Revisions to Massachusetts UST Regulations – Third Party Inspections
Posted on Thu, May 14, 2009 @ 12:41 PM
By John Bailey, Environmental Compliance Advisor
The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations, 527 CMR 9.07 Section P, now requires third party inspections of underground storage tanks (USTs). The regulations require all owners or operators of USTs have inspections performed by third party inspectors. Inspections are required upon installation for new USTs, and prior to August 8, 2010, and every three years thereafter, for existing USTs.
Note that farm or residential USTs of 1,100 gallons capacity or less used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes, and residential or commercial USTs storing heating oil (fuel oil) for consumptive use on the premises are exempt from these third-party inspection requirements.
The inspector determines that the following systems are appropriate, in place, and operational is conducted: corrosion protection; overfill prevention; spill prevention, tank and piping release detection; and secondary containment.
In addition to an inspection of the UST systems, documentation reviewed during the inspection includes: current licenses, permits and registration forms; copies of the manufacturers operating instructions and current inspection and testing records for leak detection and monitoring systems; evidence of financial responsibility; records of any release reporting and investigation; and temporary or permanent closure records.
The inspector is required to submit copies of the inspection form to the State Fire Marshall and to the head of the local fire department within 14 days of completing the inspection.
Many other changes went into effect on April 1, 2008 when these changes were announced. A summary of the changes is available at the website of the State Fire Marshall. Please contact Triumvirate's engineering services group with questions about your facilities' USTs.