Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-15-.09

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024

Section 335-6-15-.09 - Operation, Maintenance, And Testing Or Inspection Of Spill And Overfill Prevention Equipment And Containment Systems; And Walkthrough Inspections

(1) Owners and operators of UST systems must comply with the following operation, maintenance, and testing or inspection requirements for spill prevention equipment, overfill prevention equipment, and containment sumps and sensors to ensure that releases due to leaking, spilling or overfilling do not occur; submit testing and inspection results in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.13(a)5.; and keep testing and inspection records in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.13(b)5.; unless a UST system is temporarily closed in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.33.

(a)Spill Prevention Equipment. Spill prevention equipment must be periodically checked in accordance with the walkthrough inspection requirements in paragraph (2) of this rule and meet the following requirements:

1. Single walled spill prevention equipment shall be tested for leakage to ensure the equipment is liquid tight by using vacuum, pressure, or liquid testing at least once every three years, or upon repair or replacement, using one of the following options:

(i) Testing requirements developed by the manufacturer (Note: Owners and operators may use this option only if the manufacturer has developed requirements);

(ii) Test methods from a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory; or

(iii) Testing requirements determined by the Department to be no less protective of human health and the environment than the testing requirements listed in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.(i) and (ii) of this rule.

2. Double walled spill prevention equipment with an interstitial space shall have the integrity of both walls periodically checked in accordance with the walkthrough inspection requirements in paragraph (2) of this rule. If this periodic checking is discontinued, owners and operators must begin using one of the testing options provided for single walled spill catchment basins in subparagraph (1)(a)1. of this rule and conduct a test within 30 days.

3. Spill prevention equipment must be emptied before the transfer of regulated substance to the underground storage tank so that all the volume is available to contain a spill. If a breach in the spill prevention equipment is visible or if a spill prevention equipment leak test fails, it must be repaired or replaced, and retested prior to receiving any further deliveries of a regulated substance.

4. When a regulated substance is being released or is suspected to have been released from spill prevention equipment to the surrounding surface or subsurface, notify the Department of a suspected release in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.20.

(b)Overfill Prevention Equipment. Overfill prevention equipment in use before December 8, 2017, shall be inspected not later than December 8, 2020 and at least once every three years thereafter; when brought into use on or after December 8, 2017, shall be inspected upon installation and at least once every three years thereafter; and must meet the following inspection requirements:

1. At a minimum, the inspection must ensure that overfill prevention equipment is set to activate at the correct level specified in rule 335-6-15-.06(c)2. and will activate when regulated substance reaches that level. Inspections must be conducted using one of the following options:

(i) Inspection requirements developed by the manufacturer (Note: Owners and operators may use this option only if the manufacturer has developed requirements);

(ii) Inspection methods from a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory; or

(iii) Inspection requirements determined by the Department to be no less protective of human health and the environment than the inspection requirements listed in subparagraphs (1)(b)1.(i) and (ii) of this rule.

2. Owners and operators must ensure that the volume available in the underground storage tank is greater than the volume of product to be transferred to the underground storage tank before the transfer is made and that the transfer operation is monitored constantly to prevent overfilling and spilling.

(c)Under Dispenser, Submersible Pump, and Other UST System Containment Sumps. These containment sumps must be periodically checked in accordance with the walkthrough inspection requirements in paragraph (2) of this rule and meet the following requirements:

1. When a regulated substance is discovered in a containment sump:

(i) Remove the regulated substance within 24 hours; any regulated substance which is removed must be disposed of in accordance with all state of Alabama requirements; and

(ii) Repair or replace any necessary equipment to prevent further leakage of regulated substance into the containment sump within a time period acceptable to the Department, and immediately after repair or replacement, test the sump for leakage to ensure it is liquid tight in accordance with one of the vacuum, pressure, or liquid testing options provided in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.(i),(ii), (iii) of this rule within a time period acceptable to the Department.

2. When a regulated substance is being released or is suspected to have been released from a containment sump to the surrounding surface or subsurface:

(i) Shut off the submersible pump; and

(ii) Notify the Department of a suspected release in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.20.

3. Containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping must be maintained so that they continuously remain free of water, regulated substance and debris,

4. The operation of any liquid sensors in a containment sump used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping must be tested annually to ensure that they are working properly. Beginning December 8, 2017, testing must be conducted in accordance with one of the testing options provided in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.(i),(ii), (iii) of this rule.

5. Breaches discovered in a containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping which may result in a release of a regulated substance must immediately be repaired or the containment sump replaced. After repair or replacement, the containment sump must be tested using a vacuum, pressure or liquid method in accordance with one of the options provided in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.(i), (ii), or (iii) of this rule to ensure the sump is liquid tight.

6. Beginning December 8, 2020 for UST systems in use before December 8, 2017 and beginning upon installation for UST systems brought into use on or after December 8, 2017, all containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping must prevent releases to the environment by meeting one of the following:

(i) To ensure single walled containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping are liquid tight, those installed prior to the December 8, 2017 must have and initial test not later than December 8, 2020 and must be tested at least once every three years thereafter, and those brought into use on or after the December 8, 2017 must be tested upon installation and be tested at least once every three years thereafter. Testing must be conducted using a vacuum, pressure, or liquid method in accordance with one of the options provided in subparagraphs (1)(a)1.(i), (ii), or (iii) of this rule; or

(ii) When containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of underground piping are double walled, the integrity of both walls must be periodically checked in accordance with the walkthrough inspection requirements in subparagraph (2) of this rule. If this periodic checking is discontinued, owners and operators must begin using one of the testing options provided for single walled containment sumps in subparagraph (1)(c)6.(i) of this rule and conduct a test within 30 days.

(2)Walkthrough Inspections. To properly operate and maintain UST systems, owners and operators of UST systems must conduct walkthrough inspections beginning not later than October 13, 2018 and thereafter. Conduct walkthrough inspections in accordance with either subparagraphs (2)(a), and (2)(b) or (c) of this rule and keep inspection records in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.13(b)11., unless a UST system is temporarily closed in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.33.

(a) Conduct a walkthrough inspection that, at a minimum, checks the following equipment as specified in subparagraphs (2)(a)1. and 2. of this rule:

1. Every 30 days (Exception: spill prevention equipment at UST systems receiving deliveries at intervals greater than every 30 days may be checked prior to each delivery):

(i) Visually check spill prevention equipment for damage; remove liquid or debris; check for and remove obstructions in the fill pipe; check the fill cap to make sure it is securely on the fill pipe; and for double walled spill prevention equipment with interstitial monitoring, also check the integrity of both walls by checking for leakage in the interstitial space, and

(ii) Check to make sure the release detection equipment is operating with no alarms or other unusual operating conditions present; and ensure records of release detection testing are reviewed, passing and current, and

2. Annually:

(i) Visually check all containment sumps for damage or leaks to the containment area, or releases to the environment, and remove liquid or debris; and for double walled sumps with interstitial monitoring, also check the integrity of both walls by checking for leakage in the interstitial space, and

(ii) Check hand held release detection equipment devices such as tank gauge sticks or groundwater bailers for operability and serviceability;

(b) Conduct operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections according to a standard code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory that checks equipment comparable to that indicated in subparagraph (2)(a) of this rule; or

(c) Conduct operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections developed by the Department that checks equipment comparable to that indicated in subparagraph (2)(a) of this rule.

(3) The owner and operator must report, investigate, and clean up any leaks, spills and overfills in accordance with rule 335-6-15-.23.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-15-.09

Effective April 5, 1989. Amended: Filed July 2, 2007; effective August 6, 2007. Amended: Filed December 12, 2011; effective January 16, 2012. Amended: Filed February 25, 2014; effective April 1, 2014.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 02, November 30, 2017, eff. 12/8/2017.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2018, eff. 12/7/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2022, eff. 4/14/2022.

Authors: Sonja Massey, Curt Johnson, Lee Davis

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-36-3.