UST Operator Certification Procedures
UST Training
Class A/B Operator Training
PASS' Class A/B Operator Training in West Virginia is approved thru the WVDEP
Class C Operator Training
PASS' Class C Operator Training in West Virginia is approved thru the WVDEP
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 all USTs must register their USTs with the WVDEP within 30 days of bringing that UST into use by submitting a completed
Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form along with the registration fee of $90.00 per tank. Upon receipt of the form and fee(s), the WVDEP will issue a certificate of registration to the owner/operator. Each UST registration is valid for one year and registration fees are invoiced annually. Whenever any changes are made to the UST system, including change of ownership or change in product stored, a new notification form must be submitted.
Release Reporting
Suspected and confirmed releases must be reported within 24 hours to:
- The WVDEP Underground Storage Tank program (304-558-6371); or
- The Office of Environmental Remediation (304-926-0499); or
- The local WVDEP inspector; or
- The West Virginia Emergency Spill Hotline (1-800-642-3074).
Release Detection
UST owners/operators in West Virginia 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
- Inventory control
Financial Responsibility
West Virginia 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
- State-required mechanism
- State fund or other state assurance
- Trust fund
- Stand-by trust fund
Inspection & Testing Requirements
Delivery Prohibition/Non-Compliance Enforcement
If a
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) inspector determines that a UST or UST system is out of compliance with state or federal UST regulations, he or she may initiate non-compliance enforcement procedures. The WVDEP will notify the UST owner/operator or the owner’s/operator’s authorized representative in writing (served by certified mail or hand-delivered by a WVDEP representative) that the non-compliant UST system cannot receive delivery or deposit of product. The written notice will state the violations and actions that must be taken to achieve compliance. The WVDEP will also notify the fuel deliverer of the determination and add the UST system to its
website list of USTs under delivery prohibition.
The WVDEP will then affix a red tag and lock clip to the fill port of the non-compliant UST system. The remaining product within the UST system may be dispensed unless the WVDEP determines that there is an immediate threat to public health and safety.
When the owner/operator has returned the UST system to compliance, he or she must notify the WVDEP, which will review the compliance data and/or send a representative to visit the site. Once compliance has been confirmed, the tag and lock will be removed by the WVDEP, or may be removed by the owner/operator with WVDEP approval. The WVDEP will also remove the UST system from its online list of USTs under delivery prohibition.
Temporary & Permanent Closure
Permanent Closure
In accordance with 22-17-13, at least 30 days before beginning either permanent closures or change-in-service the owner or operator must submit written notification to the UST inspector at the appropriate DEP District Office to schedule the date the closure will begin. Contact the inspector if an extension of the expiration date is necessary.