Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' A/B Operator Training in Maryland is approved by the MDE
Class C Operator Training
PASS' C Operator Training in Maryland is approved by the MDE

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.

Owners/operators of all USTs must register their USTs with the MDE within 30 days of bringing that UST into use by submitting a completed Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form (instructions for filling out this form can be found here).  Whenever any changes are made to the UST system, including change of ownership or change in product stored, a new notification form must be submitted.

Owners/operators must report any suspected or confirmed releases to the MDE’s 24-hour spill notification line (1-866-633-4686) within 2 hours of discovery.
At unattended facilities, emergency procedures and emergency contact information must be conspicuously posted in lettering no less than one inch high on a sign not less than 8″ by 10″.

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

Release detection methods must be third-party certified by the National Work Group on Leak Detection Evaluations (NWGLDE).  Vapor monitoring may be used for release detection only with prior approval from the MDE.

Spill Buckets

Containment Sumps

Overfill Protection

Tank Lining

Cathodic Protection

Maryland follows the federal financial responsibility coverage amounts found in 40 CFR §280.93 (scroll to page 77 of 119 in the pdf document) and COMAR 26.10.11.01(B)(3) (scroll to page 78 of 112).  Owners/operators may use any of the following mechanisms to demonstrate financial responsibility.

Inspections

Maryland UST regulations require that all USTs be inspected every three years and upon change in ownership or new installation.  Inspections must be conducted by an MDE-certified inspector.  The inspector will usually need to review paperwork concerning:

Written Operator Manual

All of this information should be in the facility’s written operator manual, which the A/B operator must compile and maintain.  The written operator manual must also include information on:

If a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with UST regulations, he or she may initiate non-compliance enforcement procedures.  The MDE will notify the owner/operator in writing of all violations discovered at the facility.  The MDE will also affix a lock, tag, or sticker to the fill pipe of the ineligible UST.  The owner/operator may continue to dispense fuel until the tank is empty, but the UST may not receive fuel deliveries until the MDE is satisfied that all violations have been corrected.  If your UST or UST system has been tagged, read the MDE’s guide for information on how to respond.

A UST must be permanently closed if:

At least 30 days prior to closing the UST, the owner/operator must notify the MDE in writing of the intent to close the UST, and confirm the planned closure with the MDE at least 48 hours in advance.  The owner/operator must also initiate and complete a site assessment by measuring for a release where contamination is most likely to be present.  If contaminated soils, contaminated groundwater, or free product as liquid or vapor is discovered during the site assessment, the owner/operator must immediately begin corrective action.  When a tank has been permanently closed, it must be emptied, cleaned, and either removed from the ground or, with MDE approval, left in the ground and filled with an inert solid material.