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Basic Requirements	Leak Detection	Tank Install or Upgrade
Registration Fees	Leak Detection Probation	Tank Closure
Regulations governing Underground Storage Tanks in Alaska (18 AAC 78)
Leaking Underground Tanks (Contaminated Sites Program)
Home Heating Oil Tanks (Prevention and Emergency Response Program)
What is the definition of an underground storage tank? An underground storage tank or underground storage tank system means one or more stationary devices, including any connected underground pipes, designed to contain an accumulation of petroleum, of which the volume, including the volume of underground pipes, is 10% or more beneath the surface of the grade. DEC's definition is essentially the same as EPA's, although Alaska does not include tanks that store Hazardous Waste. Please see regulations governing UST's (18 AAC 78) for more information.

• Tanks of any size storing heating oil for on-site consumption. See the Prevention and Emergency Response Program's Heating Oil Tank webpage.
• Any tanks less than 110 gallons capacity.
• Any farm or residential motor fuel tank used for non commercial purposes that is less than 1,100 gallons capacity.
• Hazardous waste storage tanks. For more information...
• Septic tanks. For more information...
• Pipeline facility. For more information...
• Tanks in basement or tunnel. For information...
• Emergency overfill tanks that are emptied within 24 hours, or
• Flow through process tanks.

Unsure of your situation? Contact Cheryl Paige, 907-269-7679 or Bill Steele, UST Manager at 907-269-7886.

• All active and temporarily closed UST systems must be inspected every three years by a licensed inspector.
• For most UST systems, you must have adequate leak detection, spill and overfill prevention, and corrosion protection.
• Doing routine maintenance on your UST system is important and often times required. Get a copy of the Alaska Operation & Maintenance Manual. 
• For most active and temporarily closed UST systems, you must have adequate Financial Responsibility coverage.
• All tanks must have Operations Tags posted on-site to receive fuel legally.
• Any installation, testing or closing of a UST (including piping), must be done by a person certified by the State of Alaska to perform UST work.

• All active underground storage tanks owned by commercial, private and local government tank owners must pay an annual registration fee.
• Fees are due on December 1 of the year preceding the registration year. UST registration expires on December 31 each year. (i.e.,: 2003 fees were due December 31, 2002).
• Fees received after the December 31 are considered late.  There is a $10.00 per day late fee for each day fees are overdue.  There are no exceptions.
• Fee amounts:

• Full fees for non-upgraded tanks will continue to be assessed for the registration year 2004.

What are the Leak Detection requirements?

Options for Tanks include at least one of the following:

• Automatic Tank Gauging
• Interstitial Monitoring
• Statistical Inventory Reconciliation (SIR)
• Tank Tightness Testing (TTT) and Inventory Control (only allowed until December 22, 1998, or up to 10 years after installation or upgrade, whichever is later)
• Manual Tank Gauging (only allowed for tanks 2000 gallons or less)

For Pressurized Piping: You must have both

• Automatic line leak detectors (ALLD) either flow restrictor, flow shut-off or continuous alarm capable of detecting a 3 gallon-per-hour leak in one hour. Learn more about ALLD's.

and

• Annual line tightness testing or
• Monthly monitoring (Interstitial monitoring, SIR, or an ALLD capable of detecting  a 0.2 gph leak monthly).

For Suction Piping: You must have

• Line tightness testing every three years, however,
• No Leak Detection required for Suction Piping if piping system: operates at less than atmospheric pressure; slopes back to tank; and has check valve below suction pump.

For Leak Detection systems installed after December 22, 1990, the system must be able to detect a leak with a probability of detection of 95% and a probability of false alarm of 5%. One way an owner/operator can ensure that his/her UST system meets the "95/5" rule is to have the system evaluated by a independent third-party. A number of national and international firms specialize in leak detection performance evaluations.

• If you need a reference manual showing various release detection systems and their operating specs, see Automatic Tank Gauging Systems for Release Detection: Reference Manual for Underground Storage Tank Inspectors.
• Otherwise, EPA provides the List of Leak Detection Evaluations for UST Systems 9th Edition, November 13, 2001
• The National Leak Detection Workgroup has a web site now to help locate and identify third party approved leak detection equipment.

Leak Detection Probation: For regulated underground storage tanks (UST's) required to be inspected, owners/operators must maintain one year of leak detection records for their UST system and provide them during inspection. Twelve consecutive months of leak detection records are required. An UST system can not receive a three year tag unless 8 of the 12 LD records are passing, including the last 2 consecutive months. If these requirements are not met, then the UST system will be placed on Leak Detection Probation. The terms of LD Probation are described in the fact sheet downloadable below. The cover letter also below is a fax cover sheet to be used by a certified inspector to transmit leak detection records to DEC.

• Leak Detection Probation fact sheet (PDF 13K)
• Cover letter (PDF 71K)
• List of Tanks on Leak Detection Probation

What is required for spill and overfill devices?

• All UST's must have a spill prevention device, such as a catchment basin, which should be routinely inspected and cleaned out. 
• All UST's must have an overfill prevention device, either using a high-level alarm, a ball float valve or an automatic shut-off device in the drop tube.
• The owner or operator must ensure that a tank is measured prior to each delivery and ensure there is enough room in the tank to receive the fuel and that the entire transfer is monitored. UST owner and operators are encouraged to use DEC's new fuel delivery log, available soon.

• All existing tanks and piping must have corrosion protection.
• Corrosion protection options include: Non-metallic material such as fiberglass, galvanic or impressed impressed current cathodic protection or internal lining of tanks.
• Cathodically protected systems must be tested every 3 years by a state certified tester or inspector.
• Impressed current systems must be inspected very 60 days and the results logged.

• File an Intent to Install form (PDF 18K) 15-60 days prior to installation.
• Hire a Certified Worker to install or upgrade the system.
• For upgrading with in an internal liner, do an Integrity Assessment.
• File completed Registration form (PDF 34K) no more than 30 days after installation or upgrade complete. Form must be signed by BOTH Owner/Operator and Installer.
• Make sure that you have proof of Financial Responsibility: (PDF 64K) (Installation only).
• Pay registration fee of $50.00 per tank (Installation only).
• Inspection of the UST system is due three calendar years after installation.

• File an DEC Closure notice (PDF 22K)15-60 days prior to closure.
• Check with your Fire Marshall to see about local fire code requirements.
• Hire a Certified UST Worker to perform closure.
• Hire a firm with a Qualified Person to perform site sampling.
• Notify DEC immediately if spill or leak encountered.
• Make sure tank and material is properly disposed.
• Submit a Post-Closure notice (PDF 19K) 30 days after closure.
• Submit Site Assessment/Release Investigation (PDF 22K) report to local DEC office.

The following forms are required to be filed with DEC for certain tank activities.

• Operations Inspection Report Form: Third Party Inspection Operations Inspection Report form due every three years: (PDF 296K) (DOC 772K).
• Inspection Notification Form (PDF 13K) (DOC 37K)
• UST Registration: (PDF 34K) Registration for Installation, Repair, Upgrade or Reconfiguration for new or existing underground storage tank. No more than 30 days after installation or return to operation (for Upgrades too.)
• Change Ownership of UST: (PDF 15K) 15 to 60 days after change of ownership.
• Intent to Install or Reconfigure a UST: (PDF 18K) 15 to 60 days prior to tank work.
• Out of Service Part 1: Taken Out of Service or Temporary Closure of an underground storage tank. (PDF 18K)
• Out of Service Part 2: Empty Tank Affidavit (PDF 18K)
• Closure of a UST: (PDF 22K) 15 to 60 days prior to closure work.
• Post-Closure of a UST: (PDF 19K) 30 days after closure complete.
• Site Assessment/Release Investigation: (PDF 23K) Site Assessment report within 60 days from date of closure; Release Investigation report within 45 days from date of closure.

  See a list of all forms relating to UST's.

If you do not have PDF file viewing software, or if your browser cannot download these documents, DEC can mail or fax you these forms by contacting Karen Miller in Anchorage, 907-269-3094.

For more information about UST's in Alaska, please contact:

Bill Steele, UST Manager
Industry Preparedness Program
DEC Division of Spill Prevention and Response
555 Cordova Street
Anchorage, AK  99501-2617
Telephone: (907) 269-7886
Fax Number: (907) 269-7600
Email Address: bill.steele@alaska.gov