Md. Code Regs. 26.10.18.11

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 26.10.18.11 - Inspection Requirements for an AST System

A. Definitions.

(1) In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings stated.

(2) Terms Defined.

(a) "Remaining corrosion allowance" or "RCA" means the difference between the measured shell thickness and the minimum required thickness of an AST, measured in millimeters.

(b) "N" means the shell corrosion rate of an AST, measured in millimeters per year.

B. Periodic Visual Inspections.

(1) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall conduct periodic visual inspections in accordance with:

(a) The inspection procedures under §B(2) or (3) of this regulation; and

(b) The recordkeeping requirements under §B(4) and (5) of this regulation.

(2) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST may meet the visual inspections requirement in §B(1) of this regulation by, at a minimum:

(a) Inspecting for the following conditions monthly:

(i) Signs of spills, releases, or discharges from any portion of the AST system;

(ii) Water in the secondary containment dike and AST or, if a double-walled AST, the primary storage tank and interstice;

(iii) The condition of the secondary containment dike, including drain valves;

(iv) Signs of shell distortion;

(v) Signs of settlement;

(vi) Signs of corrosion;

(vii) The condition of the AST foundation or supports;

(viii) The condition of the exterior coating of the AST system;

(ix) The condition of seams, rivets, and nozzle connections;

(x) The condition of valves, pumps, piping, and other appurtenances directly connected to the AST;

(xi) The condition of the tank gauge or an equivalent monitoring device;

(xii) The condition of release detection systems; and

(xiii) The condition of overfill protection equipment;

(b) Inspecting containment sumps associated with an underground piping system monthly by:

(i) Checking for evidence of a spill, release or discharge; and

(ii) Removing any liquid or debris; and

(c) Removing any water found during the monthly inspection from the secondary containment dike and AST or, if a double-bottomed AST, the primary storage tank and interstice.

(3) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST may meet the periodic visual inspections requirement in §B(1) of this regulation by conducting periodic AST inspections in accordance with:

(a) STI/SPFA SP001 "Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks" if the AST does not exceed:

(i) 30 feet in diameter; and

(ii) 40 feet in height; or

(b) Tank In-service Inspection Checklist in Annex C of API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction".

(4) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall maintain the following records related to periodic visual inspections:

(a) If the AST system was inspected in accordance with §B(2) of this regulation, a written log or electronic record that includes:

(i) The date of the inspection;

(ii) The name and title of the individual performing the inspection;

(iii) A description of each deficiency found;

(iv) The name and title of the individual notified of the deficiencies found; and

(v) A record of how and when the deficiencies were corrected; and

(b) If the AST system was inspected in accordance with §B(3) of this regulation, the completed monthly and annual inspection checklists in STI/SPFA SP001 "Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks".

(5) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall maintain the records required in §B(4) of this regulation in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

C. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall conduct corrosion protection system inspections in accordance with Regulation .10 of this chapter.

D. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall:

(1) Inspect and clean normal and emergency vents for the field-erected AST annually; and

(2) Maintain records of the vent inspection and cleaning required in §D(1) of this regulation in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

E. Ultrasonic Thickness Inspections. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall use ultrasonic thickness measurements of the external AST shell to determine shell integrity according to the following requirements:

(1) If the corrosion rate is unknown for a field-erected AST, complete an initial ultrasonic thickness inspection not later than 2 years after June 13, 2022;

(2) Perform ultrasonic thickness inspections at the lesser of the following intervals:

(a) RCA/2N years; or

(b) 15 years;

(3) Include the following information in the inspection records for each ultrasonic thickness inspection performed on an AST:

(a) The date of the inspection;

(b) The name and title of individual performing the inspection; and

(c) The ultrasonic thickness measurements; and

(4) Maintain the records for ultrasonic thickness inspections required under §E(3) of the regulation in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

F. External Inspections. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall have an external inspection performed on the field-erected AST according to the following requirements:

(1) An authorized inspector conducts external inspection on the field-erected AST.

(2) Perform external inspections at the lesser of the following intervals:

(a) RCA/4N years; or

(b) 5 years;

(3) Inspect the following components of a field-erected AST during an external inspection:

(a) The AST foundation;

(b) The shell and roof of the AST, including shell and roof appurtenances;

(c) The AST accessways;

(d) The AST grounding system;

(e) The wall and roof of an AST having an insulated covering;

(f) Connected aboveground piping; and

(g) The secondary containment dike;

(4) At a minimum, the authorized inspector conducting an external inspection of the field-erected AST shall complete the Tank In-service Inspection Checklist in Annex C of API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction";

(5) Submit a copy of the final external inspection report to the Department within 60 days of completing the external inspection; and

(6) Maintain records of completed external inspections in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

G. Risk-based Inspection Program.

(1) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST may implement a risk-based inspection program to develop an inspection plan for conducting internal inspections on the field-constructed AST.

(2) If implementing a risk-based inspection program, an owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall:

(a) Establish and implement the risk-based inspection program in accordance with API Recommended Practice 580 "Risk-based Inspection";

(b) Prior to implementation, have the risk-based inspection program, including the risk-based inspection assessment and inspection plan, reviewed and approved by an authorized inspector and a storage tank engineer.

(3) An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall maintain records related to the riskbased inspection program, including copies of the risk-based inspection assessment, inspection plan, and authorized inspector and storage tank engineer approvals, in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements in Regulation .13 of this chapter.

H. Internal Inspections. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST shall have an internal inspection of a field-erected AST performed on the field-erected AST according to the following requirements:

(1) An authorized inspector shall complete an internal inspection of a field-erected AST;

(2) Complete an initial internal inspection on a new field-erected AST not later than:

(a) 10 years from the date the AST first contained oil; or

(b) A maximum inspection interval established in accordance with API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction" if the following conditions are met:

(i) The maximum interval is determined under a risk-based inspection program; and

(ii) The AST has one or more of the leak prevention, detection, corrosion mitigation, or containment safeguards listed in Table 6.1" Tank Safeguard in API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction";

(3) Complete an initial internal inspection on an existing field-erected AST that contains oil not later than 2 years after June 13, 2022;

(4) Complete subsequent internal inspections on a new or existing field-erected AST not later than:

(a) 20 years after the date the initial internal inspection required in §H(2) or (3) of this regulation was completed; or

(b) A maximum inspection interval determined in accordance with the corrosion rate procedures and the additional risk-based inspection requirements in API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction";

(5) An internal inspection of a field-erected AST includes:

(a) An evaluation of, at a minimum, 75 percent of the storage tank bottom plates using magnetic flux leakage scanning;

(b) An evaluation of 100 percent of floor plate welds and shell-to-floor welds using one or more of the following testing methods:

(i) Vacuum box;

(ii) Magnetic particle; and

(iii) Liquid penetrant;

(c) Verification of a storage tank bottom's integrity to ensure the storage tank bottom is not severely corroded or there is evidence of a spill, release, or discharge;

(d) The collection of data necessary to assess the minimum storage tank bottom and shell thickness, including evaluating data from previous inspections;

(f) Identification and evaluation of any storage tank bottom settlement; and

(g) Assessment of all external and internal aspects of an AST while the storage tank is out-of-service, including an examination and test of the following AST components:

(i) Storage tank exterior and interior;

(ii) Storage tank bottom, including the liquid side and soil side;

(iii) Shell seams, plates, and overflows;

(iv) The fixed roof interior, including the surface, support structure, and appurtenances;

(v) A floating roof, including the deck, pontoons, cutouts and supports, seal assemblies, and appurtenances;

(vi) Common AST appurtenances; and

(vii) Access structures;

(6) At a minimum, an authorized inspector conducting an internal inspection of an AST shall complete the Tank Out-of-service Inspection Checklist in Annex C of API Standard 653 "Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction" in addition to other forms used;

(7) Submit a copy of the final internal inspection report to the Department within 60 days of completing the internal inspection; and

(8) Maintain records of each internal inspection conducted for on a field-erected AST in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

Md. Code Regs. 26.10.18.11

Regulation .11 adopted effective 49:12 Md. R. 642, eff. 6/13/2022