Ohio UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' Class A/B Operator Training in Ohio is approved thru BUSTR
Class C Operator Training
PASS' Class C Operator Training in Ohio is accepted thru BUSTR

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

Within 30 days of bringing a new UST system into service, the owner/operator must submit a completed Registration Application for UST to the state fire marshal’s office accompanied by the application fee of $50 per tank. UST registrations are valid for one year. No later than July 1 of each year, an owner/operator must submit a new registration application to the state fire marshal’s office along with the fee of $50. This application form will be sent to owners/operators at least 30 days prior to the registration deadline.

Release Reporting

An owner/operator must report a release or suspected release to BUSTR and the local fire department within 24 hours of discovery. All spills and overfills that occur while transferring or attempting to transfer petroleum into an UST system must be reported within 24 hours unless the spill/overfill is 25 gallons or less, does not reach a surface water body, storm water system, monitoring well or observation well, and is cleaned up within 24 hours of pre-spill/overfill conditions.

During normal business hours (8am-5pm): call the BUSTR main line at 614-752-7938 or 800-686-2878 and follow the prompts to speak to a duty officer.
After hours (emergency): call BUSTR at 614-752-7938 or 800-686-2878 and stay on the line and you will be connected to the after hours emergency call-in dispatch service. In addition, please notify your local fire department and the Ohio EPA at 800-282-9378.
After hours (non-emergency): call BUSTR at 614-752-7938 or 800-686-2878 or e-mail at web.bustr@com.state.oh.us and leave a detailed message that includes the following: name of the person reporting the release, name and address of the facility, contact information and a description of the release. Otherwise, call BUSTR the next business day.

Release Detection

In Ohio, 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
Manual tank gauging
Inventory control

Release Prevention

In Ohio, internal lining added to an existing metal UST in order to meet corrosion protection requirements is prohibited unless the owner/operator obtains written approval from the state fire marshal prior to application of the lining.

Financial Responsibility

Amounts

Owners/operators in Ohio must demonstrate financial responsibility for each UST in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Owners/operators must also demonstrate financial responsibility in at least the following annual aggregate amounts:

For owners/operators of 1 to 100 USTs: $1,000,000
For owners/operators of 101 or more USTs: $2,000,000

Mechanisms

An owner/operator may use any one or a combination of the following financial responsibility mechanisms.

Financial test of self-insurance
Guarantee
Insurance and risk retention group coverage
Surety bond
Letter of credit
Trust fund
Stand-by trust fund
State or political subdivision bond rating test
State or political subdivision financial test
Political subdivision guarantee
State or political subdivision fund

Petroleum Financial Assurance Fund

The Petroleum Financial Assurance Fund can reimburse owners/operators for costs associated with cleaning up a petroleum release. The Fund is supported by mandatory tank fees paid annually by owners/operators of petroleum UST facilities. As of March 20, 2014, the fee was $500 per tank for coverage at the standard $55,000 deductible and $700 per tank for coverage at the reduced deductible of $11,000. Tank fees are due and payable on July 1 of each year, and must be accompanied by the annual registration form.

The Ohio Petroleum Storage Tank Release Compensation Board will issue a certificate of coverage to the owner/operator who has paid the assessed fee, provided proof of financial responsibility coverage, and certified that the UST system is in compliance with storage tank regulations.

Inspection & Testing Requirements

The Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR) will conduct a compliance inspection of each UST facility at least once every three years. During this compliance inspection, the owner/operator must provide the inspector with documentation of the following:

USTs, piping, and containments are installed and operating correctly;
Corrosion protection equipment is installed and operating correctly;
Spill prevention equipment is installed and operating correctly;
Overfill prevention equipment is installed and operating correctly;
Release detection equipment is installed and operating correctly;
Hazardous substance and sensitive area UST systems are installed and operating correctly;
Administrative documents relating to registration, assurance, permits, and operator training are in proper order;
Compliance inspections have been performed;
Any past and/or ongoing work on UST Systems; and
Any delivery prohibition notices.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

The state fire marshal will classify a UST as ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of regulated substance if one or more of the following conditions exist, affix a red tag to the UST’s fill pipe, and list the UST on its website.

Required spill prevention equipment is not installed.
Required overfill equipment is not installed.
Required corrosion protection equipment is not installed.
Required release detection equipment is not installed.

The state fire marshal may classify a UST as ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of regulated substance if the owner/operator fails to correct any of the following violations within 60 days of issuing a notification of violation.

Failure to properly operate or maintain spill prevention equipment.
Failure to properly operate or maintain overfill prevention equipment.
Failure to properly operate or maintain corrosion protection equipment.
Failure to properly operate or maintain release detection equipment.
Failure to obtain a valid certificate of coverage from the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

Temporary Closure

If the UST system remains in temporary closure for 90 days or more, the owner/operator must leave the vent lines open and functioning, cap and secure all other lines, pumps, manways, and ancillary equipment, and empty the UST so that no more than one inch of residue remains in the system. The owner/operator will also need to obtain an out-of-service permit, unless the 90 days is part of a scheduled seasonal disuse and the owner/operator has obtained written approval from the state fire marshal.

Permanent Removal

Permanent removal of a UST system must comply with the following requirements.

Prior to removal, the UST must be checked to ensure that no explosive vapors have accumulated in the UST.
All liquid and residue must be removed from the UST prior to removal.
The UST must be rendered unusable and free of explosive vapors before it leaves the site. This can be accomplished by cutting up, crushing or perforating the UST using explosion-proof non-sparking tools.
All backfill from the tank cavity excavation, piping trenches, dispensing unit areas, and remote fill pipe trenches must be removed.
No more than 12 inches of native soil may be removed from the excavation area.
Backfill and native soil removed from the excavation area may be stored on site for up to 120 days if it has been placed on a concrete pad, asphalt pad, or impermeable synthetic liner, covered to prevent infiltration of rain water, and has been surrounded by a berm to minimize water run-off.

Permanent Closure

If a UST is temporarily closed for more than twelve months, it must be either returned to service or permanently closed. At least 30 days prior to permanently closing the UST, the owner/operator must notify the state fire marshal’s office of the intent to close the UST. When a tank has been permanently closed, it must undergo a change-in-service, be emptied and removed, or be closed-in-place.

Change-in-Service

To undergo a change-in-service, the UST must be completely emptied and cleaned and all piping and ancillary equipment that is not part of the change-in-service must be closed-in-place or removed.

Closure-in-Place

Closure-in-place must be approved in writing by the state fire marshal or a certified fire safety inspector with delegated authority. Closure-in-place will only be allowed if:

Removing the UST will damage or weaken adjacent equipment or structures;
The UST is situated in a location where removal is physically impossible; or
Removal of the UST will expose people or the environment to unreasonable hazards.

The UST must be filled with an inert solid material with a density greater than the density of water.

Closure Assessment

If a UST or any portion of the UST system is removed, undergoes a change-in-service, is closed-in-place, is out-of-service for more than twelve months without an approved extension, or is out-of-service for more than the approved out-of-service period, the owner/operator will be required to conduct a closure assessment. The closure assessment will include:

A visual evaluation of the UST site to identify evidence of past or present operational problems;
Collection of soil samples for laboratory analysis; and
Collection of water samples (in cases of permanent removal) for laboratory analysis.

Within 90 days of completing the closure assessment, the owner/operator must submit a written closure report to the state fire marshal.

Recordkeeping

In addition to the records required for BUSTR’s three-year compliance inspection, owners/operators must keep copies of all current and valid registration applications at the facility and make that documentation available for inspection within 24 hours of a request by the state fire marshal or local fire official.