PORTLAND, Oregon, March 6, 2003 (ENS) - The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission has approved compliance rule revisions for a state program that regulates and monitors underground storage tanks throughout Oregon. The rules, which officially went into effect February 14, are designed to increase compliance of environmental regulations for underground storage tanks and improve protection of human health and the environment, but they do not apply to heating oil tanks. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) runs the state's Underground Storage Tank Program and regulates about 6,100 underground storage tanks at more than 2,000 gas stations throughout the state. The rules are designed to prevent and quickly detect leaks from underground storage tanks that could cause pollution to soil and groundwater.
The new rules include a mandatory training program for underground storage tank system operators, a pilot program that aims to expedite enforcement of underground storage tank compliance violations, and new provisions designed to improve leak detection methods.
Tank owners must pass a national examination to install or decommission their own tank. Repaired and used underground storage tanks must be verified by a tank manufacturer as meeting all performance standards before the tank can be operated.
Because some 70 percent of the facilities inspected by the DEQ do not meet requirements for leak detection, operator training is considered necessary to ensure that tank systems are adequately maintained and operated to quickly detect or prevent leaks.
DEQ is in the process of producing a training manual for tank system operators and expects vendors to sign up to conduct training sessions beginning this summer. Operators are required to complete the one time training by March 2004.
Individuals, companies or organizations that would like to provide training for underground storage tank system operators are encouraged to contact DEQ now. Training vendors must sign up with DEQ and agree to provide training according to information provided in the training manual developed by the agency. For more information about presenting training sessions, contact Mitch Scheel of the DEQ at 503-229-6704.
The DEQ is starting a pilot program to streamline the enforcement of environmental violations associated with underground storage tanks. The new program uses "tickets" issued at fixed penalty amounts for violations discovered in the field by DEQ inspectors. The expedited enforcement process does not deny a tank owners' right to appeal any violation, but people who wish to appeal are not eligible for the expedited track.
The pilot program will be evaluated, and recommendations for continuing or expanding the program will be presented to the Environmental Quality Commission in 2004.
New tank systems installed after March 1, 2003 must be accessible for inspection of overfill equipment. This proposal allows verification that equipment is in place and working properly.
Corrosion protection will be required on all metallic underground storage tanks. Corrosion protection prevents holes from developing and causing leaks.
For more information on DEQ's Underground Storage Tank Program and the revised compliance rules, visit DEQ's website at: http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/tank/toc-rul.htm:
