News Release (C-26-98)

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 324-9670 FAX (916) 445-5563

For Immediate Release (C-26-98) Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670 December 3, 1998

Certificates for Upgraded Underground Storage Tanks To Be Issued

SACRAMENTO -- Motorists throughout California are noticing bright blue and white decals in the windows of their local gas stations. The decals, about half the size of a sheet of paper, depict a white map of California on a blue background. They declare to the public and, more importantly, to fuel delivery drivers, that the underground storage tanks (USTs) at the station have been upgraded or replaced and therefore are eligible to continue taking delivery of petroleum after January 1, 1999. In a press conference held today in Bakersfield, Peter Rooney, Secretary for Environmental Protection, officially placed another of these decals in the window of the gas station at the Flying J Travel Plaza.

"Old tanks and piping are a serious threat to the State’s groundwater resources," said Rooney. "When you see this decal in your gas station window it means the environment is being protected. It also lets tank owners know the clock has almost run down if they are to meet the December 22, 1998 deadline."

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), a member of the California Environmental Protection Agency, is supplying local government UST inspectors with decals to issue to tank owners. The SWRCB is also supplying these inspectors with plastic tags to identify individual upgraded USTs. The decals will be displayed in a conspicuous location at the site; however the plastic tags will rarely be seen by the general public because they will be attached to UST fill pipes concealed under manhole covers.

Owners and operators of USTs across the United States now have less than three weeks to meet the December 22, 1998 deadline for complying with federal and state requirements to upgrade or replace tanks and piping installed before 1984 when California’s UST program and more stringent tank requirements came into effect. This deadline was initially established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 10 years ago to allow tank owners sufficient time to comply with the upgrade requirements. In California, State law prohibits the delivery of petroleum products to USTs after January 1, 1999 if those USTs have not been upgraded or replaced by the December deadline. It is essential that all facility owners, especially those depending on petroleum for providing critical services (e.g., hospitals, police and fire departments), have their USTs upgraded before the deadline.

Local agencies regulate about 60,000 tanks throughout California. It is estimated that approximately 29,000 USTs still need to be removed, replaced or upgraded. Although most of these tanks contain petroleum products, the impact to the public will be minimal as the majority of the tanks are located at trucking and transportation companies, hospitals, marinas, airports, and federal, state and local agencies to service their vehicle fleets.

In addition to being denied gasoline delivery, owners who miss the 1998 deadline will be subject to fines. If a petroleum release is discovered on the property after the December deadline, owners who have not upgraded may be ineligible to receive reimbursement for cleanup costs from the SWRCB Cleanup Fund.

Upgrades may include retrofitting an existing tank and piping with internal lining, corrosion protection, spill containment, overfill prevention equipment, striker plates and automatic pump shutdown capabilities. Replacing the tank with a new secondary tank system can also satisfy the requirement. Non-petroleum hazardous substances tank systems, like those containing waste oil or chemicals, may not be retrofitted. They must be replaced with secondary containment (double-walled) tank systems.

Upgrade work can still be done after the December 22 deadline without penalty if the tanks are emptied, temporarily closed and properly sealed prior to the deadline. Tank owners may then choose to replace, upgrade or permanently close the tanks during the temporary closure period.

Tank owners needing further information should contact the local agency responsible for the UST program, either the county health department or city fire department. They may also contact the SWRCB’s UST program at (916) 227-4313 or the UST Internet site at www.swrcb.ca.gov.

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1998 Releases | Archived Press Releases