Tank Trouble Tuesday

Wondering what’s going on inside your UST?

A TankCam® inspection often happens on a reactionary basis, but an inspection just to check in can reveal useful information, as with the Virginia tank featured below.

Tank Trouble Tuesday

One of the many applications of a TankCam® inspection is identifying unused bungs/ risers in your underground storage tank.

In some cases, a TankCam inspection can help identify problems tank operators weren't aware of, such as the widespread corrosion on the top of this single-walled steel tank containing diesel fuel.

Tank Trouble Tuesday

Though there are many applications of a TankCam® inspection, we frequently carry out inspections to identify the source of a suspected water ingress.

Whether a crack in the tank or a faulty component, a look into the tank can help pinpoint leaks. 

Check out more Tank Trouble Tuesday posts focusing around a water ingress.

Tank Trouble Tuesday

Operators of fueling sites with fiberglass tanks that were installed after the EPA 40 CFR part 280 UST regulations were launched in 1988 are now looking at a tank population that is between 20 and 30 years old.

Age alone cannot determine the state your tank is in. We have found 30 year old steel tanks in good condition, but the 25 year old tank fiberglass tank featured below needed to be removed from service and replaced.

A TankCam® inspection is a great first step, as we recommend in our Aging Fiberglass UST Assessment program. Getting a clear look at what's happening inside these tanks allows you to make an informed decision and take further steps if needed.

Thirty Year Tanks: Missouri Tank Insurance Study

The years immediately following publication of the 1988 federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations saw the replacement of large numbers of leaking and suspect USTs across the U.S. This development was a natural outcome of the regulations’ design, construction, installation and related standards for the nation’s regulated tank systems, as well as the financial accountability requirements imposed on tank owners.

As those once-new tanks approach 30 years of service, owners, installers, contractors, remediation firms and regulators are facing increasingly complicated questions. Are these now-aging tanks still sufficiently protective of human life and the environment? Are they insurable? What, if anything, do manufacturers’ warranties suggest about the tanks’ near- and long-term integrity?

A recent study from the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund (PSTIF) illustrates one state’s attempts to understand and address today’s aging USTs.

The Missouri General Assembly established the PSTIF in 1989 to help the state’s tank owners meet federal and state financial responsibility requirements. In 1992, the PSTIF began offering tank owners insurance coverage for the costs associated with UST leaks and spills.

To help legislators gauge the ongoing need for the program, state law requires that the PSTIF report every two years on the availability and affordability of commercial insurance as an alternative for tank owners to meet their financial responsibility obligations.

The most recent report was released by PSTIF on Jan. 23. The 224-page study reveals that as of June 30, 2017, 50.6 percent (3,406) of the 6,731 USTs insured by the PSTIF are 25 or more years old or of unknown age. The aboveground storage tank (AST) population is only slightly younger: 42.4 percent (1,342) of the 3,162 PSTIF-covered ASTs are 25 or more years old or of unknown age.

Commercial insurers participating in the 2018 study reported they are willing to cover older tanks; however, before doing so, many providers undertake site-specific analyses to help quantify their risks. These steps often include:
• Physical inspection of the tank
• Sophisticated tank integrity tests
• Environmental site assessments
• Review of claims and remediation histories.

Based on these evaluations, the insurers decide whether and on what terms they will insure the tank. When coverage is offered, commercial insurance policies for older tanks often carry higher premiums, higher deductibles or both. In some cases, the insurer will condition coverage on the tank owner’s agreement to undertake maintenance, repair or remediation activities.

Taking all of these findings together, the study’s authors reach two basic conclusions:
1. Commercial insurance likely would be available for all tank owners and operators in the state.
2. That insurance, however, might not be affordable for older tank systems, particularly those with tanks that are 25 or more years old.

Missouri’s conclusions might not be mirrored in every state. But the PSTIF is asking the questions every state will soon have to answer.

PEI TulsaLetter, "Missouri Tank Insurance Study." February 28, 2018, Petroleum Equipment Institute, pei.org.

For more information about the testing of your USTs, visit tanknology.com.