Texas Administrative Code
Title 30 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part 1 - TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 334 - UNDERGROUND AND ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS
Subchapter C - TECHNICAL STANDARDS
Section 334.47 - Technical Standards for Existing Underground Storage Tank Systems

Universal Citation: 30 TX Admin Code § 334.47

Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025

(a) General requirements.

(1) Alternatives for existing underground storage tank (UST) systems. No later than the implementation dates specified in § 334.44(b) of this title (relating to Implementation Schedules), all applicable components of any existing UST system (i.e., UST system for which installation has commenced or has been completed on or prior to December 22, 1988) shall be either installed, upgraded, improved, or replaced with equipment or components which meet or exceed either of the following requirements:
(A) the requirements for technical standards and installation of new UST systems in § 334.45 of this title (relating to Technical Standards for New Underground Storage Tank Systems) and in § 334.46 of this title (relating to Installation Standards for New Underground Storage Tank Systems);

(B) the minimum upgrading requirements for existing UST systems in subsection (b) of this section; or

(C) National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code" and Standard 30A, "Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages."

(2) If any applicable component of an existing UST system is not brought into timely compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the UST system shall be permanently removed from service no later than 60 days after the prescribed implementation date. The permanent removal from service shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of § 334.55 of this title (relating to Permanent Removal from Service).

(b) Minimum upgrading requirements for all existing UST systems.

(1) Tank integrity assessment and UST system cathodic protection. No later than December 22, 1998, all tanks in an existing UST system shall be assessed for structural integrity, and all underground metallic components of an existing UST system shall be equipped with a cathodic protection system, as provided in the following subparagraphs.
(A) Tank integrity assessment. The tank shall be assessed for structural integrity and for the presence of corrosion holes by one or more of the following methods.
(i) The tank may be equipped with one or more of the release detection systems meeting the applicable requirements of § 334.50(d)(4) - (10) of this title (relating to Release Detection). Such release detection system(s) shall have been in operation for at least 60 days prior to the date of the cathodic protection system installation, and at least one of the systems shall remain in operation for the remaining operational life of the tank.

(ii) The tank may be tested by conducting at least two tank tightness tests meeting the requirements of § 334.50(d)(1)(A) of this title. The first tightness test shall be conducted prior to installing the cathodic protection system, and the second test shall be conducted between three and six months after the cathodic protection system is placed into operation. For tanks constructed of non-corrodible material, or metal tanks clad or jacketed with non-corrodible material which are electrically isolated from surrounding soil, backfill or groundwater or any other water, the tank may be tested by conducting at least one tightness test meeting the requirements of § 334.50(d)(1)(A) of this title, within the 12-month period prior to December 22, 1998.

(iii) When the tank upgrading is to include the installation of an interior lining meeting the applicable provisions in § 334.52(b) of this title (relating to Underground Storage Tank System Repairs and Relining), a site assessment or release determination may be conducted prior to the installation of the interior lining and the cathodic protection system. Such site assessment or release determination shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of § 334.55(e) of this title.

(iv) Prior to the installation of the cathodic protection system, the tank may be internally inspected and assessed to assure that the tank is structurally sound and free of corrosion holes, provided that such internal inspection shall be:
(I) conducted in accordance with a code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory; and

(II) performed by qualified personnel possessing the requisite training, experience, and competence to assure that any corrosion holes or structurally unsound areas are located.

(v) Prior to the installation of the cathodic protection system, the tank may be assessed for structural integrity and the presence of corrosion holes by an alternate method which has been reviewed and determined by the agency to prevent releases in a manner that is no less protective of human health and the environment than the methods described in clauses (i) - (iv) of this subparagraph, in accordance with the provisions of § 334.43 of this title (relating to Variances and Alternative Procedures).

(B) Repairs or corrective action. If the results of the tank integrity assessment (required by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) indicate that the existing tank is not structurally sound and/or that a release of regulated substances has occurred, then the owner and operator shall:
(i) comply with the applicable release reporting, investigation, and corrective action requirements of Subchapter D of this chapter (relating to Release Reporting and Corrective Action); and

(ii) conduct one of the following activities, as applicable:
(I) perform appropriate repairs or relining of the tank, in accordance with the applicable requirements of § 334.52 of this title, as necessary to restore the structural integrity of the tank; or

(II) permanently remove the tank from service in accordance with the applicable provisions in § 334.55 of this title.

(C) Field-installed cathodic protection system. After confirmation or restoration of the structural integrity of the tank, all underground metal components of the UST system, which are not isolated from the surrounding soil, backfill, and groundwater or any other water, and which either do or could convey, contain, or store regulated substances, shall be equipped with a field-installed cathodic protection system meeting the requirements of § 334.49(c)(2) of this title (relating to Corrosion Protection).

(2) Adding spill and overfill prevention equipment. All existing USTs shall be equipped with appropriate spill and overfill prevention equipment, in accordance with the provisions in § 334.51(b) of this title (relating to Spill and Overfill Prevention and Control).

(3) Adding release detection for UST system piping.
(A) Release detection for pressurized piping. No later than December 22, 1990, all piping in an existing UST system that routinely conveys regulated substances under pressure (i.e., which operates at greater than atmospheric pressure) shall be brought into compliance with the pressurized piping release detection requirements in § 334.50(b)(2)(A) of this title.

(B) Release detection for suction piping and gravity-flow piping. All piping in an existing UST system that routinely conveys regulated substances either under suction (i.e., which operates at less than atmospheric pressure) or by gravity-flow shall be brought into compliance with the applicable release detection requirements in § 334.50(b)(2)(B) of this title no later than the date on which release detection is required for the tank to which such piping is connected, as prescribed in paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(4) Adding release detection for tanks.
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, all tanks at an existing UST system shall be brought into compliance with the tank release detection requirements in § 334.50(b)(1) of this title no later than the date specified in the following clauses for the time of installation applicable to such tanks:
(i) December 22, 1989, for tanks where the installation dates are undetermined or unknown;

(ii) December 22, 1989, for tanks installed during 1964 or prior years;

(iii) December 22, 1990, for tanks installed during the years 1965 - 1969, inclusive;

(iv) December 22, 1991, for tanks installed during the years 1970 - 1974, inclusive;

(v) December 22, 1992, for tanks installed during the years 1975 - 1979, inclusive;

(vi) December 22, 1993, for tanks installed during the years 1980 - 1987, inclusive; and

(vii) December 22, 1993, for tanks installed between January 1, 1988, and December 22, 1988, inclusive.

(B) For emergency generator tanks only, the compliance dates prescribed in subparagraph (A)(i) - (v) of this paragraph shall be extended by one year; however, no compliance date shall be extended past December 22, 1993.

(C) When two or more existing tanks are located in a common tank hole, and when the selected method of release detection is either vapor monitoring or groundwater monitoring in accordance with § 334.50(d)(5) and (6) of this title, then all such tanks shall be brought into compliance with the applicable release detection requirements of this paragraph no later than the date specified for the oldest tank in such common tank hole.

(c) Additional upgrading requirements for existing hazardous substance UST systems. In addition to the upgrading requirements applicable to all existing UST systems in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, all existing hazardous substance UST systems (e.g., UST system for which installation has commenced or has been completed on or prior to December 22, 1988) shall be equipped or retrofitted with a secondary containment system and an associated release detection system in accordance with the following provisions.

(1) No later than December 22, 1998, all existing hazardous substance UST systems shall be equipped with a secondary containment system meeting the design, construction, and installation requirements in § 334.45(d) of this title and § 334.46(f) of this title.

(2) No later than December 22, 1998, all existing hazardous substance UST systems shall be equipped with a release detection system capable of monitoring either the interstitial spaces between the primary and secondary walls of any double-walled UST component, or the spaces between the primary UST component walls and any external liners, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions in § 334.50(c) of this title.

(d) A UST system, at a minimum, shall incorporate secondary containment as specified in Texas Water Code, § 26.3476, if the UST system is located in an area described in that provision.

(e) Records for upgrading of existing UST systems.

(1) Owners and operators shall maintain all records related to the upgrading of existing UST systems required in this subsection in accordance with the requirements in § 334.10(b) of this title (relating to Reporting and Recordkeeping).

(2) Owners and operators shall maintain the following records for the operational life of the UST system:
(A) general information related to the tank integrity assessment and cathodic protection requirements in subsection (b) of this section, including:
(i) dates of the tank integrity assessment and cathodic protection installation activities;

(ii) names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons conducting the tank integrity assessment and cathodic protection installation activities; and

(iii) copies of all related notifications or reports filed with the agency or others, including:
(I) registration information, as required by § 334.7 of this title (relating to Registration for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems); and

(II) installation certification information, as required by § 334.8(a) of this title (relating to Certification for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems);

(B) as-built drawings (or plans), which have been drawn to scale and in sufficient detail so as to accurately depict and describe the sizes, dimensions, and locations of any UST system components or equipment added or installed on or after September 29, 1989, which are installed pursuant to one of the construction activities included in § 334.6(b)(1)(A) of this title (relating to Construction Notification for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems); and

(C) equipment information for any UST system components or equipment added or installed on or after September 29, 1989, for the purpose of compliance with the upgrading requirements of this section, including manufacturer's specifications, installation instructions, operating instructions, warranty information, recommended test procedures, and inspection and maintenance schedules.

(3) Owners and operators shall maintain the results of all equipment tests and tank integrity tests required in this section including internal inspections, tank and piping tightness tests, and site assessments, for at least five years after the dates such tests are conducted.

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