Optional Information
Name of school: 
Date of inspection:
Career-Technical program/course/room:
Signature of inspector: 

 
Underground Storage Tanks
(UST)
Self-Inspection Checklist

Guidelines: This checklists covers regulations issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under 40 CFR 280. The purpose of these regulations is to reduce the likelihood of leaks of hazardous substances from these tanks into soil and ground water and to ensure timely detection and abatement of such releases. A yes answer to a question indicates that this portion of the inspection complies with the OSHA or EPA standard, or with a nonregulatory recommendation.

check mark symbol Questions marked with this symbol may require the help of an outside expert.

The regulations require registration and specific spill and leak prevention measures based on the type of UST, age of the tank, and substances stored in the tank system. USTs are any one or combination of tanks (including underground pipes connected to them) used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances. Regulated substances include petroleum products (e.g., gasoline and used motor oil) and certain other hazardous substances. Heating oil if stored and used on the premises is not covered by the Federal regulations.

States typically enforce the Federal regulations as well as adopt their own regulations for USTs. Please consult the appropriate agency in your state about any additional regulations and requirements. This checklist includes some recommended practices that are based on regulations adopted in the State of New Jersey.

    Please Circle
  Registration
 
  1. Is the underground storage tank system registered

    2. in your State with the appropriate State agency?
    [40 CFR 280.22]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Performance Standards and Engineering Requirements

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  1. Has corrosion, spill, and overfill protection been

    2. installed on all existing USTs?
    [40 CFR 280.21]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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  1. Is corrosion, spill, and overfill protection planned

    2. for new USTs that will be installed?
    [40 CFR 280.20]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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  1. Is monthly leak detection monitoring performed on

    2. all USTs?
    [40 CFR 280.40; 280.41 and 280.42]

    Note: Acceptable leak detection methods include at
    least one of the following: statistical inventory
    control, automatic tank gauging, groundwater
    monitoring, soil vapor monitoring, or interstitial
    monitoring. Tank tightness with inventory control
    (or manual tank gauging for small tanks) may be
    used for ten years or less, depending on the situation.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Spill and Overfill Control
 
  1. Are procedures in place to ensure that USTs are

    2. not overfilled during delivery? Do procedures
    include methods to measure available tank
    volume and to meter delivery volume immediately
    before delivery?
    [40 CFR 280.30]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Release Response Plan
 
  1. Is a release response plan available for inspection

    2. at the school that includes the following items?
    [recommended]
     
    1. Emergency telephone numbers of local and

      2. State officials.
       
    2. Emergency telephone number of the person in

      3. charge of the school during the emergency.
       
    3. Name and phone number of any spill cleanup

      4. contractor(s).
       
    4. Procedures to follow in the event of a spill or

      5. leak from the UST.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Release Reporting, Investigation, and Cleanup
 
  1. Are all employees aware of conditions listed below

    2. that may indicate a leak?
    [recommended]
     
    1. Inventory records indicating unexplained loss of

      2. material
       
    2. Visible product or product vapors in surrounding

      3. soil, surface water, or adjacent well
       
    3. Erratic behavior by product-dispensing equipment

      4.  
    4. Water levels greater than normally recorded

      5. condensation levels
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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  1. When any one of the above suspect conditions occurs,

    2. is a plan available to investigate the condition that
    includes the items listed below?
    [40 CFR 280.50 and 280.52]
     
    1. Checking inventory records for accuracy

      2.  
    2. Conducting visual checks for leakage or damage

      3.  
    3. Collecting and analyzing soil and water samples

      4. using appropriate methods
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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  1. After a release or leak is confirmed, is a plan

    2. followed that includes the items listed below?
    [40 CFR 280.61 through 280.66]
     
    1. Notify the appropriate State agencies.

      2.  
    2. Implement the release response plan.

      3.  
    3. Immediately empty the tank.

      4.  
    4. Arrange for tank repair.

      5.  
    5. Conduct a remedial investigation and document

      6. findings in a report.
       
    6. Clean up all impacted soils, surface water, ground

      7. water, and other affected media.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  Other Requirements

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  1. Are USTs that are equipped with cathodic

    2. protection operated and maintained to provide
    continuous corrosion protection?
    [40 CFR 280.31]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
 
  1. Are installation and repairs of USTs conducted

    2. only by qualified persons?
    [40 CFR 280.20 and 280.33]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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  1. Are all USTs that do not meet Federal and State

    2. requirements placed out of service and closed
    according to Federal and State procedures?
    [40 CFR 280.21 and 280.70 through 280.74]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

Comments/Corrective action:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health