Idaho Environmental Guide for Local Governments: Petroleum Storage or Fueling
Review the following information for projects that involve petroleum storage or fueling:
- Review projects for the potential to contaminate soil and ground water and consider implementing best management practices.
- Some tanks are not regulated. Develop and use best management practices for facilities and persons that store and use materials that have the potential to contaminate soil and ground water. This includes assistance with selecting, designing, installing, and maintaining secondary containment systems. Reference federal and state regulations that apply to unregulated tanks (for instance, heating oil tanks), such as the Idaho Underground Storage Tank Act or the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule.
- Consider removing or replacing of any existing petroleum underground storage tank system installed prior to December 22, 1988, used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, particularly unregulated tanks, including farm, ranch, home, and commercial heating oil tanks.
- Operating a facility with fueling activities or operations may require the transportation, storage, use, and disposal of petrochemicals and other harmful materials. Implement best management practices to assure that such materials are handled and transported correctly to avoid discharges to surface or ground water. Idaho's Water Quality Standards define a release as, "any unauthorized spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching, or disposing into soil, ground water, or surface water" (IDAPA 58.01.02.10.76). Petroleum releases to the environment must be reported. IDAPA 58.01.02 (Sections 850, 851, and 852) discusses reporting and corrective actions.
- Prior to project approval, request that project information specify:
- If EPA oversight is required under the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule.
- If DEQ oversight or notification is required.
- If any tanks will be reused. If so, they must be registered and tested and meet federal and state guidelines. The city or county may want to confirm that the requirements have been met. DEQ discourages the use of removed underground storage tanks for above-ground storage of fuel. Contact DEQ to discuss these concerns.
- A requirement that petroleum storage tanks have pollution liability insurance. Idaho's Petroleum Storage Tank Fund provides insurance coverage to owners of eligible unregulated tanks used to store petroleum either aboveground or underground, including farm, ranch, home, and commercial heating oil tanks.