Fuel Tanks and Seismic Stability

Fuel Tank Seismic Stability

Fuel tank farms provide gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to people in Oregon. However, many tanks in Oregon are vulnerable to earthquakes, which means they present a risk to the local communities and the environment. 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is developing a program that evaluates the vulnerability of fuel tank systems to earthquakes and requires facilities to develop a plan to minimize risk. These rules will apply to facilities managing over two million gallons of fuel in Lane, Multnomah and Columbia counties.  

The facilities' plans will include actions to protect public health, life safety, and environmental safety within the facility, in areas adjacent to the facility and in other areas that may be affected as a result of damages to the facility. The plans must also consider the impacts of a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, the potential consequences of that event and the resources needed to respond. 

DEQ will develop this program in consultation with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, known as DOGAMI, and the Oregon Department of Energy.