The Environmental Quality Board published notice in the February 24 PA Bulletin of the opportunity to comment on proposed changes to regulations in Chapter 245 dealing with the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Program. (PA Bulletin page 1101)

The proposed update to the Storage Tank regulations contain changes required by the federal Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program for Pennsylvania to keep authority to administer that program.

For underground tanks, these changes include: adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced tanks and piping; adding operator training requirements; adding periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST systems; removing certain deferrals; adding new release prevention and detection technologies; updating codes of practice; and making editorial and technical corrections. 

The proposal would, among other changes, shorten the in-service inspection cycle for aboveground tanks.

The last major update to the program’s regulations was 10 years ago.

There are currently about 7,100 storage tank owners with over 12,600 storage tank facilities in the state.

DEP’s Storage Tank Advisory Committee recommended the changes be presented to the EQB for action.

Comments on the proposed regulation changes are due by March 26 and can be submitted through DEP’s eComment system.  A copy of the proposed regulations are also available on the eComment page.

More background on the regulation changes is available on the Environmental Quality Board October 17, 2017 meeting webpage.

[Posted: Feb. 23, 2018]

2/26/2018