Temporary Removal from Service
To meet TCEQ requirements for temporary-removal-from-service, the following requirements must be met:
- All vent lines must be kept open and functioning.
- All other piping, pumps, manways, tank access points (e.g., fill risers, automatic tank gauging risers, Stage I vapor recovery risers) and ancillary equipment must be capped, plugged, locked, and/or otherwise secured to prevent access, tampering, or vandalism by unauthorized persons.
Any UST system may remain out of service indefinitely so long as the following requirements are met during the period that the UST system remains temporarily out of service.
- The UST system must be adequately protected from corrosion in accordance with the applicable requirements of 30 TAC §334.49 and that corrosion protection must be maintained.
- Unless the UST system has been emptied of all regulated substances (to less than 1 inch of residue) at the time it is temporarily removed from service, the UST system must be monitored for releases in accordance with the applicable requirements of 30 TAC §334.50.
- An amended UST Registration and Self Certification form (TCEQ Form 0724) must be filed with TCEQ within 30 days of temporary removal from service showing the amended UST system status.
- If the UST system is empty as defined above, maintaining financial assurance is not required, but is recommended.
Return to Service
- At least 30 days beforehand, file a Notification of Construction (TCEQ Form 0495) with TCEQ
- For any UST system out of service for more than 6 months, tank and piping tightness tests are required.
- Ensure compliance with applicable release detection, spill/overfill prevention and corrosion protection requirements.
- Obtain or maintain acceptable financial assurance.
- Ensure compliance with Operator Training requirements
- File an amended UST Registration and Self Certification form (TCEQ Form 0724) within 30 days after returning your UST to service.
Permanent Removal from Service
- An option for permanently removing a UST system from service is change-in-service which involves completely removing all regulated substances from that system and converting it to a system storing materials other than regulated substances. Note, however, that conversion to the storage of either drinking water or food products intended for human consumption is specifically prohibited.
- All permanent removal from service activities:
- Require the filing of prior Notification of Construction (TCEQ Form 0495) in accordance with 30 TAC §334.6 of TCEQ rule;
- Must be performed in accordance with all applicable requirements of 30 TAC §334.55 of TCEQ rule; and
- Following completion of the permanent removal from service activity, require the filing of an update to registration status in accordance with 30 TAC §334.7 of TCEQ rule.
When the permanent removal from service of a UST system occurs, the owner/operator must determine whether or not any prior release has occurred. That determination must be performed after Notification of Construction and prior to completion of permanent removal from service. It is typically accomplished by the performance of a comprehensive site assessment involving sampling of backfill, surrounding soils and if necessary, groundwater, by qualified personnel and having those samples analyzed for contamination in accordance with applicable TCEQ requirements. A removal report containing the results of the assessment and analyses is required.