency containment structures, such as dike fields, curbing and containment collection systems, which contain releases from overfills, leaks and spills, when a new tank system is installed or at the next out-of-service inspection for existing tank systems as established in § 245.553(d) (relating to out-of-service inspections) or by November 10, 2010, whichever occurs first.

(1) Permeability of newly installed or replacement emergency containment structures must be less than 1 x 10^-6 cm/sec at anticipated hydrostatic head and be of sufficient thickness to prevent the released substance from penetrating the containment structure for a minimum of 72 hours, and until the release can be detected and recovered.

(2) Emergency containment structures for existing aboveground storage tanks must meet one of the following standards by November 10, 2010, or at the next out-of-service inspection, prior to the tank being placed back into service, whichever occurs first:

(i) The standards for new emergency containment structures for aboveground storage tanks in paragraph (1).

(ii) Verification by a professional engineer that the emergency containment structure, coupled with the tank monitoring program and response plan, is capable of detecting and recovering a release and is designed to prevent contamination of the waters of this Commonwealth. Verification may be conducted in a manner consistent with the Department’s technical document entitled ‘‘Verification of Emergency Containment Structures for Aboveground Storage Tanks’’ or in a manner at least as protective of public health and safety and the environment and which meets all statutory and regulatory requirements. Verification of earthen structures should include determination of the containment structure permeability following Nationally-recognized testing methods such as ASTM Methods and Engineering Standards Listed in API Publication 351.

(3) Verification of the containment structure is valid until conditions at the site, monitoring program, response plan or procedures change.

(4) Transfers of regulated substances to a tank within the emergency containment shall be monitored by designated personnel for the duration of the transfer.

(e) Emergency containment areas, such as dike fields, must be able to contain 110% of the capacity of the largest tank in the containment area.

(f) Stormwater shall be removed from the emergency containment area as soon as possible or when the water is in contact with the tank or piping and prior to the capacity of containment being reduced by 10% or more. Manually operated pumps or siphons and manually operated gravity drains may be used to empty the containment. If drain valves are used they shall be secured in the closed position when not in use. Discharge or disposal of substances from the containment structure must comply with applicable State and Federal requirements.

The provisions of this § 245.542 amended November 9, 2007, effective November 10, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 5979. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (234760) to (234761).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 245.521 (relating to performance standards for aboveground storage tanks); 25 Pa. Code § 245.552 (relating to in-service inspections); and 25 Pa. Code § 245.553 (relating to out-of-service inspections).