Virginia Law

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Aboveground storage tank" or "AST" means any one or combination of tanks, including pipes, used to contain an accumulation of oil at atmospheric pressure, and the volume of which, including the volume of the pipes, is more than 90% above the surface of the ground. This term does not include line pipe and breakout tanks of an interstate pipeline regulated under the federal Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996 (49 USC § 60101 et seq.).

"Board" means the State Water Control Board. When used outside the context of the promulgation of regulations, including regulations to establish general permits, "board" means the Department of Environmental Quality.

"Containment and cleanup" means abatement, containment, removal and disposal of oil and, to the extent possible, the restoration of the environment to its existing state prior to an oil discharge.

"Corrosion professional" means a person who by reason of thorough knowledge of the physical sciences and the principles of engineering and mathematics acquired by a professional education and related practical experience is qualified to engage in the practice of corrosion control on buried or submerged metal piping systems and metal tanks. Such a person shall be accredited or certified as being qualified by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers or be a registered professional engineer who has certification or licensing that includes education and experience in corrosion control of buried or submerged metal piping systems and metal tanks.

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

"Discharge" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping.

"Elevated tank" means an AST that is not in contact with the ground and that is raised above the surface of the ground.

"Facility" means any development or installation within the Commonwealth that deals in, stores or handles oil and includes a pipeline.

"Flow-through process tank" means (as defined in 40 CFR Part 280) a tank that forms an integral part of a production process through which there is a steady, variable, recurring, or intermittent flow of materials during the operation of the process. Flow-through process tanks do not include tanks used for the storage of materials prior to their introduction into the production process or for the storage of finished products or byproducts from the production process.

"Local building official" means the person authorized by the Commonwealth to enforce the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC).

"Local director or coordinator of emergency services" means any person appointed pursuant to § 44-146.19 of the Code of Virginia.

"Major repair" means alterations that refer to operations that require cutting, additions, removal or replacement of the annular plate ring, the shell-to-bottom weld or a sizable portion of the AST shell.

"Oil" means oil of any kind and in any form, including, but not limited to, petroleum and petroleum byproducts, fuel oil, lubricating oils, sludge, oil refuse, oil mixed with other wastes, crude oils, and all other liquid hydrocarbons regardless of specific gravity.

"Operator" means any person who owns, operates, charters by demise, rents, or otherwise exercises control over or responsibility for a facility or a vehicle or a vessel.

"Person" means an individual; trust; firm; joint stock company; corporation, including a government corporation; partnership; association; any state or agency thereof; municipality; county; town; commission; political subdivision of a state; any interstate body; consortium; joint venture; commercial entity; the government of the United States or any unit or agency thereof.

"Pipes" or "piping" means a pressure-tight cylinder used to convey a fluid or to transmit a fluid pressure and is ordinarily designated "pipe" in applicable material specifications. Materials designated "tube" or "tubing" in the specifications are treated as pipe when intended for pressure service. This term includes piping and associated piping which is utilized in the operation of an AST, or emanating from or feeding ASTs or transfers oil from or to an AST (e.g., dispensing systems, including airport hydrant fueling systems, supply systems, gauging systems, auxiliary systems, etc.). This term does not include line pipe and breakout tanks of an interstate pipeline regulated under the federal Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996 (49 USC § 60101 et seq.).

"Pipeline" means all new and existing pipe, rights of way, and any equipment, facility, or building used in the transportation of oil, including, but not limited to, line pipe, valves, and other appurtenances connected to line pipe; pumping units; fabricated assemblies associated with pumping units; metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein; and breakout tanks.

"Release prevention barrier (RPB)" means a nonearthen barrier that is impermeable; is composed of material compatible with oil stored in the AST; meets proper engineering strength and elasticity standards; and functions to prevent the discharge of stored oil to state lands, waters and storm drains. It must contain and channel any leaked oil in a manner that provides for early release detection through the required daily and weekly inspections.

"State waters" means all water, on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction.

"Storage capacity" means the total capacity of an AST or a container, whether filled in whole or in part with oil, a mixture of oil, or mixtures of oil with nonhazardous substances, or empty. An AST that has been permanently closed in accordance with this chapter has no storage capacity.

"Tank" means a device designed to contain an accumulation of oil and constructed of nonearthen materials, such as concrete, steel, or plastic, that provides structural support. This term does not include flow-through process tanks as defined in 40 CFR Part 280.

"Tank vessel" means any vessel used in the transportation of oil as bulk cargo.

"Upgrade" means an alteration of the performance, design, equipment or appurtenances of an AST or facility to meet a higher, new, or current standard.

"Vaulted tank" means any tank situated upon or above the surface of the floor in an underground area (such as an underground room, basement, cellar, mine-working, drift, shaft, tunnel or vault) providing enough space for physical inspection of the exterior of the tank.

"Vehicle" means any motor vehicle, rolling stock, or other artificial contrivance for transport whether self-propelled or otherwise, except vessels.

"Vessel" includes every description of watercraft or other contrivance used as a means of transporting on water, whether self-propelled or otherwise, and shall include barges and tugs.