The Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management regulates underground oil storage tanks and the cleanup of any discharge of oil onto or into land or waters of the State of Maine.
1. Underground Oil Storage Tanks:
All underground oil storage tanks must be installed by a person who is licensed by the Board of Underground Storage Tank Installers. The installation and operation of the tank is regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection.
2. Reporting Oil Spills:
To avoid fines or civil penalties, oil spills onto or into the lands or waters of the State of Maine must be reported within two (2) hours to the Department of Environmental Protection. To report a leak, call the 24-hour response line at 1-800-482-0777.
3. Abandonment of Tank by Removal:
Tanks must be disposed of in accordance with the Department of Environmental Protection Rules. Used, underground, oil storage tanks are prohibited from use for aboveground supply of oil except where a Maine registered engineer certifies that the tank meets the requirements of UL 142 and NFPA 30.
4. Underground Piping and Aboveground Tanks with Over 660 Gallons or Aggregate Volume Over 1320 Gallons
If underground or under-slab piping is to a tank of over 660 gallons capacity or to tanks with an aggregate capacity of over 1320 gallons, then the installation of the underground piping must be installed by a certified underground oil tank installer.
A. Piping must be installed by a certified underground oil tank installer as required under 38 M.R.S. §570-K, Aboveground oil storage facilities.
B. Piping must be constructed of fiberglass, cathodically protected steel, or other equally noncorrosive material approved by the Department of Environmental Protection as set forth in rule.
C. Piping installed on or after June 24, 1991 must include secondary containment and leak detection as required by Department of Environmental Protection rules.
D. Piping that is "grouted," such as piping run on the surface of a floor and then encased in grout or cement or some similar material, shall be considered underground piping. Such grouted piping must include secondary containment and leak detection as required by Department of Environmental Protection rules.
5. For more information about the Department of Environmental Protection's regulations, contact them at:
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management
17 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0017
(207) 287-7688
C.M.R. 02, 658, ch. 8, app DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OIL REGULATIONS