Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety
Article VI - General Health and Safety
Chapter 245 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE STORAGE TANK AND SPILL PREVENTION PROGRAM
Subchapter E - TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK SYSTEMS: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND NOTIFICATION
Section 245.421 - Performance standards for underground storage tank systems

Universal Citation: 25 PA Code § 245.421

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(a) New underground storage tank systems.

(1) Underground storage tank systems installed or replaced after November 10, 2007, must have total secondary containment, which consists of double-walled tanks, double-walled piping (for piping that routinely contains and conveys regulated substances (product)) and liquid-tight containment sumps. The sumps must be installed at piping connections that routinely contain and convey product from the tank, such as tank-top sumps and dispenser pan sumps, that allow for release detection monitoring of the system (See PEI RP 100). Also, new or replacement tank systems installed with pressurized product piping systems must be equipped with automatic line leak detectors and automatic pump shutoff devices that meet the requirements of § 245.445(1) (relating to methods of release detection for piping).

(2) At least 30 days prior to the installation of a tank, piping system, replacement or additional dispenser, or underground storage tank system, or within another reasonable time frame agreed upon by the Department, owners and operators shall notify the Department of the proposed installation on a form provided by the Department.

(3) An owner or operator of an underground storage tank changing from unregulated to regulated service shall provide certification by a Department-certified installer that the underground storage tank system meets new underground storage tank system requirements, on a form provided by the Department, prior to placing product into the tank and operating the storage tank system.

(b) To prevent releases due to structural failure, corrosion or spills and overfills for as long as the underground storage tank system is used to store regulated substances, owners and operators of new and existing underground storage tank systems shall ensure that the system meets the following requirements:

(1) Tanks. A tank must be properly designed and constructed. A tank or portion of a tank including the outer metallic wall of a double-walled tank that is underground and 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, using one of the following methods:

(i) The tank is constructed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

(ii) The tank is constructed of steel and cathodically protected in the following manner:

(A) The tank is coated with a suitable dielectric material.

(B) Field-installed cathodic protection systems are designed by a corrosion expert.

(C) Impressed current systems are designed by a corrosion expert and allow determination of current operating status as required in § 245.432(a)(3) (relating to operation and maintenance including corrosion protection).

(D) Cathodic protection systems are operated and maintained in accordance with § 245.432.

(iii) The tank is constructed of steel and clad or jacketed with a non-corrodible material.

(iv) The tank is constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures if:

(A) The tank is installed at a site that is determined by a corrosion expert not to be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life.

(B) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with clause (A) for the remaining life of the tank.

(2) Piping. The piping and ancillary equipment that routinely contain regulated substances shall be protected from corrosion and deterioration. New piping systems that routinely contain and convey regulated substances from the tank must be double-walled with liquid-tight containment sumps installed in accordance with paragraph (4)(ii). Whenever 50% or more of the existing piping that routinely contains and conveys product from the tank is replaced, the entire piping system that routinely contains and conveys product from the tank shall be replaced meeting the requirements for new piping systems in this section. The portions of the product piping system, including joints, flexible connectors and ancillary equipment that are in contact with the ground must 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 using one of the following methods:

(i) The piping or component is constructed of nonmetallic material such as fiberglass reinforced plastic or other noncorrodible and UL listed material.

(ii) The piping or component is constructed of metal and cathodically protected in the following manner:

(A) The piping is coated with a suitable dielectric material. The wrapping of piping with tape or similar material alone does not meet this requirement.

(B) Field-installed cathodic protection systems are designed by a corrosion expert.

(C) Impressed current systems are designed by a corrosion expert and allow determination of current operating status as required in § 245.432(a)(3).

(D) Cathodic protection systems are operated and maintained in accordance with § 245.432.

(iii) The piping is constructed of metal without additional corrosion protection measures if:

(A) The piping is installed at a site that is determined by a corrosion expert to not be corrosive enough to cause it to have a release due to corrosion during its operating life.

(B) Owners and operators maintain records that demonstrate compliance with clause (A) for the remaining life of the piping.

(3) Spill and overfill prevention equipment.

(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (vi), to prevent spilling and overfilling associated with product transfer to the underground storage tank system, owners and operators shall ensure that their systems have the following spill and overfill prevention equipment permanently installed:

(A) Spill prevention equipment that will prevent release of product to the environment when the transfer hose is detached from the fill pipe-for example, a spill catchment basin or spill containment bucket.

(B) Overfill prevention equipment that will do one or more of the following:

(I) Automatically shut off flow into the tank when the tank is no more than 95% full.

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

(ii) Bypassing overfill protection is prohibited. For example, bypassing the ball float valve with coaxial stage-1 vapor recovery systems or a spill containment bucket drain valve is prohibited.

(iii) Ball float valves may not be used to comply with this subsection when overfill prevention is installed or replaced after December 22, 2018.

(iv) Existing ball float valves may not be used on suction pump systems having an air eliminator, or on any system having coaxial stage-1 vapor recovery systems or receiving pressurized pump deliveries.

(v) Spill and overfill prevention equipment must be periodically tested or evaluated in accordance with § 245.437 (relating to periodic testing). Required tests shall be documented on a form provided by the Department and shall be maintained onsite at the storage tank facility or at a readily available alternative site.

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

(4) Installation.

(i) Underground storage tank systems shall be properly installed and system integrity tested 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.

(ii) Spill prevention equipment and containment sumps must be constructed to be liquid-tight, and shall be tested prior to use of the system to confirm liquid-tight construction using a hydrostatic test, vacuum test or other Nationally recognized liquid-tight testing procedure or method recommended by the containment equipment manufacturer.

(iii) Overfill prevention equipment shall be properly installed and tested in accordance with a code of practice developed by a Nationally recognized association, and in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 245.403 (relating to applicability); 25 Pa. Code § 245.422 (relating to upgrading of existing underground storage tank systems); 25 Pa. Code § 245.425 (relating to reuse of removed tanks); 25 Pa. Code § 245.434 (relating to repairs allowed); 25 Pa. Code § 245.435 (relating to reporting and recordkeeping); 25 Pa. Code § 245.437 (relating to periodic testing); 25 Pa. Code § 245.445 (relating to methods of release detection for piping); and 25 Pa. Code § 245.451 (relating to temporary removal from service (out-of-service)).

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