Source: https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/ee/tanks/abovegroundstoragetanks/Pages/FAQ.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 14:23:36+00:00

Document:
Who must register an aboveground storage tank (AST)?
How do I know if I need to register my AST?
What is the deadline to have my AST registered?
When can I begin the registration process?
What if I fail to properly register my AST?
If my tank is more that 10% below ground, am I required to register it as an AST?
Do I have to register a heating oil AST?
Do I have to register a residential and/or farm AST?
Does my tank containing an emulsion have to be registered?
Does my AST qualify as a “process vessel”?
Does a wastewater treatment AST have to be registered?
Do I have to register my tank if it is already regulated by another environmental regulatory program?
Are there fees associated with registering my tank?
Do all tanks have to be registered electronically, or can I fill out a paper registration form?
Does my new AST have to be registered with DEP before installation and operation, or being placed into service?
My tank is not near any public water supply intakes, so do I still have to register?
Do I need to know the identity of, and distance to the nearest groundwater or surface water public intake from my AST? If so, where do I obtain this information?
Will my AST be regulated by DEP?
If I currently hold a permit with DEP, can I have my AST regulatory requirements included in said permit?
Once I register my tank, will it be subject to an annual inspection by a DEP inspector?
Who is qualified to certify my tank?
What is the deadline to submit a certification of a regulated AST?
When is the deadline to submit a spill prevention response plan for a regulated AST?
What do I do if I encounter contamination from an AST?
Q: Who must register an aboveground storage tank (AST)?
A: The owner of the AST is responsible for registering it. The owner, through security settings within DEP’s Electronic Submission System, can designate someone to complete the registration on his/her behalf.
Q: How do I know if I need to register my AST?
A: You can take a short survey, located at https://apps.dep.wv.gov/ast/astsurvey.cfm, to determine if you are required to register your AST.
Q: What is the deadline to have my AST registered?
Q: When can I begin the registration process?
A: The electronic AST Registration form is available on DEP’s Electronic Submission System (ESS). You must acquire a login ID to the system to access the form. Please go to https://apps.dep.wv.gov/eplogin.cfm to sign up for a log ID.If you currently have a login ID to ESS, for other reporting with DEP, you do not have to request a new login ID.
Q: What if I fail to properly register my AST?
A: An owner or operator is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per tank per day for each AST that is knowingly not registered.
Q: If my tank is more that 10% below ground, am I required to register it as an AST?
A: No; however, the tank may be subject to other regulations, such as the Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations.
Q: Do I have to register a heating oil AST?
A: It depends on whether the structure meets the definition of an “aboveground storage tank” established in the W.Va. Code §22-30-3(1). Please complete the survey form located at https://apps.dep.wv.gov/ast/astsurvey.cfm to determine if you are required to register your heating oil AST.
Q: Do I have to register a residential and/or farm AST?
A: It depends on whether the structure meets the definition of an “aboveground storage tank” established in the W.Va. Code §22-30-3(1),what the tank is used for, and whether it is within a Zone of Critical Concern. Please complete the survey form located at https://apps.dep.wv.gov/ast/astsurvey.cfm to determine if you are required to register your residential/farm AST.
Q: Does my tank containing an emulsion have to be registered?
A: Emulsion, a mixture of two or more liquids that don’t ordinarily combine, e.g., oil and water, typically remain a liquid; therefore, if the structure contains an emulsion and meets the definition of an “aboveground storage tank” established in the W.Va. Code §22-30-3(1), the tank must be registered.
Q: Does my AST qualify as a “process vessel”?
A unit which has a steady, variable, recurring or intermittent flow of materials but in which no process occurs is a storage tank.
Some units that are primarily used for storage but occasionally may have some additives introduced are storage tanks (e.g. red dye may be added to tanks holding diesel fuel or rust inhibitor added into a water tank).
Mixing of a substance in order to keep a material from sticking to the sides of the unit or to keep in a flowable form is not a process. For example, a unit that uses operating mixers to keep lime solids in a lime slurry from settling out is a storage tank.
A unit that is located within an area designated as a process area but is used to hold a substance is a storage tank.
Day tanks used to store oil or other substances are storage tanks.
In the case of emergency generators and stand-by generators that have an attached tank which stores fuel for later use, the tanks are storage tanks.
In a continuous-flow mixer, flow rate and mixing gradient are carefully controlled and the contents of the mixer move directly into the next phase of the manufacturing process. This would be considered a process vessel; materials are not stored in the vessel for any appreciable length of time.
Wastewater treatment units may be process vessels or storage tanks depending on the usage of the unit. For example, a unit that’s purpose is continuous treatment (e.g., neutralization) of wastewater is a process vessel. On the other hand, a unit used solely for collecting and holding wastewater until it is pumped out and transferred to a treatment facility is a storage tank.
Q: Does a wastewater treatment AST have to be registered?
A: If the tank holds wastewater that is being actively treated/processed, e.g., clarifier, chlorine contact chamber, batch reactor, etc., it does not have to be registered. However, chemical storage/feed tanks, pre- or post-processing storage tanks, fuel storage tanks, etc. that are located at the same facility will have to be registered.
Q: Do I have to register my tank if it is already regulated by another environmental regulatory program?
A: Yes. Any structure meeting the definition established in W.Va. Code §22-30-3(1) must be registered, regardless of other regulatory requirements.
Q: Are there fees associated with registering my tank?
A: Yes, there is a registration fee of $40 per tank for all ASTs in service prior to July 1, 2015. Any AST that is placed into service on or after July 1, 2015, shall be charged a $20 per tank fee. An invoice will be sent to the tank owner subsequent to registering the AST.
Q: Do all tanks have to be registered electronically, or can I fill out a paper registration form?
A: DEP strongly encourages tank owners to register their tanks electronically. Under very limited circumstances and with good reason, DEP will provide an owner a waiver, and allow a paper submittal of the information. The request for this waiver has to be made by the owner, in writing to DEP Regardless of an owner’s request for a waiver to submit electronically, ASTs that are in service must be registered by July 1, 2015. Please see DEP’s AST Contacts webpage for the appropriate name and address to send a waiver request.
Q: Does my new AST have to be registered with DEP before installation and operation, or being placed into service?
A: Yes, the owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank placed into service on or after July 1, 2015, shall complete and submit a registration form prior to storing fluids therein.
Q: My tank is not near any public water supply intakes, so do I still have to register?
A: Yes. All structures that meet the definition of an “aboveground storage tank” established in the W.Va. Code §22-30-3(1) must be registered. Please complete the survey form located at https://apps.dep.wv.gov/ast/astsurvey.cfm to determine if you need to register your tank.
Q: Do I need to know the identity of, and distance to the nearest groundwater or surface water public intake from my AST? If so, where do I obtain this information?
A: You will be required to provide the geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude) of your tank to the DEP when registering your tank. When DEP provides the tank registration number to the owner, the identity of and distance to the nearest West Virginia groundwater or surface water public intake from your tank will be included in the correspondence.
Q: Will my AST be regulated by DEP?
(C) An AST with a capacity of 50,000 gallons or more, regardless of its contents or location.
Regulated Level 2 AST is located within a zone of peripheral concern that is not a Level 1 regulated tank.
Q: If I currently hold a permit with DEP, can I have my AST regulatory requirements included in said permit?
A: §22-30-5(c) of the AST Act allows for permits/plans to be amended, at the request of the permittee, to include conditions pertaining to the management and control of regulated ASTs. The manner in which this is to be accomplished is to be established in Legislative Rules. These rules will be considered by the 2016 Legislature.
Q: Once I register my tank, will it be subject to an annual inspection by a DEP inspector?
A: If you have a Level 1 or Level 2 tank, your tank will be subject to inspections by DEP AST Inspectors. Non Level 1 or Level 2 tanks and secondary containment may still be regulated under other statutes (e.g. Groundwater Protection Act).
Q: Who is qualified to certify my tank?
A: Level 1 and Level 2 tank evaluations can be completed by a qualified registered professional engineer or a qualified person working under the direct supervision of a registered professional engineer, regulated and licensed by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, or by an individual certified to perform tank inspections by the American Petroleum Institute or the Steel Tank Institute, or by a person holding certification under another program approved by the secretary.
Q: What is the deadline to submit a certification of a regulated AST?
A: Please check DEP’s AST website at www.dep.wv.gov/tanks for guidance.
Q: When is the deadline to submit a spill prevention response plan for a regulated AST?
Q: What do I do if I encounter contamination from an AST?
A: To report a release from an AST, contact the statewide emergency spill line at (800) 642-3074.

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