A First-Time Permittee and/or Tank Owner Service Offered by DEQ
Underground storage tanks systems can be compared to complex machines consisting of one or more tanks, connected piping, pumps, valves, dispensers, monitoring devices, sensors, alarms, line leak detectors, etc. Some of the equipment is still mechanical in nature, however, most of the new monitoring devices are electronic (computers chips everywhere!).
UST system components are subject to internal and external corrosion, normal wear and tear from frequent use, deterioration due to old age, damage due to extreme weather conditions and damage due to accidents or misuse.
As a first-time permittee or tank owner of an UST system, who can you turn to for help in operating and maintaining your UST systems? Help may be available from the equipment suppliers and manufacturers. These firms may have experts available by phone or through the Internet to answer questions or to provide copies of technical documents, including operating manuals.
Help may also be available from contractors licensed by DEQ as service providers who specialize in installing, testing and decommissioning of UST systems. Supervisors in these firms have demonstrated a basic level of expertise by passing national exams testing their knowledge on UST systems and UST rules. Most have also received equipment training from manufacturers. Lists of these service providers and supervisors are available from DEQ upon request.
A final group of knowledgeable people are DEQ’s UST inspectors. Over the last 11 years most active UST systems have been inspected at least twice by DEQ’s UST inspectors. As such, the inspectors have seen a wide variety of tanks, piping and monitoring devices. They’ve heard from permittees just like you about the many problems that crop up daily to keep these complex systems running at peak condition while preventing releases to soil, groundwater or streams.
DEQ has the authority to assess civil penalties for violations of its regulations. As a first-time permittee or tank owner of an UST system, we are offering you an opportunity for an UST technical assistance inspection. Our goal in offering this UST TA inspection is to build a working relationship with you as a first-time permittee or tank owner of an UST system without the threat of penalties for violations at your facility. DEQ will schedule an inspection at your facility. You must be able to actively participate in the inspection. You will then receive a post-inspection report detailing items that need to be corrected.
We want you to look to DEQ as one of the resources available when you have questions about your UST system.