Colorado UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' A/B Operator Training in Colorado is approved by the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS)

Class C Operator Training
Class A/B operators are responsible for training and certifying their Class C operators. PASS’ Class C operator training may be used by A/B operators to train their C operators.

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.

After completing this course, you must fill out and submit a UST Class A/B Operator Designation Form to OPS within 30 days of changing Class A or B operators.

Registration & Fees

Prior to beginning construction of any new UST system, the owner/operator must submit a completed Underground Storage Tank System Installation or Upgrade Application to the Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) along with required attachments and the fee of $150.00 and obtain approval from OPS.
Within 30 days of bringing a UST into use, the owner/operator must register the UST with OPS by submitting a completed Underground Storage Tank Registration form along with the registration fee of $35 per tank. Upon receipt of the form and fee, OPS will issue a certificate of registration to the owner/operator. Each UST registration is valid for one year and registration fees are invoiced annually.

Release Reporting

Regulations require that you report any release of 25 gallons or more to OPS within 24 hours. The OPS’ spill reporting numbers are 303-318-8547 (during weekday business hours) and 1-877-518-5608 (outside normal working hours or in case of an emergency).

Release Detection

In Colorado, 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

All new dispenser systems (those installed at a location where there was previously no dispenser and those replacing an existing dispenser where the equipment used to connect the dispenser to the UST system is replaced at any point below the fire valve or where the island must be modified) must have UDC.

Financial Responsibility

Colorado follows the federal financial responsibility coverage amounts found in 40 CFR §280.93 (scroll to page 77 of 119 in the pdf document). Owners/operators may use any one or a combination of these financial responsibility mechanisms:

Financial test of self-insurance
Guarantee
Insurance and risk retention group coverage
Certificate of deposit
Surety bond
Letter of credit
Trust fund

Petroleum Storage Tank Fund
In order to be eligible to participate in the Colorado Petroleum Storage Tank Fund, the owner/operator must be in substantial compliance with all of Colorado’s UST laws and regulations. The owner/operator must pay the first $10,000 of clean-up costs and the first $25,000 of third-party liability expenses. Fund reimbursement cannot exceed $2,000,000 per release occurrence or $3,000,000 aggregate during a state fiscal year for multiple occurrences for an individual owner/operator.

Inspection & Testing Requirements

Monthly

The Class A or Class B operator is required to perform a monthly visual inspection of each UST system, record the results on the Monthly Compliance Inspection Checklist, and retain the previous 12 months of checklists and attachments. The monthly inspection must include:

Inspecting for the presence of any sensor alarm conditions, and responding to them appropriately;
Inspecting the integrity of spill containment and manholes and for the presence of a regulated substance, water, or debris, and properly removing any contaminants; and
Inspecting the hanging hardware on dispensers and/or other visible piping for the presence of leaks.

Annual

The Class A or Class B operator must perform an annual operational compliance inspection of each UST system. The results of each annual operational compliance inspection must be recorded on the Annual Operational Compliance Inspection Report and Certification Form. The Class A or Class B operator must provide the owner with a copy of the completed annual checklist and advise him or her of any items requiring corrective action. The owner/operator must also submit a copy of the annual inspection checklist and all attachments for the previous twelve months to OPS annually or within 30 days of an OPS request for records. The annual operational compliance inspection must include:

Compiling and reviewing monthly release detection, visual inspection, and corrosion inspection records from the previous twelve months;
Compiling and reviewing the alarm history report or log for the previous twelve months, checking that each alarm condition was documented and responded to appropriately;
Conducting functionality testing on all line leak detectors, sump sensors, and overfill prevention equipment;
Checking that all required testing and maintenance for the UST system has been completed and documented appropriately; and
Verifying that all designated Class C operators have been trained as required.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If the OPS determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with state or federal storage tank regulations, the OPS inspector will affix a red tag to the UST’s fill pipe and provide the owner (if present on site) with a Field Citation. Within 24 hours of affixing the red tag, OPS will notify the owner in writing. Once OPS has determined that the violations have been corrected, the agency will give the owner verbal and written approval to remove the red tag; the red tag must be returned to OPS within 5 working days.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

Temporary Closure

At least 10 days prior to placing a UST in temporary closure, the owner/operator must notify OPS in writing of the intent to close the UST. The owner/operator must also maintain records documenting the previous 12 months of release detection and corrosion protection testing. The owner/operator must continue operation and maintenance of corrosion protection and, unless the tank is empty (e.g., product is removed to less than one inch), release detection equipment.
If the UST system remains in temporary closure for three months or more, the owner/operator must also leave the vent lines open and functioning, and cap and secure all other lines, pumps, manways, and ancillary equipment.
The owner/operator must notify OPS no more than 30 days prior to placing a UST back in service using the Notice of Intent to Place Underground Storage Tanks Back Into Service form, and submit proof of passing tank and line tightness tests conducted within the previous 30 days.

Return to Service

Owners/operators must notify OPS in writing no more than 30 days prior to placing a UST back in service and submit documentation of passing tightness tests, including ullage, for the tank and lines conducted within the last 30 days.

Permanent Closure

If a UST is temporarily closed for more than twelve months, the owner/operator must:

Permanently close the tank;
Conduct a site assessment and apply for an extension using the Notice of Intent to Place Underground Storage Tanks into Temporary Closure or Extension Request form; or
Place the tank back into service.

At least 10 days prior to permanently closing the UST, the owner/operator must submit written notification of the intent to close the UST to OPS using the Permanent Closure or Change-in-Service form. A new Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form must be submitted to OPS as well.

Recordkeeping

Owners/operators must maintain records that are capable of demonstrating compliance with closure or change in service requirements for 3 years from the date of closure or change in service.
All performance claims pertaining to any release detection system and the manner in which these claims have been justified or tested by the equipment manufacturer or installer must be maintained for 5 years.
The results of any sampling, testing, or monitoring must be maintained for at least one year.
The results of annual operation tests must be maintained for 3 years and must list each component tested, whether each component meets the criteria in 40 CFR §280.40(a)(3), whether any action needs to be taken, and descriptions of any actions taken.
The results of tank tightness testing, line tightness testing, and vapor monitoring using a tracer compound placed in the tank system must be retained until the next test is conducted.
Written documentation of all calibration, maintenance, and repair of release detection equipment permanently located on site must be maintained for at least one year after the servicing work is completed.
All schedules of required calibration and maintenance provided by the release detection equipment manufacturer must be retained for 5 years from the date of installation.