Part I. Program Administration
9VAC25-91-10. Definitions.
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.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1, and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-91-20. Applicability.
A. The operator shall comply with all applicable requirements pursuant to this chapter. The operator as defined in this chapter can be more than one person and each operator shares joint responsibility for compliance.
B. The requirements of this chapter apply as follows:
1. The provisions of Part II (9VAC25-91-100 et seq., Registration, Notification and Closure Requirements) of this chapter apply to: (i) an individual AST located within the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aboveground storage capacity greater than 660 gallons of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter; and (ii) all facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter. Storage of oil that is excluded from regulation in 9VAC25-91-30 A is not included when calculating the aggregate aboveground storage capacity.
2. The provisions of Part III (9VAC25-91-130 et seq., Pollution Prevention Requirements) of this chapter apply to: (i) an individual AST located within the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter; and (ii) all facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter. Storage of oil that is excluded from regulation in 9VAC25-91-30 A is not included when calculating the aggregate aboveground storage capacity.
3. The provisions of Part IV (9VAC25-91-170, Oil Discharge Contingency Plan (ODCP) Requirements) of this chapter apply to: (i) an individual AST located within the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter; and (ii) all facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter. Storage of oil that is excluded from regulation in 9VAC25-91-30 A is not included when calculating the aggregate aboveground storage capacity.
4. The provisions of Part V (9VAC25-91-180 et seq., Groundwater Characterization Study (GCS) and GCS Well Monitoring Requirements) of this chapter apply to: (i) an individual AST located within the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aboveground storage capacity of one million gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this regulation; and (ii) all facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of one million gallons or greater of oil, unless otherwise specified within this chapter. Storage of oil that is excluded from regulation in 9VAC25-91-30 A is not included when calculating the aggregate aboveground storage capacity.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; Errata, 14:23 VA.R 3682 August 3, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015.
9VAC25-91-30. Exclusions.
A. The requirements of this chapter do not apply to:
1. Vessels;
2. Licensed motor vehicles, unless used solely for the storage of oil (e.g., airport refueling trucks and mobile refueling vehicles);
3. An AST with a storage capacity of 660 gallons or less of oil;
4. An AST containing petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, which is liquid at standard temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute) subject to and specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of § 101(14) of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 USC § 9601 et seq.);
5. A wastewater treatment tank system that is part of a wastewater treatment facility regulated under § 402 or § 307(b) of the federal Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.);
6. An AST that is regulated by the Department of Energy under Chapter 16 (§ 45.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 45.2 of the Code of Virginia;
7. An AST used for the storage of products that are regulated pursuant to the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC § 301 et seq.);
8. An AST that is used to store hazardous wastes listed or identified under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (Solid Waste Disposal Act) (42 USC § 6901 et seq.), or a mixture of such hazardous wastes and other regulated substances;
9. An AST that is used to store propane gas, butane gas or other liquid petroleum gases;
10. An AST used to store nonpetroleum hydrocarbon-based animal and vegetable oils;
11. A liquid trap or associated gathering lines directly related to oil or gas production, or gathering operations;
12. A surface impoundment, pit, pond, or lagoon;
13. A stormwater or wastewater collection system;
14. Equipment or machinery that contains oil for operational purposes, including but not limited to lubricating systems, hydraulic systems, and heat transfer systems;
15. An AST that forms an integral part (cannot be readily detached or removed) of the equipment or machinery and the contents of the AST are solely used by the attached equipment or machinery (e.g., fuel tank affixed into the frame of an emergency generator);
16. An AST used to contain oil for less than 120 days when: (i) used in connection with activities related to the containment and cleanup of oil; (ii) used by a federal, state or local entity in responding to an emergency, including response related drills; or (iii) used temporarily on-site to replace permanent capacity storage;
17. Oil-filled electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, transformers, circuit breakers or capacitors;
18. A flow-through process tank;
19. Oily water separators;
20. An AST containing dredge spoils;
21. An AST located on a farm or residence used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes with a storage capacity of 1,100 gallons or less; or
22. Pipes or piping beyond the first valve from the AST that connects an AST with production process tanks or production process equipment.
B. In addition to the exclusions listed in subsection A of this section, the following are excluded from the requirements contained in Part III (9VAC25-91-130 et seq., Pollution Prevention Requirements) of this chapter:
1. An AST with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored;
2. An AST storing asphalt and asphalt compounds which are not liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute); and
3. 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.).
C. Asphalt and asphalt compounds that are not liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute) are excluded from any requirement to install groundwater monitoring wells or groundwater protection devices or to conduct groundwater characterization studies under Part IV (9VAC25-91-170, Oil Discharge Contingency Plan (ODCP) Requirements) and Part V (9VAC25-91-180 et seq., Groundwater Characterization Study (GCS) and GCS Well Monitoring Requirements) of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1, and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 38, Issue 3, eff. October 27, 2021.
9VAC25-91-40. Compliance dates.
A. Every operator shall comply with this chapter on its effective date unless a later date is otherwise specified.
B. Operators of facilities existing on June 24, 1998, and exempted under § 62.1-44.34:17 D of the Code of Virginia (i.e., facilities not engaged in the resale of oil) having an aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil must have complied with Part III (9VAC25-91-130 et seq., Pollution Prevention Requirements) of this chapter on or before October 22, 1998, unless otherwise specified in this chapter. If compliance with Part III of this chapter necessitates extensive upgrades to the existing facility design, these exempted operators shall have submitted a proposed extended compliance schedule and supporting explanation to the department no later than September 22, 1998, or such date approved by the department.
C. Operators of ASTs and facilities existing prior to June 24, 1998, and previously registered in accordance with the requirements of § 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia shall not have to resubmit the registration form until five years from the date of the initial registration unless title to that AST or facility is transferred (i.e., change of ownership) or the AST is converted or brought back into use after permanent closure, whichever occurs first.
D. Operators of facilities subject to Part IV (9VAC25-91-170, Oil Discharge Contingency Plan (ODCP) Requirements) of this chapter that were brought into use on or after June 24, 1998, shall submit a complete application meeting all applicable requirements of this chapter no later than 90 days prior to commencement of operations.
1. The operator must receive approval of the ODCP by the department prior to commencement of facility operations.
2. The operators of facilities that have previously met the provisions of § 62.1-44.34:15 of the Code of Virginia for ODCP submittal shall not be required to resubmit the ODCP until 90 days prior to the date that plan's approval expires. Ninety days prior to the expiration of approval of the ODCP, the facility operator shall submit an updated plan or certification of renewal of an existing plan according to 9VAC25-91-170 F.
E. An operator having obtained approval of the ODCP shall operate, maintain, monitor, and keep records pertaining to 9VAC25-91-170 A 18 of Part IV (9VAC25-91-170, Oil Discharge Contingency Plan (ODCP) Requirements) of this chapter and under the provisions of Part III (9VAC25-91-130 et seq., Pollution Prevention Requirements) of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-91-50. Statement of purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to: (i) establish requirements for registration of facilities and individual ASTs located within the Commonwealth; (ii) provide the department with the information necessary to identify and inventory facilities with an aggregate storage capacity of greater than 1,320 gallons of oil or an individual AST with a storage capacity of greater than 660 gallons of oil; (iii) develop standards and procedures for operators of facilities with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil relating to the prevention of pollution from new and existing aboveground storage tanks; (iv) provide requirements for the development of facility oil discharge contingency plans for facilities with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of 25,000 gallons or greater of oil that will ensure that the applicant can take such steps as are necessary to protect environmentally sensitive areas, to respond to the threat of an oil discharge, and to contain, clean up and mitigate an oil discharge within the shortest feasible time, where plans must address concerns for the effect of oil discharges on the environment as well as considerations of public health and safety; and (v) provide requirements for facilities and individual ASTs with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of one million gallons or greater of oil to conduct a groundwater characterization study (GCS) within the geographic boundaries of a facility; to submit the GCS as part of the oil discharge contingency plan; to conduct a monthly gauging and inspection of GCS monitoring wells, monitoring of well headspace and sampling and laboratory analysis of GCS monitoring wells; and to gather all observations and data maintained at the facility and compile and submit them as an annual report to the department.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-91-60. Administrative fees.
A. Fees are assessed for review of oil discharge contingency plans (ODCP). An application for review of a contingency plan will not be accepted unless the required fee has been received by the department.
1. Fees shall be paid in United States currency by check, draft, or postal money order made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. When the department is able to accept electronic payments, payments may be submitted electronically.
2. The fee, together with the application and oil discharge contingency plan, shall be sent to the department at the following mailing address:
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Financial Management
P.O. Box 1104
Richmond, VA 23218
3. Notifications and correspondence for which a fee is not applicable should be mailed to the department as specified in 9VAC25-91-70.
B. ODCP application.
1. ODCP application fees are as follows:
a. For a facility with an aggregate aboveground maximum storage or handling capacity from 25,000 gallons up to and including 100,000 gallons of oil the fee is $718;
b. For a facility with an aggregate aboveground maximum storage or handling capacity greater than 100,000 gallons up to one million gallons of oil the fee is $2,155;
c. For a facility with an aggregate aboveground maximum storage or handling capacity of one million gallons or greater of oil the fee is $3,353; or
d. For a pipeline, the ODCP application fee shall be based on the average daily throughput of oil. Once that volume is determined, the ODCP application fee will be calculated per subdivisions a, b and c of this subdivision.
2. The fee for approval of a contingency plan encompassing more than one facility as described in 9VAC25-91-170 D shall be based on the aggregate aboveground storage capacity of the facilities.
3. Fees shall only be paid upon initial submittal of an oil discharge contingency plan by an operator. Renewals, additions, deletions or changes to the plan are not subject to the administrative fee.
4. Application fees are refundable upon receipt of a written request to withdraw the ODCP application provided the request is received no later than 30 days after submittal and prior to the department's review of the contingency plan.
5. Overpayments of application fees are refundable upon written request.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015.
9VAC25-91-70. Correspondence to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
A. Correspondence that contains fees must be submitted to the department as specified in 9VAC25-91-60 A.
B. All other written correspondence and notifications to the department related to the requirements of this chapter shall be addressed to the DEQ regional office servicing the facility that is the subject of the correspondence. A list of regional offices and their addresses are available from the central office at the following address:
Mailing Address:
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Spill Response and Remediation
P.O. Box 1105
Richmond, VA 23218
Street Address:
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Spill Response and Remediation
1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400
Richmond, VA 23219
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1 and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 34, Issue 13, eff. February 19, 2018.
9VAC25-91-80. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-91-90. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. June 24, 1998; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015.