Part II. Registration, Notification and Closure Requirements
9VAC25-91-100. Registration requirements.
A. Section 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia requires an operator of a facility located within the Commonwealth with an aggregate aboveground storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons of oil or an operator of an individual AST located within the Commonwealth with a storage capacity of more than 660 gallons of oil to register such facility or AST with the department and with the local director or coordinator of emergency services unless otherwise specified within this chapter.
B. Although the term "operator" includes a variety of persons who may share joint responsibility for compliance with this chapter, in fixing responsibility for compliance with the registration requirements, the department shall look first to the owner or a duly authorized representative of the facility or AST.
C. A duly authorized representative may submit the registration on the owner's behalf.
1. A person is a duly authorized representative only if:
a. The authorization is made in writing by the owner and indicates that the representative has signatory authority for the registration;
b. The authorization specifies either an individual or a position having responsibility for the overall operation of the regulated facility or activity (e.g., the plant manager, the operator of a facility or an AST, the superintendent, or a position of equivalent responsibility), or specifies an individual or a position having overall responsibility for environmental matters for the facility or company. A duly authorized representative thus may be either a named individual or any individual occupying a named position; and
c. The written authorization is submitted to the department along with the registration form.
2. Changes to authorization. If an authorization previously submitted is no longer accurate because a different individual or position has assumed responsibility for the overall operation of the facility or for environmental matters, a new authorization satisfying the requirements shall be submitted to the department prior to or together with any reports or information signed by that duly authorized representative.
3. Certification. Any person signing a registration document shall make the following certification:
"I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gathered and evaluated the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
D. The owner or a duly authorized representative of a new facility or AST, a converted facility or AST, a facility or AST brought back into use after permanent closure, or a facility or AST whose title is transferred (change of ownership) shall register such facility or AST with the department and local director or coordinator of emergency services within 30 days after being brought into use or when title is transferred.
E. Registration shall include the following information and other information that may be required if approved by the department:
1. Facility and AST owner and operator information (e.g., name, address, and phone numbers);
2. Facility information (e.g., name, type, address, contact person and phone numbers, and aggregate storage capacity);
3. Tank and piping information (e.g., storage capacity, product stored, type of design and construction standards);
4. Other information that may be reasonably requested by the department; and
5. Owner certification of information.
F. The owner or a duly authorized representative of the facility or AST shall renew the registration required by this section every five years or whenever title to the facility or AST is transferred (change of ownership), whichever occurs first.
G. A facility or AST installed after June 24, 1998, including an AST or facility operated by the federal government, shall not be registered without either (i) a review performed by the department of the permits, inspections, and certification of use required in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and obtained by the owner or a duly authorized representative from the local code officials or their designee or (ii) an inspection by the department. In the case of a regulated AST operated by the Commonwealth, the Department of General Services shall function as the local code official in accordance with § 36-98.1 of the Code of Virginia.
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.
9VAC25-91-110. Notifications.
A. An owner or a duly authorized representative of the facility or AST shall notify the department within 30 days after any AST:
1. Upgrade;
2. Major repair;
3. Replacement (i.e., relocating or repositioning of an existing AST); or
4. Change in service (i.e., change in operation, conditions of the stored product, specific gravity, corrosivity, temperature or pressure that has occurred from the original that may affect the tank's suitability for service).
B. Notifications do not require a fee.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.2, 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 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.
9VAC25-91-120. Aboveground storage tank closure.
A. After June 24, 1998, a facility or AST, including a facility or AST operated by the federal government, shall not be permanently closed without being registered and either (i) having a review performed by the department of the permits and inspections required in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and obtained by the owner or a duly authorized representative from the local code official or his designee or (ii) being inspected by the department.
1. For inspections by the department (e.g., where a permit is not issued by the local code official or his designee), at least 14 days notice to the department is required prior to the commencement of closure operations. Notice shall be made by the owner or a duly authorized representative.
2. In the case of a regulated AST operated by the Commonwealth, the Department of General Services shall function as the local code official in accordance with § 36-98.1 of the Code of Virginia.
3. If the closure is in response to containment and cleanup actions that necessitate AST removal, the owner or a duly authorized representative of the facility or AST shall immediately notify the local code official and the department.
B. Closure operations shall be reported to the department by the owner or a duly authorized representative within 30 days after the permanent closure operation is completed.
C. Closure operations shall include the following:
1. Removal of all liquids, sludges, and vapors from the AST and associated piping. All wastes removed shall be disposed of in accordance with all applicable state and federal requirements.
2. For tanks being closed in place, the tank shall be rendered vapor free. Provisions must be made for adequate ventilation to ensure that the tank remains vapor free. Vent lines shall remain open and maintained in accordance with the applicable codes. All access openings shall be secured (normally with spacers to assist ventilation). The AST shall be secured against tampering and flooding. The name of the product last stored, the date of permanent closure and PERMANENTLY CLOSED shall be stenciled in a readily visible location on the AST. Piping shall be disconnected. All pipes being closed in place shall be vapor free and capped or blind flanged.
3. An assessment of the AST site shall be conducted prior to completion of permanent closure operations.
a. In conducting the assessment, the owner or a duly authorized representative shall sample and test for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons at the AST site in any area where contamination is likely to have occurred. These locations shall be subject to the review of the department. Sampling and testing shall be conducted in accordance with established EPA-approved analytical methods or other methods approved by the department.
(1) The owner or a duly authorized representative shall submit copies of the laboratory results, a description of the area sampled, a photograph of the site indicating sampled areas, and a site map indicating the location of the closed AST and associated piping as attachments to the closure form.
(2) If contaminated soils, contaminated groundwater, free product as a liquid or vapor, or other evidence of a release is discovered, the owner or a duly authorized representative shall immediately notify the department and conduct the cleanup in accordance with department requirements.
b. The department may consider an alternative to the soil sampling requirements of this subsection if the owner or a duly authorized representative of the AST demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that:
(1) There is no evidence of present or past contamination by providing records of monthly leak detection monitoring for the previous 12 months; and
(2) The facility or AST has operated an approved or approvable leak detection system.
4. A closure inspection conducted by either the department or the local building official, as discussed in subsection A of this section.
D. When deemed necessary by the department, the owner or a duly authorized representative of a facility or an AST that was permanently closed prior to June 24, 1998, shall assess the site and close the AST in accordance with the requirements of this section.
E. The owner or a duly authorized representative shall maintain all records relating to compliance with this section for a period of not less than five years from the date the department receives notice of the completed closure. These records shall be made available to the department upon 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; Errata, 14:23 VA.R 3682 August 3, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015; Volume 39, Issue 5, eff. November 23, 2022.