Frequently Asked Questions

 A class A/B operator has a primary responsibility to operate and maintain the UST system. The operator’s responsibilities include managing resources and personnel, and activities such as establishing work assignments to achieve and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. This individual handles the broader aspects of the statuary and regulatory requirements and standards necessary to operate and maintain the UST system.  

 An A/B operator is required on any site retail, generator, municipality, board of education, transportation, etc. that owns or operates an underground storage tank system and is subject to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule 40 C.F.R. Part 280.  

 Class C operators are the first responders to emergency situations at a UST facility. They are usually clerks of the facility. Class C operators respond to alarms, releases, and other emergency situations, control and/or monitor the dispensing or sale of regulated substances.  

  Yes, all sites need key emergency personnel called C operators.  

 Yes, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) allows designated third party A/B operators.  

 Look no further, RNA Management is a third-party certified A/B operator. 

• Are trained to operate and maintain the UST system and keep records. 
• Train key personnel to properly respond to emergencies caused by releases or spills from UST systems at the facility. 
• Ensure all relevant equipment complies with performance standards. 
• Ensure that appropriate individuals are trained to properly respond to emergencies caused by releases or spills from UST systems at the facility. 

The UST regulation describes steps you, as an UST owner or operator, must take to help protect our health and environment from potential UST releases. These steps will also help you avoid the high cost of cleaning up the environment and possible legal actions of your UST system leaks. 

As of October 13, 2018, what are the UST requirements? 

• Designation and training of A, B, and C operations. 
• Release detection for UST systems storing fuel for use by emergency power generators. 
• Subpart K applicability for AHS’s and FCT’s (release detection, upgrade, general operating requirements, and operator training requirements) 
• Spill prevention equipment inspections every 3 years. 
• Release detection equipment testing annually. 
• Monthly walkthrough inspections of spill prevention equipment and release detection equipment. 
• Annual walkthrough inspections of containment sumps and hand held release detection equipment. 

Dispensers installed after April 11, 2016 must have under-dispenser containment. Under-dispenser containment must be liquid-tight on its sides, bottom, and at any penetrations. Under-dispenser containment must allow for visual inspection and access to the components in the containment system or be periodically monitored for leaks from the dispenser system. 

You must report to your implementing agency on the following occasions. After you install an UST, after you acquire an UST such as by purchasing a gas station. Before switching to certain biofuels or other substances identified by your implementing agency. When you suspect a release. When you confirm a release. Before your permanently close your UST. Check with your implementing agency for additional requirements not noted above. 

Many releases at UST site come from spills. Spills often occur at the fill pipe when the delivery truck’s hose is disconnected. Although these spills are usually small, repeated small releases can cause big environmental problems. 

• Your UST’s must have spill prevention equipment (commonly called spill buckets or catchment basins) to contain drips and small spills that can occur when the delivery hose is disconnected from the fill pipe. 
• You must test your spill prevention equipment at least every three years for liquid tightness or use a double-walled spill bucket with periodic interstitial monitoring. The test must be conducted according to a code of practice or manufacturer’s instructions. 
• No later than October 13, 2018, you must begin inspecting your spill prevention equipment at least every 30 days (or before each delivery if you receive deliveries less frequently than every 30 days). 
• You and your delivery person must follow correct filling practices. 

Spill buckets are also called spill containment manholes or catchment basins. Basically, a spill bucket is a contained area around the fill pipe. To protect against spills, the spill bucket should be large enough to contain what may spill when the delivery hose is uncoupled from the fill pipe. Spill buckets range in size from those capable of holding only a few gallons to those that are much larger; the larger the spill bucket, the more spill protection it provides. 

You should try to keep water out of spill buckets. Some spill buckets can collect water and sediment, along with spilled product, making draining this mixture into the tank unwise. If this happens you may pump out the spill bucket and dispose of the liquid properly. If the liquid contains fuel or chemicals, it could be considered a hazardous waste. Contact your implementing agency responsible for hazardous waste for information on testing and handling requirements. 

Your UST must have overfill prevention. Automatic shutoff devices, overfill alarms, and ball float valves are the three types of overfill prevention devices. 

You must inspect your overfill prevention equipment at least once every three years to ensure it will function properly to prevent overfills. The inspection must be conducted according to a code of practice or manufacturer’s instructions. You and your delivery person must follow correct filling practices.  

You can solve overfill problems by making sure there is enough room in the tank for the delivery before the delivery is made. Watch the entire delivery to prevent overfilling or spilling. Use overfill prevention devices. 

WHAT ARE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF DEVICES? 

An automatic shutoff device installed in a UST’s fill pipe slows down and then stops delivery no later than when the product reaches 95 percent capacity or before the fittings on top of the tank are exposed to product. This device is sometimes called a flapper valve; it has one or two valves that are operated by a float mechanism. 

Overfill alarms use probes installed in the tank to activate an alarm no later than when the tank is either90 percent full or within 1 minute of being overfilled. Either way, the alarm should provide enough time for the delivery person to close the truck’s shutoff valve before an overfill happens. Alarms must be located where the delivery person can see or hear them easily. Overfill alarms are often part of automatic tank gauging systems. 

You must provide your UST system with release detection that allows you to meet the following basic requirements: 

• You can detect a release from any portion of the tank or its piping that routinely contains product. 
• Your release detection is installed and calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Your release detection meets the performance requirements described in the federal UST regulations. 40 CFR 280.43 and 280.44. 

No later than October 13, 2018, you must perform your first annual release detection equipment test to make sure components such as probes, sensors, and automatic line leak detectors are working properly. You must keep records of these tests for three years.