New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 14B - UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
Subchapter 4 - UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK SYSTEMS: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION
Section 7:14B-4.1 - Performance standards for underground storage tank systems

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 7:14B-4.1

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 6, March 17, 2025

(a) Owners and operators of underground storage tank systems which are installed on or after September 4, 1990, shall obtain a permit in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-10 before installation and ensure that the systems meet the following performance standards:

1. Each tank shall be properly designed and constructed, and any portion underground that routinely contains product shall be protected from corrosion, in accordance with a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory as specified below:
i. The tank shall be constructed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic;

ii. The tank shall be constructed of steel and cathodically protected in the following manner:
(1) The tank shall be coated with a suitable dielectric material;

(2) Field-installed cathodic protection systems shall be designed by a Cathodic Protection Specialist certified in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-13. The design shall be based upon data collected onsite by a Cathodic Protection Specialist or Cathodic Protection Tester certified in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-13;

(3) Impressed current systems shall be designed to allow determination of current operating status as required in N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.2(a)3; and

(4) Cathodic protection systems shall be operated and maintained in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.2;

iii. The tank shall be constructed of a steel-fiberglass-reinforced-plastic composite;

iv. The tank shall be constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures provided that:
(1) The tank is installed at a site that is determined by a Department certified Cathodic Protection Specialist not to be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life; and

(2) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with the requirements of (a)1iv(1) above for the remaining life of the tank;

v. Except as set forth in (a)1v(1) below, each tank for which installation begins on or after April 11, 2016, shall be designed and constructed with secondary containment and interstitial monitoring in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-6.5(a) 7, such that in the event of a primary containment breach the secondary containment shall contain regulated substances until they are detected and removed. Secondary containment shall prevent the release of regulated substances to the environment at all times during the operational life of the tank.
(1) The provisions of (a)1v above shall apply to a regulated heating oil tank system for which installation begins on or after July 15, 2018.

vi. For each tank installed prior to January 16, 2018, that has secondary containment and is performing interstitial monitoring as of January 16, 2018, shall maintain interstitial monitoring at all times during the operational life of the tank.

2. The piping, including metallic swing joints and metallic flex connectors, that routinely contains regulated substances and is in contact with the ground shall be properly designed, constructed, and protected from corrosion in accordance with a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory as specified below:
i. The piping shall be constructed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic;

ii. The piping shall be constructed of metal and cathodically protected in the following manner:
(1) The piping shall be coated with a suitable dielectric material;

(2) Field-installed cathodic protection systems shall be designed by a person certified as a Cathodic Protection Specialist pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:14B-13;

(3) Impressed current systems shall be designed to allow determination of current operating status as required in N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.2(a)3; and

(4) Cathodic protection systems shall be operated and maintained in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.2;

iii. The piping shall be constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures provided that:
(1) The piping is installed at a site that is determined by a Department certified Cathodic Protection Specialist to not be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life; and

(2) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with the requirements of (a)2iii(1) above for the remaining life of the piping; and

iv. Except as set forth in (a)2iv(1) below, all new or replaced piping for which installation begins on or after April 11, 2016, except suction piping that meets the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:14B-6.2(a) 2ii(1) through (5) and piping associated with field-constructed tanks greater than 50,000 gallons or airport hydrant systems, shall be designed, constructed, and installed with secondary containment and interstitial monitoring in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-6.5(a)7, such that in the event of a primary containment breach, the secondary containment shall contain the regulated substances until they are detected and removed. Secondary containment shall prevent the release of regulated substances to the environment at all times during the operational life of the UST system.
(1) For a regulated heating oil tank system, the provisions of (a)2iv above shall apply to new or replaced piping for which installation begins on or after July 15, 2018.

v. For piping installed prior to January 16, 2018, that has secondary containment and performing interstitial monitoring as of January 16, 2018, shall maintain interstitial monitoring at all times during the operational life of the piping.

3. Except as provided in (a) 3iv and v below, to prevent spilling and overfilling associated with product transfer to the underground storage tank system, owners and operators shall use the following:
i. Spill prevention equipment that shall prevent release of product to the environment when the transfer hose is detached from the fill pipe (for example, a spill catchment basin);

ii. Overfill prevention equipment, compatible with the delivery method used to fill the tank, that shall:
(1) Automatically shut off flow into the tank when the tank is no more than 95 percent full;

(2) Alert the transfer operator when the tank is no more than 90 percent full by restricting the flow into the tank or triggering a high-level alarm; or

(3) Restrict flow 30 minutes prior to overfilling, alert the operator with a high level alarm one minute before overfilling, or automatically shut off flow into the tank so that none of the fittings located on top of the tank are exposed to product due to overfilling; and

iii. Spill and overfill prevention equipment tested or inspected in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.10.

iv. Flow restrictors in vent lines shall not be used to comply with (a)3ii above when overfill prevention equipment is installed or replaced after October 13, 2015, or the date provided at 40 CFR 280.20, whichever is later.

v. Owners and operators are not required to use the spill and overfill prevention equipment specified in (a)3i, ii, and iii above if the underground storage tank system is filled by transfers of no more than 25 gallons at one time.

i. Spill prevention equipment that shall prevent release of product to the environment when the transfer hose is detached from the fill pipe (for example, a spill catchment basin); and

4. The UST system shall be properly installed in accordance with a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

5. All owners and operators shall ensure that the following methods of certification or inspection are used to demonstrate compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-4.1(a)4 by maintaining documents in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.6.
i. The installer has been certified by the tank and piping manufacturers;

ii. The installer has been certified by the Department in the category of Entire System Installation in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-13;

iii. All work listed in the manufacturer's installation checklists has been completed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:14B-5.6; and

iv. Owners and operators of an UST system installed after January 16, 2018, shall obtain a certification by the UST system installer on the New Jersey Underground Storage Tank Facility Certification Questionnaire, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:14B-2.2(h).

(b) All underground storage tank systems installed on or after September 4, 1990, within wellhead protection areas as defined in N.J.A.C. 7:14B-1.6 shall be secondarily contained and monitored in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:14B-6.4(a)2.

(c) All new underground storage tank systems using monitoring systems such as vapor or liquid sensors and discharge detection observation wells which use screen and casing and which are being placed in the excavation area during installation of the tank system shall obtain a well permit as specified in the Subsurface and Percolating Waters Act, N.J.S.A. 58:4A-4.1 et seq., unless the wells are constructed in the following manner:

1. Screen and casing materials shall be compatible with the substances stored in the underground storage tank system so as not to preclude the use of the monitoring system;

2. Solid casing shall extend at least two feet below the surface. Glue shall not be used to attach screen to casing. The casing shall be grouted with at least two feet of neat cement to protect against surface infiltration. Screens shall be capped at the bottom;

3. All monitoring systems using screen and casing shall have protective coverings at the surface. Grade level access ports shall be four inches greater in diameter than the casing, watertight and strong enough to withstand the anticipated traffic load. For casing that extends above grade, a protective outer casing at least four inches greater in diameter than that of the inner casing shall be used. The protective coverings shall be seated in neat cement;

4. The top of the screen shall be located at least two feet above the seasonal high water table and five feet into the water table for ground water observation wells;

5. The innermost casing or cap shall be perforated with one hole to allow for venting; and

6. The screen shall be designed to minimize migration of natural soils or filter pack in the well.

(d) The owner and operator of a proposed monitoring system which uses screen and casing and is not in conformance with (c) above shall comply with N.J.S.A. 58:4A-4.1 et seq., the Subsurface and Percolating Water Act.

(e) The following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)1i above:

1. Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1316, "Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Underground Storage Tanks for Petroleum Products, Alcohols, and Alcohol-Gasoline Mixtures" (available at www.UL.com); or

2. Underwriters Laboratories of Canada ULC-S615, "Standard for Fibre Reinforced Plastic Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids" (available at canada.UL.com).

(f) The following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)1ii:

1. Steel Tank Institute "sti-P3(R) Specification and Manual for External Corrosion Protection of Underground Steel Storage Tanks" (available at www.steeltank.com);

2. Underwriters Laboratories of Canada ULC-S603, "Standard for Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids"; ULC-S603.1, "External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids"; and ULC-S631, "Standard for Isolating Bushings for Steel Underground Tanks Protected with External Corrosion Protection Systems";

3. NACE International Standard Practice SP 0285, "External Corrosion Control of Underground Storage Tank Systems by Cathodic Protection," (available at www.NACE.org) and Underwriters Laboratories Standard 58, "Standard for Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids" (available at www.UL.com);

4. Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1746, "Standard for External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Storage Tanks" (available at www.UL.com); or

5. Steel Tank Institute Standard F841, "Standard for Dual Wall Underground Steel Storage Tanks" (available at www.steeltank.com).

(g) The following codes and standards, as applicable, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)1iii above:

1. Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1746, "External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Storage Tanks" (available at www.UL.com);

2. Steel Tank Institute ACT-100R Specification F894, "Specification for External Corrosion Protection of FRP Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks" (available at www.steeltank.com);

3. Steel Tank Institute ACT-100-UR Specification F961, "Specification for External Corrosion Protection of Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks" (available at www.steeltank.com); or

4. Steel Tank Institute Specification F922, "Steel Tank Institute Specification for Permatank(R)" (available at www.steeltank.com).

(h) The following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)2i above:

1. Underwriters Laboratories Standard 971, "Non-Metallic Underground Piping for Flammable Liquids" (available at www.UL.com);

2. Underwriters Laboratories Standard 567, "Pipe Connectors for Petroleum Products and LP Gas" (available at www.UL.com); or

3. Underwriters Laboratories of Canada Standard S660, "Standard for Nonmetallic Underground Piping for Flammable and Combustible Liquids" (available at canada.UL.com).

(i) The following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)2ii above:

1. National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code" (obtained from: P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101);

2. American Petroleum Institute Publication 1615, "Installation of Underground Storage Petroleum Systems" (obtained from Global Engineering Documents at 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, Colorado 80122);

3. American Petroleum Institute Publication 1632, "Cathodic Protection of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks and Piping Systems" (available at www.api.org);

4. NACE International Standard Practice SP 0169, "Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems" (available at www.NACE.org);

5. Underwriters Laboratories Subject 971A, "Outline of Investigation for Metallic Underground Fuel Pipe" (available at www.UL.com);

6. Steel Tank Institute Recommended Practice R892, "Recommended Practice for Corrosion Protection of Underground Piping Networks Associated with Liquid Storage and Dispensing Systems" (available at www.steeltank.com); or

7. NACE International Standard Practice SP 0285, "External Corrosion Control of Underground Storage Tank Systems by Cathodic Protection" (available at www.NACE.org).

(j) The following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)2iii above:

1. National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code"; or

2. NACE International Standard Practice SP 0169, "Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems" (available at www.NACE.org).

(k) The UST system installation practices and procedures described in the following codes and standards, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented, shall be used to comply with (a)4 above:

1. American Petroleum Institute Publication 1615, "Installation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems" (available at www.api.org);

2. Petroleum Equipment Institute Publication RP100, "Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems" (available at www.pei.org);

3. American National Standards Institute Standard B31.3, "Process Piping," and American National Standards Institute Standard B31.4, "Liquid Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons, Liquid Petroleum Gas, Anhydrous Ammonia and Alcohols" (available at global.ihs.com); or

4. National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code" and Standard 30A, "Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages" (available at www.nfpa.org).

(l) No underground storage system shall be installed:

1. Within 50 feet of a public community supply system well, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:10-11.4(b)2; and

2. Within 50 feet of a nonpublic community supply system well.

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