Prevention and timely detection of underground storage tank leaks are critical to protecting human health and the environment. The UST Inspections and Compliance Unit oversees UST owner and operator efforts to meet state and federal requirements related to UST installation, operation and closure. ADEQ also has delegation agreements with the State Fire Marshal's Office and some of the larger Arizona cities to assist with this effort. The unit also regulates the legal requirement that owners and operators have a financial assurance mechanism to help cover the cost of investigating and cleaning up a release and possible third party liability.

• Bulletins
• Closing USTs
• Contacts
• EPA Enforcement Authority
• Forms and Guidance
• Installing and Registering New USTs
• Related Statutes and Rules
• Statistics
• Tank Service Provider List

See also:
  ADEQ Compliance
  ADEQ Compliance and Enforcement Handbook
  Final Administrative Documents

Time to close your tanks? Contact the UST Inspections and Compliance Unit, at least 30 days prior to the date of tank removal (or closure in place). Your request for a closure number must be in the form of a letter, addressed to ICU at the address below. ADEQ will issue a closure number by letter and you may then coordinate with the appropriate local or fire authority for the necessary permits.

UST Statistics (as of 2/1/06)

• Tanks: 7,640
• Facilities: 2,620

The updated LUST stats are as follows:

• Number of Releases Reported: 8,209
• Number of Releases Closed: 6,592
• Total Open Releases: 1,617

Related Statutes and Rules

State and Federal regulatory requirements related to USTs.

• To view state statutes relating to USTs see Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (UST Statutes) A.R.S. 49-1001 - 1093
• To view state rules relating USTs, see Chapter 12 of Title 18 of the Arizona Administrative Code (UST Program Rules)
• To view federal rules relating to USTs see Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) 40 CFR

Forms and Guidance

Questions about UST documents and forms?

Note: Please return all completed forms (original signatures and dates are mandatory) to:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
UST Program
1110 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Installing and Registering USTs

To install an underground storage tank, a UST owner will first need to obtain a construction permit from their local fire authority. The owner will need to notify ADEQ within 30 days of bringing the installed tank into operation. To do so, please fill out and submit a UST Notification form to:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
UST Program
1110 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Closing USTs

If the UST owner or operator is planning on closing their tanks (tank removal or closing in place), please contact ADEQ for a closure number at least 30 days prior to any closure activities. The request must be submitted in the form of a letter. In addition to the letter, it is still necessary to submit a Notification Form within 30 days of closure. Upon receipt of an ADEQ closure number, the owner may contact the appropriate fire authority for the necessary permits.

For more information on closing a UST
Contacts

Temporary Closure
The UST owner or operator may temporarily close their UST for up to 12 months by following these requirements.

• Continue to monitor for leaks by maintaining the UST's leak detection (unless the tank is empty). Continue to monitor and maintain any corrosion protection systems.
• If an UST remains temporarily closed for more than three months, the owner must leave the vent lines open but cap and secure all other lines, pumps, manways and ancillary equipment.
• Prior to the expiration of the temporary closure period, the owner must permanently close the UST or submit a written request to ADEQ for an extension of temporary closure.

Permanent Closure and Removal
Safety is a significant concern when permanently closing and removing a tank. In Arizona, the owner must use a certified Tank Service Provider to perform the potentially hazardous activities of emptying and cleaning USTs.

The tank must be emptied and cleaned by removing all liquids, dangerous vapor levels, and accumulated sludge. These activities need to be carried out carefully by a certified service provide following standard safety practices. You can get a list of certified Tank Service Providers by calling (602) 771-4316 (toll free in state (800) 234-5677).

A guidance document for permanent closure is available on the UST website at the location listed above.

EPA has Authority to Fine Tank Owners for Violations Observed During an Inspection

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has federal authority to enforce underground storage tank (UST) laws. Although, ADEQ has a cooperative agreement with EPA to implement the UST program in Arizona, ADEQ and EPA frequently coordinate on facility inspections.

What some UST owners and operators do not know is that EPA has the authority to fine tank owners or operators at the time of inspection for violations of UST operational requirements. ADEQ wants to ensure that UST owners, operators, and other interested persons are aware of EPA's field citation authority. Additional information on EPA's field citation directive and potential penalty amounts may be viewed on EPA's web site at:

Field Citation Directive
Potential Penalty Amounts

For more information on ADEQ's UST inspections program, please contact Nick Velasquez via email, or by telephone at (602) 771-4315, or you may call our toll free number at (800) 234-5677.