Connecticut UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

UST Training
Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' A/B Operator Training in Connecticut is approved by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Class C Operator Training
PASS' C Operator Training in Connecticut is approved by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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.

Registration & Fees

Owners/operators must submit a completed Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) along with the fee of $100.00 per tank annually by October 10. Owners/operators must submit forms and payments through the DEEP’s online ezFile system.

Release Reporting

A spill or overfill of any size, especially if it causes a sheen on nearby surface water, must be reported to the DEEP. Report spills or other environmental emergencies to the DEEP:

24 hours per day at 860-424-3338 or toll free at 1-866-DEP-SPIL (1-866-337-7745); or
Should these numbers become unavailable for any reason, call 860-424-3333.

If a release is confirmed, a written report must be submitted to the DEEP commissioner within 3 working days of discovery. It must include the estimated amount of product lost, location of the release, and identification of leaking components of the UST system. Actions taken and the results of those actions must be reported to the DEEP within 20 days of release confirmation.

Release Detection

UST facilities in Connecticut must be monitored for releases at least once every 30 days. Allowable release detection methods in Connecticut include:

Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG);
Secondary containment with continuous interstitial monitoring (required for tanks installed after October 1, 2003);
Manual tank gauging;
Vapor monitoring; and
Groundwater monitoring.

Owners/operators are also required to collect and record inventory data on a daily basis, reconcile readings with delivery and dispensing records weekly, and record the results on the Weekly Underground Storage Tank Systems Inventory Reconciliation Form. These forms need to be kept at the UST facility for at least five years beyond the operating life of the tank system.

Release Prevention

If a UST system is installed on or after August 8, 2012, no owner or operator will be allowed to replace, install, operate, or use the UST system unless it is equipped with a new under-dispenser containment (UDC) sump with leak detection. New UDC is required when more than 50% of the dispensers at a facility are replaced or when a dispenser and more than 50% of the flexible piping beneath the dispenser are replaced.
In Connecticut, tanks cannot be upgraded with internal lining but instead must be coated with a factory-applied, manufacturer-approved dielectric material and be cathodically protected.
Impressed current cathodic protection equipment must be checked every 30 days to ensure it is operating properly. A monthly record of rectifier current and voltage output must be maintained. Records of the last three readings must be retained.

Financial Responsibility

Connecticut follows the federal financial responsibility coverage amounts found in 40 CFR §280.93 (scroll to page 77 of 119 in the pdf document) and RCSA §22a-449(d)-109(a) (scroll to page 44 of 81).

An owner/operator must complete a Certification of Financial Responsibility form, update it when any information changes, and retain the form at the UST facility. More information can be found on the DEEP’s financial responsibility page.

Inspection & Testing Requirements

Monthly

A Class A or B operator must conduct or supervise a monthly visual inspection of each UST system. The results of each inspection must be recorded in a UST Monthly Visual Inspection Report and maintained on site for a period of no less than 3 years. For each item listed below, the inspector must record on the inspection report either No Defect or Defect to reflect the status of the item. For any items for which a Defect status is noted, repairs must be performed within 30 days. The details of the repair must be reported in the inspection report. All these activities must be performed in accordance with PEI RP 900-08, Recommended Practices for the Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems.

Every Three Years
A DEEP inspector will conduct a compliance inspection of each UST system in Connecticut at least once every three years. These inspections are not scheduled in advance. The inspector will record the findings on a tablet computer as the inspection is conducted. At the end of the inspection, the inspector will print a report of the findings and provide it to the individual on-site before leaving the facility. The inspector will request a signature solely for the purpose of documenting that the inspection report was received; the signature does not indicate concurrence with the findings or imply anything other than receipt of the report. The inspector will need to review the facility’s paperwork regarding:

Notification;
Corrosion protection (if applicable);
Spill and overfill prevention;
Tank and piping release detection;
Financial responsibility;
Operator training;
Reporting of suspected releases;
Tank and/or piping repairs;
Secondary containment; and
Temporary closure.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If a DEEP inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with state or federal UST regulations, the inspector will initiate enforcement procedures as follows.

The DEEP will issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) listing the compliance violations discovered and the corrective actions needed and a Compliance Statement form. The owner/operator will have 30 days in which to correct the violations and submit to the DEEP proof that the violations have been corrected and the signed Compliance Statement.
If the owner/operator cannot complete the corrective actions within 30 days, he or she must submit an action plan and time schedule to the DEEP for review and approval.
If the owner/operator has not responded to the NOV within 30 days, the DEEP may red-tag the UST or UST system or disable the UST system and require the contents to be pumped out. Within two business days of red-tagging a system, the DEEP will provide the owner/operator with an opportunity for a hearing.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

When a UST system is temporarily closed for more than 12 months, owners/operators must permanently close the UST system unless it meets Connecticut performance standards for new or upgraded UST systems, except that the spill and overfill equipment requirements do not need to be met. Owners/operators must permanently close substandard UST systems at the end of this 12-month period unless the DEEP extends the temporary closure period in writing.

Recordkeeping

Owners/operators of UST systems must maintain the following documentation at the UST site for 5 years beyond the operational life of the system. Records may be kept at a readily available alternate site and made available immediately for inspection if they are more than 5 years old or with prior written approval from the commissioner.

Documentation of operation of corrosion protection equipment
Recent compliance with release detection requirements
Significant construction, installation, or repair activities
Monitoring reports
Records of substantial modifications
Records of abandonment, removal, or replacement of UST system components or protective devices for such components
Results of the site investigation conducted at permanent closure
Any other activity required by an order of the commissioner

The owner/operator must review these records and attest to their accuracy by signing them no later than 7 days following the completion of the recorded activity.