All of PASS’ UST operator training courses meet and exceed the federal requirements for UST operator training and are offered through our in-house designed and built Learning Management System (LMS). PASS’ state-specific A/B training courses are custom-tailored to meet state requirements, and are accepted by more states than any other training provider. Our courses are available on-demand, 24/7 and are accessible from any internet-connected computer, tablet, or phone. The student can complete an entire course in a single session or take the course in segments. The training may be stopped and restarted, allowing for maximum schedule flexibility. PASS also does not impose time restrictions on course access, so students may take as much time as they need to complete their training. Once training is completed a certificate is available to save and print.
Tank Fee: The fee of $50.00 per tank must be paid to the DEC annually by December 31.
Release Reporting
Suspected and confirmed releases must be reported to the DEC as follows.
During normal business hours call the nearest DEC response team office:
Central (Anchorage): 907-269-3063
Northern (Fairbanks): 907-451-2121
Southeast (Juneau): 907-465-5340
Outside normal business hours call 1-800-478-9300 (International: 1-907-269-0667)
Release Detection
In Alaska, owners/operators may use one or a combination of the following release detection methods for tanks.
Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG)
Secondary containment with interstitial monitoring
Statistical Inventory Reconciliation (SIR)
Manual tank gauging
Vapor monitoring
Groundwater monitoring
Tank tightness testing
Inventory control
Release Prevention
SPAR ensures that regulated operators engage in proper spill prevention techniques through review of prevention plans that must be submitted as part of an operator’s oil discharge prevention and contingency plan. Corrosion monitoring, leak detection, overflow alarms, secondary containment, tank inspections, pipeline testing, and tanker escort systems are among the requirements that SPAR staff verify through plan review and follow-up inspections.
Financial Responsibility
Alaska's financial responsibility coverage amounts can be found in the chart included here.Owners/operators may use any one or a combination of these financial responsibility mechanisms:
Within 30 days of reporting a release from a UST system; and
When requested by the DEC.
Owners/operators must submit a completed Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Form and proof of coverage to the DEC. Upon receipt of all documentation, the DEC will issue a UST Financial Responsibility Certificate to the owner/operator, which must be maintained at the facility.
Inspection & Testing Requirements
Once every three years, owners/operators of USTs in Alaska are required to hire a certified UST worker to ensure the UST system is in compliance with release detection, spill and overfill prevention, and corrosion protection. The owner/operator has up to 120 days to correct deficiencies found during the inspection without incurring penalties. Once a tank passes inspection, a UST Operations Inspection Report, ADEC Form must be submitted to the DEC. The inspector will usually need to review paperwork concerning:
Monthly release detection records for the previous 12 months
Operator training;
Notification, permit, and fees (as applicable);
Corrosion protection;
Overfill prevention;
Spill prevention;
Tank and piping release detection;
Financial responsibility;
Reporting of suspected releases;
Tank and/or piping repairs;
Secondary containment (where required); and
Temporary closure.
The inspection report must include photographs of each tank's components, including piping, sumps, manual tank gauge access, etc. Once DEC approves your inspection results, you will receive a UST operating tag. You must have the new tag in place no later than October 31 of the year inspection is due. The tag must be posted where your petroleum distributor can see it prior to delivery.
Owners/operators should also read and familiarize themselves with the DEC's Underground Storage Tank Inspector Reference Handbook in order to be informed about proper operation and maintenance of their UST systems.
Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement
If the DEC determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with state or federal storage tank regulations, the DEC will revoke the UST operating tag and list the UST system online as ineligible to receive fuel until the owner/operator provides proof that the UST system has been returned to compliance.
Temporary & Permanent Closure
An Owner of an underground storage tank (UST) system is required to notify the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for any UST system installed or in service, Taken Out-Of-Service or Temporarily Closed, in accordance with Title 18 Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) Underground Storage Tanks. “Taken Out-Of-Service" means a tank is empty, vented and secured. "Temporary Closure" means a UST system may contain petroleum product but is not currently in use (but may not be kept in this status for longer than three months).
A UST system in Taken Out-of-Service (TOS) status must not contain more than one inch (2.5 centimeters) of petroleum. A UST system in Temporary Closure (TC) status that may contain free petroleum product is not permitted be in TC status for more than three months. A UST system that does not meet regulatory and industry standards is not permitted to be out-of-service for more than 12 months before permanent closure is required.
Recordkeeping
Save all of your records. This includes receipts, warranties, guarantees, pictures, videos, manuals, or anything about your UST.
Keep all test results, performance claims, inspections, corrosion tests, repair records, closures and assessment reports, and proof of financial responsibility.
Keep your records on-site or at a place easy to access in case you have to provide information to an inspector.
In general, you should keep all of your records for as long as the tank system is in place.
If you purchase an existing system or become a new operator, make sure you get copies of all existing records.
