Ohio Administrative Code
Title 1301:7 - Division of State Fire Marshal
Chapter 1301:7-9 - Underground Storage Tanks
Section 1301:7-9-02 - Definitions

(1) "Accredited laboratory" means a laboratory accredited to perform laboratory analyses as outlined in this chapter of the Administrative Code using prescribed United States environmental protection agency test methods through one of the following programs:

(2) "Airport hydrant fuel distribution system (also called airport hydrant system)" means an UST system which fuels aircraft and operates under high pressure with large diameter piping that typically terminates into one or more hydrants (fill stands). The airport hydrant system begins where fuel enters one or more tanks from an external source such as a pipeline, barge, rail car, or other motor fuel carrier.

(3) "Ancillary equipment" means any devices including, without limitation, such devices as piping, fittings, flanges, valves, and pumps used to distribute, meter, or control the flow of regulated substances to and from an UST.

(4) "Beneath the surface of the ground" means beneath the ground surface or otherwise covered with earthen materials.

(5) "Cathodic protection" is a technique to prevent corrosion of a metal surface by making that surface the cathode of an electrochemical cell. An UST system can be cathodically protected, without limitation, through the application of either galvanic anodes or impressed current.

(6) "Cathodic protection tester" means a person who can demonstrate an understanding of the principles and measurements of all common types of cathodic protection systems as applied to buried or submerged metal piping and UST systems. At a minimum, such persons shall have education and experience in soil resistivity, stray current, structure-to-soil potential, and component electrical isolation measurements of buried metal piping and UST systems.

(7) "Certified installer" or "installer" means an individual certified by the state fire marshal under the requirements of rule 1301:7-9-11 of the Administrative Code to supervise the installation of, performance of major repairs on site to, closurein-place of, removal of, performance of modifications of, placing out of service for more than ninety days of, or the change in service of UST systems.

(8) "Certified UST inspector" means an individual certified by the state fire marshal under the requirements of rule 1301:7-9-15 of the Administrative Code to inspect the installation of, performance of major repairs on site to, closure-in-place of, removal of, performance of modifications of, placing out of service for more than ninety days of, or the change in service of UST systems.

(9) "Change in service" means a change in the substances managed in the UST system from regulated substances to non-regulated substances, without closure in place or permanent removal of the UST system.

(10) "Change of product" means a change in the substances stored in the UST system from one regulated substance to another regulated substance containing greater than ten percent ethanol or containing greater than twenty per cent biodiesel.

(11) "Closure-in-place" or "close-in-place" means the abandonment of an UST system by permanently taking an UST system out of service but not out of the ground in compliance with this chapter of the Administrative Code.

(12) "Compatible" means the ability of two or more substances to maintain their respective physical and chemical properties upon contact with one another for the design life of the UST system under conditions likely to be encountered in the UST.

(13) "Connected piping" means all underground piping including valves, elbows, joints, flanges, and flexible connectors attached to an UST system through which regulated substances flow. For the purpose of determining how much piping is connected to any individual UST system, the piping that joins two UST systems should be allocated equally between them.

(14) "Consumptive use" with respect to heating fuel means consumed on the premises.

(15) "Containment sump" means a liquid-tight container that protects the environment by containing leaks and spills of regulated substances from piping, dispensers, pumps and related components in the containment area. Containment sumps may be single walled or secondarily contained and located at the top of tank (tank top or submersible turbine pump sump), underneath the dispenser (under-dispenser containment sump), or at other points in the piping run (transition or intermediate sump).

(16) "Corrective action" means any action necessary to protect human health and the environment in the event of a release of petroleum into the environment, including, without limitation, any action necessary to monitor, assess, and evaluate the release. In the instance of a suspected release, the term includes, without limitation, an investigation to confirm or disprove the occurrence of the release. In the instance of a confirmed release, the term includes, without limitation, the initial corrective action taken under section 3737.88 or 3737.882 of the Revised Code, or orders issued under those sections, and any initial corrective action taken under this chapter of the Administrative Code and any action taken consistent with a remedial action to clean up contaminated groundwater, surface water, soils, and subsurface material and to address the residual effects of a release after the initial corrective action is taken.

(17) "Corrosion expert" means a person who, by reason of thorough knowledge of the physical sciences and the principles of engineering and mathematics acquired by a professional education and related practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of corrosion control on buried or submerged metal piping systems and metal tanks. Such a person shall be accredited or certified as being qualified by the national association of corrosion engineers or be a registered professional engineer who has certification or licensing that includes education and experience in corrosion control of buried or submerged metal piping systems and metal tanks.

(18) "Dielectric material" means a material that does not conduct direct electrical current. Dielectric coatings are used to electrically isolate UST systems from the surrounding soils. Dielectric bushings are used to electrically isolate portions of the UST system.

(19) "Electrical equipment" means underground equipment that contains dielectric fluid that is necessary for the operation of equipment such as transformers and buried electrical cable.

(20) "Excavation zone" means the volume containing the UST system and backfill material bounded by the ground surface, walls, and floor of the pit and trenches into which the UST system is placed at the time of installation.

(21) "Existing UST system" means an UST system used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances or for which installation has commenced on or before the effective date of this rule. Installation is considered to have commenced if:

(22) "Farm tank" is a tank located on a tract of land devoted to the production of crops or raising animals, including fish, and associated residences and improvements. A farm tank shall be located on the farm property. "Farm" includes fish hatcheries, rangeland and nurseries with growing operations.

(23) "Field-constructed tank" means an UST constructed on site in the field, such as an UST constructed of concrete that is poured in the field, or a steel or fiberglass UST primarily fabricated in the field.

(24) "Flow-through process tank" is a tank that forms an integral part of a production process through which there is a steady, variable, recurring, or intermittent flow of materials during the operation of the process. Flow-through process tanks do not include tanks used for the storage of materials prior to their introduction into the production process or for the storage of finished products or by-products from the production process.

(25) "Free product" means a separate liquid hydrocarbon phase that has a measured thickness of greater than one one-hundredth of a foot.

(26) "Gathering lines" means any pipeline, equipment, facility, or building used in the transportation of oil or gas during oil or gas production or gathering operations.

(27) "Hazardous substance" means any substance listed in rule 1301:7-9-03 of the Administrative Code, but not including any substance regulated as a hazardous waste under Chapters 3745-50 to 3745-69 of the Administrative Code, or any mixture of such substance and petroleum which is not contained in a petroleum UST system.

(28) "Hazardous substance UST system" means an underground storage tank system that contains a hazardous substance.

(29) "Heating fuel" means petroleum that is No. 1, No 2, No. 4-light, No. 4-heavy, No. 5-light, No. 5-heavy, and No. 6 technical grades of fuel oil; other residual fuel oils including, without limitation, Navy Special Fuel Oil and Bunker C; and other fuels when used as substitutes for one of these fuel oils. Heating fuel is typically used in the operation of heating equipment, boilers, or furnaces.

(30) "Hydraulic lift tank" means a tank holding hydraulic fluid for a closed-loop mechanical system that uses compressed air or hydraulic fluid to operate lifts, elevators, and other similar devices.

(31) "Liquid trap" means sumps, well cellars, and other traps used in association with oil and gas production, gathering, and extraction operations including gas production plants, for the purpose of collecting oil, water, and other liquids. These liquid traps may temporarily collect liquids for subsequent disposition or reinjection into a production or pipeline stream, or may collect and separate liquids from a gas stream.

(32) "Maintenance" means the normal operational upkeep to prevent an underground storage tank system from releasing product.

(33) "Major repair" means the restoration of a tank or an underground storage tank system component that has caused a release of a product from the underground storage tank system. "Major repair" does not include modifications, upgrades, or routine maintenance for normal operational upkeep to prevent an underground storage tank system from releasing a product.

(34) "Modification" means work performed on UST system components that have not leaked such as adding, altering, replacing, or retrofitting the following:

(35) "Motor fuel" means a complex blend of hydrocarbons typically used in the operation of a motor engine, such as motor gasoline, aviation gasoline, racing fuel, No. 1 or No. 2 diesel fuel, or any blend containing one or more of these substances (for example, motor gasoline blended with alcohol.).

(36) "Native soils" means any soil or other materials outside of the backfill material used at the time of the original installation of the UST system.

(37) "New UST system" means an UST system that will be used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances and for which installation has commenced after the effective date of this rule.

(38) "Noncommercial purposes" with respect to motor fuel means not for resale.

(39) "On the premises where stored" with respect to heating oil means UST systems located on the same property where the stored heating oil is used.

(40) "Operational life" refers to the period beginning when installation of the UST system has commenced until the time the UST system is properly closed under this chapter.

(41) "Operator" means the person in daily control of, or having responsibility for the daily operation of, the UST system.

(42) "Out of service" means the normal operation and use of the UST system or any portion of the UST system is discontinued.

(43) "Overfill" is a release that occurs when an UST is filled beyond its capacity, resulting in a discharge of the regulated substance to the environment.

(44) "Owner" means:

(45) "Permanent removal" means permanently taking an UST system or any of its components out of service by taking it out of the ground in compliance with this chapter.

(46) "Person", in addition to the meaning in section 3737.01 of the Revised Code, means the United States and any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof.

(47) "Petroleum" means petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, that is a liquid at the temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit and the pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute. The term includes, without limitation, motor fuels, jet fuels, distillate fuel oils, residual fuel oils, lubricants, petroleum solvents, and used oils.

(48) "Petroleum UST system" means an underground storage tank system that contains petroleum or a mixture of petroleum with de minimis quantities of other regulated substances.

(49) "Pipe" or "piping" means a hollow cylinder or tubular conduit that is constructed of man-made materials.

(50) "Pipeline facilities" are new and existing pipe rights-of-way and any associated equipment, including, without limitation, gathering lines; facilities; or buildings.

(51) "Political subdivision" means a municipal corporation, township, county, school district, or other body corporate and politic responsible for governmental activities in a geographic area smaller than that of the state.

(52) "Regulated substance" means:

(53) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching or disposing of a petroleum product from an UST system into groundwater, a surface water body, subsurface soil or otherwise into the environment.

(54) "Release detection" means determining whether a release of a regulated substance has occurred from the UST system into the environment or a leak has occurred into the interstitial space between the UST system and its secondary barrier or secondary containment around it.

(55) "Residential tank" is a tank located on property used primarily for dwelling purposes such as homes, apartments, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.

(56) "Routine maintenance or normal operational upkeep" means work performed to maintain or to prevent an underground storage tank system from releasing a regulated substance. Work on the following components shall constitute routine maintenance or normal operational upkeep on existing UST systems provided that the component has not caused a release:

(57) "Secondary containment" or "secondarily contained" means a release prevention and release detection system for an UST or piping. This system has an inner and outer barrier with an interstitial space that is monitored for leaks. This term includes containment sumps when used for interstitial monitoring of piping.

(58) "Septic tank" is a water-tight covered receptacle designed to receive or process, through liquid separation or biological digestion, the sewage discharged from a building sewer. The effluent from such receptacle is distributed for disposal through the soil and settled solids and scum from the tank are pumped out periodically and hauled to a treatment facility.

(59) "Sole source aquifer" means any aquifer which has been so designated by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C.A. 300h, as amended at the time of the effective date of this rule).

(60) "Spill" means;

(61) "Spill prevention equipment" means a spill containment manhole or spill bucket installed at a fill pipe that catches and holds drips and spills of regulated substance that can occur when a delivery hose is removed from the fill pipe after delivery of a regulated substance to an UST.

(62) "State" means the state of Ohio, including, without limitation, the general assembly, the supreme court, the offices of all elected state officers, and all departments, boards, offices, commissions, agencies, colleges, universities, institutions, and other instrumentalities of the state of Ohio. "State" does not include political subdivisions.

(63) "Storm water or wastewater collection system" means piping, pumps, conduits, and any other equipment necessary to collect and transport the flow of surface water run-off resulting from precipitation, or domestic, commercial, or industrial wastewater to and from retention areas or any areas where treatment is designated to occur. The collection of storm water and wastewater does not include treatment except where incidental to conveyance.

(64) "Supervise" means being physically on site and having the authority to direct other persons engaged in carrying out the installation of, making major repairs on site to, closure-in-place of, removal of, performance of modifications of, placing out of service for more than ninety days of, or the change in service of UST systems as well as having the authority to exercise independent judgment regarding the recommendation of activities to such other persons.

(65) "Surface impoundment" is a natural topographic depression, man-made excavation, or diked area formed primarily of earthen materials, although it may be lined with man-made materials, that is not an injection well.

(66) "Tank" is a stationary device designed to contain an accumulation of regulated substances that is constructed of man-made materials.

(67) "Temporarily out of service" means the normal operation and use of the UST system is deliberately, but temporarily, discontinued for ninety days or less.

(68) "Underground area" means an underground room, such as a basement, cellar, shaft, or vault, providing enough space for physical inspection of the exterior of the tank situated on or above the surface of the floor.

(69) "Underground storage tank" or "UST" means one or any combination of tanks, including the underground pipes connected thereto, that are used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances the volume of which, including the volume of the underground pipes connected thereto, is ten per cent or more beneath the surface of the ground.

The term does not include any of the following:

(70) "Underground storage tank system" or "UST" system means an underground storage tank and the connected underground piping, underground ancillary equipment, and containment system, if any.

(71) "UST site" means the parcel of property where an UST system is or was formerly located.

(72) "Wastewater treatment tank" means a tank that is designed to receive and treat an influent wastewater through physical, chemical, or biological methods.