Environmental Compliance Inspector Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal regulation governs underground storage tank (UST) systems in the United States?
- 40 CFR Part 280 (Correct answer)
- 40 CFR Part 261
- 40 CFR Part 122
- 40 CFR Part 302
Correct answer: 40 CFR Part 280
40 CFR Part 280 establishes the federal technical standards and corrective action requirements for UST systems containing petroleum and hazardous substances.
Question 2: Which U.S. agency has primary oversight of the federal Underground Storage Tank program?
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Correct answer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA administers the federal UST program established under Subtitle I of RCRA, though states may receive authorization to run their own equivalent programs.
Question 3: Under federal UST regulations, what is the minimum requirement for corrosion protection of a steel underground storage tank?
- Cathodic protection or a corrosion-resistant coating combined with cathodic protection (Correct answer)
- Only an epoxy lining on the interior
- A fiberglass overwrap alone
- Annual pressure testing
Correct answer: Cathodic protection or a corrosion-resistant coating combined with cathodic protection
Federal regulations require steel USTs to have cathodic protection, or a combination of interior lining and cathodic protection, to prevent corrosion-induced releases.
Question 4: How frequently must release detection equipment on a UST system be tested for proper operation under 40 CFR Part 280?
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Monthly
- Every three years
- Every five years
Correct answer: Annually
40 CFR Part 280.40 requires that all release detection equipment be tested for proper operation on an annual basis to ensure it can detect a release.
Question 5: Which of the following substances is NOT regulated under the federal UST program?
- Heating oil used solely for on-site consumption (Correct answer)
- Gasoline
- Diesel fuel
- Aviation fuel
Correct answer: Heating oil used solely for on-site consumption
Heating oil stored and used on-site for space heating is specifically exempted from federal UST regulations under 40 CFR Part 280.10.
Question 6: What documentation must UST owners and operators keep for their cathodic protection systems?
- Records of all inspections, tests, and monitoring for the life of the UST system (Correct answer)
- Only the original installation certificate
- Annual sales receipts for cathodic protection materials
- Monthly visual inspection logs only
Correct answer: Records of all inspections, tests, and monitoring for the life of the UST system
Owners and operators must retain records of all cathodic protection tests, inspections, and monitoring for as long as the UST system is in operation to demonstrate compliance.
Question 7: Under the 2015 UST regulatory revisions, which new requirement was added for all new and replaced UST equipment?
- Spill prevention equipment must be tested upon installation (Correct answer)
- All USTs must be made of fiberglass
- Automatic tank gauging must be installed on all tanks
- Annual groundwater sampling is required at all UST sites
Correct answer: Spill prevention equipment must be tested upon installation
The 2015 UST rule amendments require that spill prevention equipment be tested at installation and periodically thereafter to verify it is functioning correctly.
Environmental Compliance Inspector Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Compliance 1
Which federal regulation governs underground storage tank (UST) systems in the United States?