Delaware UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Class A/B Operator Training

In order to earn an A/B operator certification in Delaware, the operator must register for and attend UST operator training courses offered at the Stanton, Dover, and Georgetown campuses of the Delaware Technical & Community College (DTCC).

Class C Operator Training

In Delaware, Class C training should be done on-site by an A/B operator. They may use our training course and orientation checklist to guide them through Class C operator training.

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 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 register each UST with the DNREC by submitting a completed UST Registration & Notification form. The owner/operator will then receive a Registration Certificate which must be displayed on the premises at all times. Owners/operators must also pay an annual $50.00 per tank registration fee on or before February 1 of each calendar year; a $30.00 per tank late fee is assessed after that date. The Registration Certificate will renew upon payment of the annual tank registration fee.

Release Reporting

Owners/operators must report any suspected or confirmed releases to the DNREC 24-hour release reporting line (1-800-662-8802) and the TMS (302-395-2500) within 24 hours of discovery.

Release Detection

UST owners/operators in Delaware may use any of the following methods of release detection:

Manual tank gauging;
Automatic tank gauging (ATG);
Secondary containment with interstitial monitoring;
Tank tightness testing; or
Another method approved by the DNREC

Release Prevention

To prevent spilling associated with Regulated Substance transfer to the UST System, Owners and Operators shall comply with the requirements of the following industry standards: NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code; or NFPA 385, Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids; or API RP 1621, Bulk Liquid Stock Control at Retail Outlets.
Owners and Operators shall equip all UST Systems with impervious spill containment devices that form a liquid tight seal around the fill pipe connection and the Stage I vapor recovery connections, where applicable.
All spill containment devices around the fill pipe shall have a minimum containment capacity of fifteen (15) gallons or be of a design that provides equivalent environmental protection.
Owners and Operators shall immediately remove water, Regulated Substance or debris that accumulates in any spill containment device. Owners and Operators shall maintain spill containment devices to be capable of containing a spill of the containment design capacity at all times.
Owners and Operators shall test spill containment devices once every twelve (12) months for tightness, or in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, or when deemed necessary by the Department to determine if a threat to human health, safety or the environment exists. Spill containment devices of double wall design with continuous monitoring of the interstitial space and the interstitial sensors are exempt from the testing requirements.

Owners and Operators shall install and maintain overfill prevention equipment that shall:

Automatically shut off the flow into the UST when the UST is no more than ninety five (95%) percent full; or
Alert the transfer operator when the UST is no more than ninety (90%) percent full by restricting the flow into the UST or triggering a high-level alarm; or
Restrict flow 30 minutes prior to overfilling, alert the Operator with a high level alarm one minute before overfilling, or automatically shut off flow into the UST so that none of the fittings located on top of the Tank are exposed to Regulated Substance due to overfilling; or
Be an automatic partial flow shut off float vent or vapor valve installed inside the UST set to restrict flow when the UST is no more than ninety (90%) full. Vent or vapor restriction devices shall not be installed in UST Systems that are equipped with suction pumps, remote fill Piping, remote vapor Piping or receive pressurized deliveries.
UST Systems that receive pressurized deliveries require a high level alarm that is triggered at no more than ninety (90%) percent full for overfill prevention or an automatic flow shut-off valve designed for pressurized deliveries.

Financial Responsibility

Delaware 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 of the following mechanisms to demonstrate financial responsibility.

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

Inspection & Testing Requirements

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Tank Management Section (TMS) has put together a Compliance Assistance Manual to assist UST owners/operators in operating and maintaining their UST systems.
Monthly: Owners/operators must conduct an inspection once during each calendar month to monitor the condition of all dispensers, dispenser sumps, access ports and containment sumps. Inspection results should be entered on the 30-day Routine Walk-Around Inspection checklist, and these checklists must be retained for three years.
Once every three years, the UST Compliance Program will inspect each UST facility to ensure that the systems are properly installed, inspected, tested, and maintained. The inspector will usually need to review paperwork concerning:
- 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.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If a DNREC TMS inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with UST regulations, the inspector will first provide written notice to the owner/operator.
Owners/operators who have not resolved compliance violations within 90 days of the written notice will be issued a Notice of Violation (NOV).
If the owner/operator fails to correct the violations by the deadline listed in the NOV, the DNREC TMS may classify the UST system as ineligible to receive product. The DNREC TMS may issue a Notice of Intent to Tag (NOIT) and will make a reasonable effort to provide written notice to the owner or operator that a delivery prohibition red tag will be placed on the UST system(s). It is the responsibility of the owner or operator to contact their supplier and delivery company to advise them of the delivery prohibition.
The owner/operator of the red tagged UST system(s) or the owner's/operator's contractor or consultant must notify the DNREC TMS upon correction of all violations before the tag can be removed. The DNREC TMS inspector may perform a follow-up compliance inspection to verify that all violations have been corrected. Upon confirmation of the correction of all violations, the DNREC TMS will remove the red tag within 24 hours or as soon as possible.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

The Owner shall notify the Department in writing of any significant change in the information presented on the original registration form including but not limited to change of address, change in UST System status including Removal, Closure in Place, Change in Service, or Change in Substance Stored, Retrofit, or Upgrade at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the change.
Owner Operator must submit a signed copy of the UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK CLOSURE NOTIFICATION to TMS ten (10) days prior to scheduled tank closure.
The Removal and Closure in Place procedures shall comply with the following industry standards:
- API RP 1604, Closure of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks.
- API RP 2015, Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks.
- OSHA, 29 CFR, 1910.146, Permit Required Confined Spaces.

Recordkeeping

Records of any of the following shall be maintained by the Owner and Operator throughout the lifetime of the UST Facility:

Dates and details of the UST System installation, including an as built plan drawn to a specified scale of the UST and Piping Systems, and photos taken during the installation; and
Documentation of operation and Maintenance of corrosion protection equipment; and
Records and dates of Retrofit, Repair or Upgrade of UST Systems; and
Dates and results of all tests of UST Systems; and
Dates, descriptions, and written documentation of Repairs, Retrofits or Upgrades of the UST Systems and associated Ancillary Equipment; and
Results of the Site Assessment conducted at each site for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with investigation requirements of Part E of these Regulations; and
Dates and details of installation of Release Detection systems and records of monitoring or inspections of Release Detection systems conducted at the Facility. These records shall include the following:
- All written performance claims pertaining to any Release Detection system used, and the manner in which these claims have been justified or tested by the equipment manufacturer or installer.
- The records and results of any sampling, testing, monitoring or inspections.
- Written documentation of all calibration, Maintenance, and repair of Release Detection equipment located on site.
Records relating to the permanent Removal or Closure In Place of an UST System shall be retained for a minimum of three (3) years by the UST Owner.
Inventory control records shall be maintained by the Owner and Operator for a period of not less than three (3) years and shall be made available for Department inspection within ten (10) days upon request.