EPA looks to strengthen storage tank safety

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new safety requirements for underground storage tanks on Monday, a move it says will protect water sources by preventing potential petroleum leaks.

The rules expand secondary containment requirements — which call for more advanced containment measures at tanks near water sources — for new and replacement tanks. The new rules expand operator training, call for more periodic maintenance on tanks and add more leak prevention and detection technologies, among other measures.

{mosads} “These changes will better protect people’s health and benefit the environment in communities across the country by improving prevention and detection of underground storage tank releases,” said Mathy Stanislaus, the assistant administrator of the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.

The EPA’s rules apply to storage tanks for both marketers — retail facilities like gas stations — and “nonretail facilities” that hold petroleum products for private use, such as cars, trucks or boats. The new rules extend containment and training regulations to storage tanks on tribal lands, as well.

States typically implement storage tank rules, according to the EPA, and many already have the new requirements in place. 

The agency said it worked with storage tank owners and operators to write the new rules and that it “carefully considered the environmental benefits of the [storage tank] requirements, while balancing those with the potential future costs of compliance for … owners and operators.”

“Extensive and meaningful collaboration with our underground storage tank partners and stakeholders was vital to the development of the new regulations,” Stanislaus said.

Tags Environmental Protection Agency

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