Chapter 6. Storage Tanks

I. Underground storage tanks (USTs).

A. Underground storage tanks that store petroleum and/or hazardous chemicals are regulated by the EPA and Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) (Kansas Storage Tank Act, K.S.A. 65-34) law.

B. Regulated tanks include storage tanks containing petroleum or other regulated substances in which 10% or more of the volume, including the pipes, is below the surface of the ground.

C. All USTs must be registered with KDHE, and pay annual fees to KDHE.

D. Only a licensed company, firm, or individual may install, remove, modify, or test a UST. Kansas State University units may apply for a license.

E. All USTs must have a valid permit openly displayed at the facility. No one may place a regulated substance in a regulated UST unless a valid permit is in display.

F. Under the current law, existing farm tanks, 1,000 gallons or less, containing petroleum products are exempt from the requirements of paragraphs I.G. through I.K. that follow.

G. Release detection is required on all USTs, based on the age of the tank.

1. Compliance date of December 23, 1989 for tanks installed before 1965 or unknown.

2. Compliance date of December 23, 1990 for tanks installed during 1965 through 1969.

3. Compliance date of December 23, 1991 for tanks installed during 1970 through 1974.

4. Compliance date of December 23, 1992 for tanks installed during 1975 through 1979.

5. Compliance date of December 23, 1993 for tanks installed during 1980 through 1988.

6. Release detection for all pressurized lines is required by December 23, 1990.

7. Release detection for a conventional suction line is required at the same time as the tank line services. If tightness testing is selected as a method of release detection for suction lines, the test must be performed once every three years after compliance is required.

8. Release detection is not required for safe suction lines.

9. Results of annual tightness tests must be submitted to the Department of Public Safety, or KDHE for units outside of Manhattan.

H. Release detection methods include:

1. Annual tightness testing;

2. Automatic tank gauging;

3. Soil vapor monitoring;

4. Groundwater monitoring;

5. Interstitial monitoring;

6. Manual tank gauging; and

7. Inventory control for backup heating fuel supply tanks or backup generator fuel source tanks.

I. Inventory control requirements.

1. Inventory control must be performed for all tanks which store or dispense product.

2. Inventory control must be performed daily for USTs that store and dispense fuel. If no fuel is dispensed on a regular basis, inventory must be performed at least once each month.

3. A release is subject to reporting if a shortage of greater than 1% of the flow-through plus 130 gallons in a one month period is indicated.

4. Inventory control:

a. Inputs, withdrawals, and remaining volume must be recorded daily with measurements made before and after each delivery.

b. Product level measurements must be within 1/8 inch with product metering to within 6 cubic inches for each 5 gallons.

c. The water level within the tank must be determined and recorded a minimum of once a month.

5. Manual gauging will provide a substitute to inventory control requirements for waste oil storage tanks with capacities of 2,000 gallons or less.

J. Corrosion protection.

1. All existing tanks and metallic product lines must have corrosion protection by December 23, 1998 if they are to remain in use.

2. Corrosion protection of existing tank systems must meet the following requirements:

a. Corrosion protection systems must be designed by a corrosion expert and approved by KDHE prior to installation;

b. Tanks greater than 10 years old must have an internal inspection to insure the tank is structurally sound before cathodic protection systems can be added;

c. If the tank is less than 10 years old, no internal inspection is required if a monthly monitoring system is in place and two tightness tests are conducted on the tank - one prior to adding the corrosion protection and the second between 3-6 months after installation;

d. Internal lining of tanks will satisfy corrosion protection requirements if tank internal inspections are performed within the first ten years and once each five years thereafter or if combined with cathodic protection; and

e. All metallic lines must be electrically isolated from the tank and other unprotected structures.

3. Fiberglass tanks and lines are manufactured of non-corrosive materials and do not require corrosion protection.

K. Spill and overfill prevention.

1. Spill protection is designed to eliminate releases caused by spillage from the transport hose while filling a tank.

2. Overfill protection must either automatically shut off the flow into a tank when the tank is 95% full or alert the operator when the tank is 90% full.

3. All tanks must be equipped with spill and overfill protection by December 23, 1998 if more than 25 gallons are deposited into the tank at one time.

L. Underground storage tank closures.

1. An environmental site assessment is required for any UST to be permanently closed.

2. The Department of Public Safety and KDHE must be notified before a UST can be removed or abandoned in place.

M. Reporting of UST system releases.

1. All releases, no matter how small, from UST systems must be reported to the Department of Public Safety and KDHE immediately after discovery.

2. Release reports to KDHE should be made to the appropriate district office for your area or to Topeka, (913) 296-1684.

II. Above ground storage tanks.

A. Above ground storage tanks are any storage tank in which greater than 90% of the tank volume, including volume of the piping, is not below the surface of the ground.

B. Application for installation must be submitted to KDHE a minimum of 10 working days prior to installation. All plans will be forwarded to the State Fire Marshall's Office for approval.

C. All above ground storage tanks must be surrounded by a dike that is able to contain a minimum of 110% of the volume of the largest tank within the dike. An additional foot of freeboard should be allowed to compensate for rainfall.

D. All tanks must be equipped with an emergency venting system to prevent tank rupture.

E. Earthen dikes must be equipped with an impermeable liner. Secondary liners are not required with a concrete base and dike.

F. Each diking system must be equipped with a mechanism to prevent or remove surface runoff. This system should prevent accumulations of water in the dike but must not allow leaked product to be discharged.

G. All electrical wiring associated with the tank must comply with local building codes and national electric codes.

H. Only UL registered tanks may be installed.

I. Tanks must not be in direct contact with native materials.

J. Tanks must be painted and clearly labelled indicating the flammability of the contents.

K. All piping must meet NFPA requirements.

L. Corrosion protection is required on all underground piping.

M. A shear valve must be present at the base of each dispenser to prevent product loss in the event of rupture.

N. An electric solenoid valve must be present on the piping.