Section 120. Aboveground storage tank closure

A. After June 24, 1998, a facility or AST, including a facility or AST operated by the federal government, shall not be permanently closed without being registered and either (i) having a review performed by the department of the permits and inspections required in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and obtained by the owner or a duly authorized representative from the local code official or his designee or (ii) being inspected by the department.

1. For inspections by the department (e.g., where a permit is not issued by the local code official or his designee), at least 14 days notice to the department is required prior to the commencement of closure operations. Notice shall be made by the owner or a duly authorized representative.

2. In the case of a regulated AST operated by the Commonwealth, the Department of General Services shall function as the local code official in accordance with § 36-98.1 of the Code of Virginia.

3. If the closure is in response to containment and cleanup actions that necessitate AST removal, the owner or a duly authorized representative of the facility or AST shall immediately notify the local code official and the department.

B. Closure operations shall be reported to the department by the owner or a duly authorized representative within 30 days after the permanent closure operation is completed.

C. Closure operations shall include the following:

1. Removal of all liquids, sludges, and vapors from the AST and associated piping. All wastes removed shall be disposed of in accordance with all applicable state and federal requirements.

2. For tanks being closed in place, the tank shall be rendered vapor free. Provisions must be made for adequate ventilation to ensure that the tank remains vapor free. Vent lines shall remain open and maintained in accordance with the applicable codes. All access openings shall be secured (normally with spacers to assist ventilation). The AST shall be secured against tampering and flooding. The name of the product last stored, the date of permanent closure and PERMANENTLY CLOSED shall be stenciled in a readily visible location on the AST. Piping shall be disconnected. All pipes being closed in place shall be vapor free and capped or blind flanged.

3. An assessment of the AST site shall be conducted prior to completion of permanent closure operations.

a. In conducting the assessment, the owner or a duly authorized representative shall sample and test for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons at the AST site in any area where contamination is likely to have occurred. These locations shall be subject to the review of the board. Sampling and testing shall be conducted in accordance with established EPA-approved analytical methods or other methods approved by the board.

(1) The owner or a duly authorized representative shall submit copies of the laboratory results, a description of the area sampled, a photograph of the site indicating sampled areas, and a site map indicating the location of the closed AST and associated piping as attachments to the closure form.

(2) If contaminated soils, contaminated groundwater, free product as a liquid or vapor, or other evidence of a release is discovered, the owner or a duly authorized representative shall immediately notify the board and conduct the cleanup in accordance with board requirements.

b. The board may consider an alternative to the soil sampling requirements of this subsection if the owner or a duly authorized representative of the AST demonstrates to the board's satisfaction that:

(1) There is no evidence of present or past contamination by providing records of monthly leak detection monitoring for the previous 12 months; and

(2) The facility or AST has operated an approved or approvable leak detection system.

4. A closure inspection conducted by either the department or the local building official, as discussed in subsection A of this section.

D. When deemed necessary by the board, the owner or a duly authorized representative of a facility or an AST that was permanently closed prior to June 24, 1998, shall assess the site and close the AST in accordance with the requirements of this section.

E. The owner or a duly authorized representative shall maintain all records relating to compliance with this section for a period of not less than five years from the date the board receives notice of the completed closure. These records shall be made available to the board upon request.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; Errata, 14:23 VA.R 3682 August 3, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.