Section 370. Requirements for delivery prohibition

A. No person shall deliver to, deposit into, or accept a petroleum product or other regulated substance into an underground storage tank that has been identified under subdivision G 2 of this section by the board to be ineligible for such delivery, deposit, or acceptance. Unless authorized in writing by the board, no person shall alter, deface, remove, or attempt to remove a tag that prohibits delivery, deposit, or acceptance of a petroleum product or other regulated substance to an underground storage tank.

B. When an inspection or other information provides reason to believe one or more of the following violations exists, the board shall initiate a proceeding in accordance with subsection D of this section:

1. Spill prevention equipment is not installed on the UST system properly as required by 9VAC25-580-50 or 9VAC25-580-60 or is disabled;

2. Overfill protection equipment is not installed on the UST system properly as required by 9VAC25-580-50 or 9VAC25-580-60 or is disabled;

3. Release detection equipment is not installed on the UST system properly or is disabled or a release detection method is not being performed as required by 9VAC25-580-50 or 9VAC25-580-60;

4. Corrosion protection equipment is not installed on the UST system properly as required by 9VAC25-580-50 or 9VAC25-580-60 or is disabled;

5. Secondary containment is not installed on the UST system properly as required by 9VAC25-580-50, 9VAC25-580-60, or 9VAC25-580-150 or is disabled; or

6. The board has reason to believe that an UST system is leaking and the owner or operator has failed to initiate and complete the investigation and confirmation requirements of 9VAC25-580-190 through 9VAC25-580-210.

C. For purposes of subsection B of this section, spill prevention, overfill prevention, corrosion protection, release detection, or secondary containment equipment that is not verifiable as installed is not installed.

D. The board shall provide written notice to the owner and operator pursuant to subdivision G 1 of this section that it will conduct an informal fact finding pursuant to § 2.2-4019 of the Code of Virginia to determine whether the underground storage tank(s) shall be ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of a petroleum product or other regulated substance. The fact finding shall be scheduled as soon as practicable after the notice, and within 10 business days in any event. Upon a finding to impose delivery prohibition, the board shall affix a tag to the fill pipe of the underground storage tank(s) prohibiting delivery, deposit, or acceptance of a petroleum product or other regulated substance.

E. When the board issues a notice of alleged violation based on an inspection or other information that provides reason to believe a UST system is not in compliance with the requirements of Part II, III, or IV of this chapter not listed in subsection B of this section, the requirements of 9VAC25-580-240 through 9VAC25-580-280, or the requirements of 9VAC25-590 (Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Requirements), and the owner or operator fails to comply with the notice of alleged violation within the time prescribed by the board, the board may proceed in accordance with subsection D of this section.

F. The board may classify all underground storage tanks containing petroleum or any other regulated substance at a facility as ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of a petroleum product or other regulated substance if one or more underground storage tanks at the facility has been classified as ineligible for more than 90 days and the ineligible underground storage tank(s) has neither been closed in accordance with 9VAC25-580-310 or 9VAC25-580-320 nor returned to compliance. The board shall provide written notice to the owner and operator pursuant to subdivision G 1 of this section that it will conduct an informal fact finding pursuant to § 2.2-4019 of the Code of Virginia to determine whether all the underground storage tanks shall be ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of a petroleum product or other regulated substance. The fact finding shall be scheduled as soon as practicable after the notice, and within 10 business days in any event.

G. Notice.

1. The board shall provide written notice of an informal fact finding to consider delivery prohibition to the owner and operator. The notice shall meet the requirements of § 2.2-4019 of the Code of Virginia. The notice shall further advise the owner and operator of the possibility of a special order pursuant to subsection I of this section.

2. The presence of the delivery prohibition tag on the fill pipe of an ineligible underground storage tank shall be sufficient notice to any person, including the owner, the operator, and product deliverers, that the underground storage tank is ineligible for delivery or deposit. The board may use other methods in addition to the delivery prohibition tag to provide notice to product deliverers.

H. An owner or operator shall notify the board in writing once an ineligible underground storage tank has been returned to compliance and provide a written report detailing all actions that have been taken to return the UST system to compliance, as well as supporting evidence such as test reports, invoices, receipts, inventory records, etc. As soon as practicable after confirming that the underground storage tank is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter or 9VAC25-590, or both, but in no event later than two business days, the board shall remove or authorize the owner or operator, in writing, to remove the delivery prohibition tag.

I. If the board determines that a violation exists that warrants the imposition of delivery prohibition, the board may further consider whether the threat posed by the violation is outweighed by the need for fuel from the underground storage tank(s) in question to meet an emergency situation or the need for availability of or access to motor fuel in any rural and remote area. If the board finds that such a condition outweighs the immediate risk of the violation, the board may defer imposition of delivery prohibition for up to 180 days. In every such case the director shall consider (i) issuing a special order under the authority of subdivision 10 of § 10.1-1186 of the Code of Virginia prescribing a prompt schedule for abating the violation and (ii) imposing a civil penalty.

J. The board may temporarily authorize an owner or operator to accept delivery into an ineligible underground storage tank(s) if such activity is necessary to test or calibrate the underground storage tank(s) or dispenser system.

K. Nothing in this section shall prevent the board or the director from exercising any other enforcement authority including, without limitation, their authority to issue emergency orders and their authority to seek injunctive relief.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 26, Issue 25, eff. September 15, 2010.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15 and 62.1-44.34:9 of the Code of Virginia; 40 CFR Parts 280 and 281.