EPA releases long-awaited updated UST regulations

The long-awaited update to the Federal EPA Underground Storage Tank Regulation was released today.  These revisions are the first updates to the federal requirements since they were first implemented 27 years ago, in 1988.

The EPA says the purpose of the updates are to increase emphasis on proper operation and maintenance of UST equipment and to further help prevent and detect UST releases – a leading source of groundwater contamination. An additional objective is to ensure all USTs in the US, including those in Indian country, meet the same standards.

Here are links to key web pages and documents on the EPA Office of Underground Storage Tank (OUST) website:

Comparison of the 2015 regulations and the original 1988 regulations

2015 Update to EPA overview document Musts for USTs

Home page with overview and links to all related documents currently available

Watch our blog for further updates and analysis on what these regulatory changes will mean to you.

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EPA to provide status of updated UST rules at national tank conference next week in Virginia

PEI is quoted as predicting that the release of the new Federal regulations governing the inspection, testing, operation and maintenance of UST Systems is expected within the next three weeks. Coincidentally, representatives of the EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) will be providing an update on the status of these new rules at an industry conference happening next week in Alexandria, Virginia.

This is only part of what is sure to be a very interesting day at the second annual NISTM National
Underground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show next Tuesday, June 9 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA.

Tanknology will exhibit as this event, and Brian Derge, Chief Operating Officer of Inspection Services, will again be a featured speaker.

This NISTM event brings together UST owners and operators with equipment manufacturers, environmental consultants, industry specialists, as well as federal state and local UST regulators, for a full day of information sharing and technical discussions on such topics as:

• Corrosion issues
• Release detection
• Alternative fuels
• Fuel quality - new diesel fuel standards
• Managing operations issues
• System component testing
• Remediation
• Industry and technology best practices and trends. 

To learn more or register for the conference you can do so here.