Northern Mariana Islands UST Operator Training

UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Don’t let other trainers mislead you. According to CNMI regulations, UST/AST operator training certificates do not expire and you do not need to retrain every two years.
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 of USTs are required to notify the BECQ using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form within 30 days of bringing that UST into use.  Owners/operators need to submit this form annually as well and indicate on it whether there have been any changes to the UST system or to its ownership or operation.

The UST Permit to Operate application fee is one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per tank and must be renewed yearly.

Release Reporting

Owners/operators must report any suspected or confirmed releases to the BECQ’s spill notification line (670-664-8500) within 24 hours.

Release Detection

UST owners/operators in the Northern Mariana Islands may use any of the following methods of release detection.
  • Inventory control
  • Manual tank gauging
  • Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG)
  • Vapor monitoring
  • Groundwater monitoring
  • Interstitial monitoring

Release Prevention

Each tank shall be equipped with the means to detect and prevent an overfill of the tank before a discharge can occur.

Financial Responsibility

Owners/operators of USTs must demonstrate financial responsibility in at least the following amounts.
  1. Owners/operators of 1 to 99 tanks must maintain $1 million in per occurrence insurance coverage.
  2. Owners/operators of 100 to 999 tanks must maintain $2 million in per occurrence insurance coverage.
  3. Owners/operators of tanks not used in petroleum production, refining, or marketing with a monthly throughput of 10,000 gallons or less must maintain $500,000 in per occurrence insurance coverage.
An owner/operator may use any one or a combination of the following financial responsibility mechanisms.
  • Insurance/risk retention group coverage
  • Self-insurance
  • Guarantee
  • Letter of credit
  • Surety bond
  • Trust fund
  • State-funding mechanism

Inspection & Testing Requirements

DEQ routinely conducts UST inspections of facilities that operate in the CNMI. They also provide assistance to the USEPA inspectors with follow up site inspection for compliance with their enforcement actions in the CNMI. The US EPA and DEQ conduct follow up site inspection on a semi annual schedule during US EPA’s program review or evaluation of the UST Program. Also, USEPA conduct their inspection and issues enforcement action or citation to facilities that are non-compliance and/or violates the federal UST Regulation.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If a Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with UST regulations, he or she may initiate non-compliance enforcement procedures.  An administrative order or Notice of Violation (NOV) will be issued.  The owner/operator is allowed a reasonable time period in which to correct violations, and may request a hearing within 7 calendar days from receipt of the administrative order or NOV.  The BECQ may also impose a fine of no more than $1,000.00 per violation per tank per day, require corrective action, or require the owner/operator to cease and desist operation of the UST.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

Temporary Closure
Temporary closure is for a time period of 12 months or less. Owner Operator must:
  • Continue to comply with operating requirements, release reporting and investigation and release response and corrective action;
  • Continue to comply with release detection requirements if regulated substances are stored in the tank;
  • Leave vent lines open and functioning;
  • be closed off to outside access.
Permanent Closure
Owner Operator must:
  • Notify the Division of the intent to permanently close the tank in writing no less than 30 days prior to the anticipated date of closure;
  • Assess the site;
  • Notify the local fire jurisdiction of the intent to permanently close the tank in writing no less than 30 days prior to the anticipated date of closure;
  • Remove and properly dispose of all regulated substances and any sludge or waste materials remaining in the UST and associated piping.

Recordkeeping

The owner operator shall maintain records of monitoring, testing, repairs and closures sufficient to demonstrate recent facility status.  Records demonstrating compliance with repair and upgrading requirements must be maintained for the remaining operational life of the facility.  Copies of all records shall be maintained at the UST facility.