EPA Regulatory Applicability

40 CFR 112 applies to petroleum oils, non-petroleum oils, animal fats, oils and greases, fish and marine mammal oils, vegetable oils (including oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, and kernels), and also applies to any owner or operator of a non-transportation-related onshore or offshore facility engaged in drilling, producing, gathering, storing, processing, refining, transferring, distributing, using, or consuming oil and oil products; which, due to its location, could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in quantities that may be harmful, into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines, or into or upon the waters of the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act or the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, or that may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United States (including resources under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act) that has oil in:

Any aboveground container
Any completely buried tank (see definitions)
Any container that is used for standby storage, for seasonal storage, or for temporary storage, or not otherwise “permanently closed” (see definitions)
Any “bunkered tank” or “partially buried tank” (see definitions), or any container in a vault, each of which is considered an aboveground storage container for purposes of 40 CFR 112.

A bulk storage container is 55 gal. or greater and may be above-ground, partially buried, bunkered, or completely buried. “Bunkered tanks” are defined as “a container constructed or placed in the ground by cutting the earth and re-covering the container in a manner that breaks the surrounding natural grade, or that lies above grade, and is covered with earth, sand, gravel, asphalt, or other material. A bunkered tank is considered an above-ground storage container for purposes of 40 CFR 112”

Design

A container (i.e. storage tank) cannot be used for the storage of oil unless its material and construction are compatible with the material stored and conditions of storage such as pressure and temperature.

All bulk storage container installations must be constructed so a secondary means of containment is provided for the entire capacity of the largest single container and sufficient free-board to contain precipitation. Diked areas must be sufficiently impervious to contain discharged oil. While dikes, containment curbs, and pits are commonly employed for this purpose, an alternative system consisting of a drainage trench enclosure that must be arranged so that any discharge will terminate and be safely confined in a facility catchment basin or holding pond may also be used.

Each bulk storage container installation must be engineered or updated in accordance with good engineering practice to avoid discharges, and maintained on a regular basis.

Mobile/Portable AST

Mobile or portable oil bulk storage containers must be positioned or located to prevent a discharge and furnished with a secondary means of containment, such as a dike or catchment basin, sufficient to contain the capacity of the largest single compartment or container with sufficient free-board to contain precipitation.

Tank Monitoring

Fuel monitoring control and management devices are designed to monitor, save and optimize fuel related costs. Information about fuel level and consumption is obtained in two ways – connecting GPS tracker to on-board computer or installing fuel level sensor directly on the fuel tank.

This solution generates detailed reports which identify drivers or onsite users who waste company fuel and allow you to manage your cost centers based on the usage. It also shows when the fuel tank was filled and when there is fuel theft. In case of fuel theft a warning email or text message is sent to the persons in charge.

Tank Maintenance Management

Each above-ground container will be tested for integrity on a regular schedule, and whenever material repairs are made. The frequency of and type of testing will take into account container size and design (such as floating roof, skid-mounted, elevated, or partially buried).

NextGen will combine visual inspection with other testing techniques such as hydrostatic testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, acoustic emissions testing, or another system of non-destructive shell testing. Comparison records will be kept and the container’s supports and foundations also inspected. Personnel will frequently inspect the outside of the container for signs of deterioration, discharges, or accumulation of oil inside diked areas.

Liquid level sensing devices will be regularly tested to ensure proper operation.

Effluent treatment facilities are observed frequently enough to detect possible system upsets that could cause a discharge.

If field-constructed above-ground containers undergo a repair, alteration, reconstruction, or a change in service that might affect the risk of a discharge or failure due to brittle fracture or other catastrophe, or has discharged oil or failed due to brittle fracture failure or other catastrophe, the container is evaluated for risk of discharge or failure due to brittle fracture or other catastrophe and appropriate actions taken.