Washington UST Operator Training

UST Operator Certification Procedures

Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' Class A/B Operator Training in Washington is approved thru the DOE.
Class C Operator Training
PASS' Class C Operator Training in Washington is approved thru the DOE.

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

Facility Compliance Tag: As of July 1, 1991, no UST facility in Washington is allowed to operate without a valid facility compliance tag. The DEC issues a one-time facility compliance tag to UST facilities that have installed required corrosion protection, spill prevention, overfill prevention, and release detection equipment, have demonstrated financial responsibility, and are current on their annual tank fees. The facility compliance tag must be displayed on or near the emergency shut-off or in close proximity to the fill pipes in clear view of fuel delivery personnel. The DEC may revoke a facility compliance tag if the facility is not in compliance.
Business License: When an owner/operator submits a Business License application for a UST facility, a completed UST addendum, proof of financial responsibility, and the applicable fees payable to the Department of Licensing must accompany the application. Upon approval of the application, the owner/operator will receive the business license listing each registered UST as an endorsement. Every year, business licenses must be renewed, annual tank fees paid, and proof of financial responsibility submitted to the Department of Licensing.
Annual Tank Fee: Owners/operators are required to pay an annual tank fee to the Department of Revenue for each UST owned and operated. The renewal date is based upon when the initial or most recent tank fee was paid. As noted earlier, additional local tank fees may be applicable in environmentally sensitive areas.

Release Reporting

In Washington, owners/operators must contact their regional DOE office regarding reportable spills, overfills, and releases. You can find the contact information for your region on the DOE website.

Northwest or Central Regions: 360‑407‑6161
Southwest or Eastern Regions: 360‑407‑6991

Suspected releases must be reported to the DEC's regional office within 24 hours. You can also report it by calling 1-800-OILS-911. Confirmed releases require the owner/operator to do the following.

Within 24 hours, report the release to the DEC, take immediate action to prevent any further release of the regulated substance into the environment, and identify and mitigate fire, explosion, and vapor hazards.
Within 20 days, monitor and reduce fire and safety hazards, reduce the threat from exposed contaminated soils by covering them, collect and analyze samples, remove any free product, and update the DEC on the clean-up progress.
Within 90 days, submit a written site characterization report to the DEC.

For more information see "What to do if you find a leak or spill from your underground storage tank?"

Release Detection

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

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

Financial Responsibility

Washington follows the federal financial responsibility coverage amounts found in 40 CFR §280.93 (scroll to page 77 of 119 in the pdf document). Owners/operators may use any of the following mechanisms to demonstrate financial responsibility.

Financial test of self-insurance
Guarantee
Insurance and risk retention group coverage
Surety bond
Letter of credit
Trust fund
Stand-by trust fund

An owner/operator may also utilize the state's Commercial UST Reinsurance Program. You can find more information in the DEC's "Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Responsibility for Underground Storage Tanks."

Inspection & Testing Requirements

The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) is required to inspect each UST system at least once every 3 years. The UST owner/operator will usually be notified at least one week prior to the inspection. In addition to inspecting all equipment, the Department of Ecology inspector will need to review the facility's records. Owners/operators should have at least the last 12 months of records available for the inspector's review. The inspector will want to see:

The current facility compliance tag;
The master business license listing each tank as an endorsement;
Proof of financial responsibility;
Monitoring and testing results; and
Third-party certification for release detection equipment.

The Department of Ecology's Toxics Cleanup Program has compiled a helpful document on preparing for a UST inspection.

Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement

If a DEC inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with state or federal storage tank regulations, he or she may issue an on-site Notice of Non-Compliance (NONC) for that UST or UST system. An NONC details the actions the owner/operator needs to take in order to bring the system into compliance and the deadlines by which those actions need to be completed. If significant violations are found at the UST site, the inspector may issue a Field Penalty (which involves a fine) and/or a delivery prohibition tag, a red tag identifying the UST as ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of regulated substances. See the DEC's "Focus on Delivery Prohibition or 'RedTagging'" for more information.

Temporary & Permanent Closure

Temporary Closure

You must notify Ecology within thirty days of placing your UST into temporary closure. To meet this requirement, a special form must be completed and returned to Ecology within 30 days of tank closure. The form is entitled, “Temporary Closure Notice". What you are required to do to your UST system during a temporary closure depends on whether or not the tank is empty, what the tanks are made of (steel, fiberglass etc.), and how long the tank will be temporarily closed. Also, in addition to notifying Ecology of your temporary closure, the regulations require that facility compliance tags (the small blue and white license plates) be returned within 30-days after completing closure activities. Read the DOE's Requirements for Temporarily Closed Underground Tank Systems for more.

Permanent Closure

At least 30 days prior to beginning permanent closure activities, a 30-Day Notice must be submitted to Ecology. This form, which includes service provider and owner information, provides the UST inspector advance notice so that he or she may visit the project site while decommissioning work is being conducted. If the exact date of closure is unknown when the 30-Day Notice is submitted, be sure to contact the Ecology inspector at least three business days prior to the project start date. It is your responsibility to contact other local authorities, including the fire marshal, for any additional policies and/or permits. During the 30-day notice period, the contents of the tank may be pumped from the tank and recycled or disposed of as dangerous wastes. Owner Operator must also complete a Permanent Closure Notice form.

Please see the Permanent Closure instructions from the DEC for more detailed information and instructions.

All forms, checklists and reports must be submitted to:
Department of Ecology
Underground Storage Tanks
P.O. Box 47655
Olympia, WA 98504-7655

Recordkeeping

Owners and operators shall maintain the following information:

Documentation of operation of corrosion protection equipment (WAC 173-360-320);
Documentation of UST system repairs (WAC 173-360-325(7));
Recent compliance with release detection requirements (WAC 173-360-355);
Results of the site assessment conducted at permanent closure (WAC 173-360-398);
Corrective action records in accordance with chapter WAC 173-360-0240; and
Evidence of financial assurance mechanisms used to demonstrate financial responsibility (WAC 173-360-750).

Availability and maintenance of records. Owners and operators shall keep the records required either:

At the UST site and immediately available for inspection by the department or delegated agency; or
At a readily available alternative site and be provided for inspection to the department or delegated agency upon request.
In the case of permanent closure records required under WAC 173-360-0810, owners and operators are also provided with the additional alternative of mailing closure records to the department or delegated agency if they cannot be kept at the site or an alternative site as indicated above.