The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the July 8 PA Bulletin that final technical guidance is now available on closure requirements for aboveground and underground storage tanks.

-- DEP ID: 263-4200-001. Closure Requirements for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems. The purpose of this technical guidance document is to establish minimum standards that must be met to comply with the closure requirements for regulated large, aboveground storage tank systems.

These procedures include closure notification, tank handling, waste management and disposal, site assessment, sampling requirements, analytical requirements, release reporting and recordkeeping.

This technical guidance document was revised to remove all appendices from the document.

In addition, throughout the document, associated regulatory citations have been updated pertaining to the Bureau of Waste Management regulations and the Department of Labor and Industry.  Existing language was expanded to provide clarity and outdated terminology was removed.

Document sections have been reorganized and additional information is included that would be relevant to the storage tank owner during storage tank closure activities.

In response to comments received during the 30-day public comment period, language within the technical guidance document was modified to clarify that water samples are only required if water in the excavation is encountered and either remains or recharges following pump-out activities. 

Effective Date: July 8, 2017.  Click Here for a copy of the guidance.

-- DEP ID: 263-4500-601. Closure Requirements for Underground Storage Tank Systems. The purpose of this technical guidance document is to establish minimum standards that must be met to comply with the closure requirements for regulated underground storage tank systems.

These procedures include closure notification, tank handling, waste management and disposal, site assessment, sampling requirements, analytical requirements, release reporting and recordkeeping.

This technical guidance document was revised to remove all appendices from the document. In addition, throughout the document, associated regulatory citations have been updated pertaining to the Bureau of Waste Management regulations and the Department of Labor and Industry. Existing language was expanded to provide clarity and outdated terminology was removed.

Document sections have been reorganized and additional information is included that would be relevant to the storage tank owner during storage tank closure activities.

In response to comments received during the 30-day public comment period, language within the technical guidance document was modified to clarify that water samples are only required if water in the excavation is encountered and either remains or recharges following pump-out activities.

Effective Date: July 8, 2017.  Click Here for a copy of the guidance.  Click Here for comment/response document.

Questions regarding both these documents should be directed to Alex Eckman, DEP, by sending email to: eeckman@pa.gov or call 717-772-5827.

[Posted: July 7, 2017]

7/10/2017