Virginia UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' Class A/B Operator Training in Virginia is approved thru the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Class C Operator Training
In Virginia, Class C training is done on-site by the A/B operator. They can use our Class C training tools and an orientation check-off list to guide them through onsite 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 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 must register all USTs with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by submitting a completed Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form (instructions for filling out this form can be found here) to the appropriate DEQ regional office.

Release Reporting

Owners/operators must report any suspected or confirmed releases to the appropriate DEQ regional office within 24 hours of discovery. Cleanup information can be found here.

Release Detection

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

Automatic tank gauging (ATG);
Manual tank gauging;
Statistical Inventory Reconciliation (SIR);
Vapor monitoring;
Groundwater monitoring;
Tank tightness testing; or
Inventory control.

Release Prevention

All new dispenser systems (those installed at a location where there was previously no dispenser and those replacing an existing dispenser where the equipment used to connect the dispenser to the UST system is replaced at any point below the fire valve or where the island must be modified) must have under-dispenser containment (UDC).

Financial Responsibility

Virginia bases its required coverage amounts on annual throughput in gallons for the previous calendar year, as illustrated in the table shown here. The per-occurrence amount is broken down into corrective action amounts (to cover clean-up activities) and third-party liability amounts (to cover the costs of third-party lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage caused by a petroleum release). The annual aggregate amount is the total amount of financial responsibility an owner/operator must demonstrate to cover leaks which may occur within one year. Owners/operators may use any of the following mechanisms to demonstrate financial responsibility.

Financial test of self-insurance
Guarantee
Insurance policy
Surety bond
Letter of credit
Trust agreement

Inspection & Testing Requirements

Each DEQ regional office will conduct periodic inspections of each UST system in its area.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If a DEQ inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with UST regulations, he or she will first issue a notice of alleged violation with a time frame in which the owner/operator must correct the alleged violations. If the owner/operator does not address the alleged violations within that time frame, the DEQ regional office will provide written notice to the owner/operator of an informal fact-finding hearing to determine whether a UST system is eligible for delivery prohibition. The fact-finding hearing will be scheduled as soon as practicable but at least within 10 business days. If the DEQ determines that the UST system is out of compliance, an inspector will affix a red delivery prohibition tag to the fill port of the non-compliant UST system.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

Temporary Closure

Prior to permanently closing a UST, the owner/operator must ensure that he or she has obtained a permit and the required inspections from the building official in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Permanent Closure

Prior to permanently closing a UST, the owner/operator must ensure that he or she has obtained a permit and the required inspections from the building official in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
At least 30 days prior to permanently closing a UST, the owner/operator must notify the DEQ of the intent to close the UST.
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.

Recordkeeping

All performance claims pertaining to any release detection system and the manner in which these claims have been justified or tested by the equipment manufacturer or installer must be maintained for five years.
The results of any sampling, testing, or monitoring must be maintained for at least one year.
Written documentation of all calibration, maintenance, and repair of release detection equipment permanently located on site must be maintained for at least one year after the servicing work is completed.
All schedules of required calibration and maintenance provided by the release detection equipment manufacturer must be retained for five years from the date of installation.