Ohio Admin. Code 3745-66-93 - Containment and detection of releases - tanks

(A) In order to prevent the release of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to the environment, secondary containment that complies with this rule shall be provided [except as provided in paragraphs (F) and (G) of this rule] for the following:

(1) For all new and existing tank systems or components, prior to being put into service; and

(2) For tank systems that store or treat materials that become hazardous wastes, within two years after the hazardous waste listing, or when the tank system has reached fifteen years of age, whichever comes later.

(B) Secondary containment systems shall be:

(1) Designed, installed, and operated to prevent any migration of wastes or accumulated liquid out of the system to the soil, ground water, or surface water at any time during the use of the tank system; and

(2) Capable of detecting and collecting releases and accumulated liquids until the collected material is removed.

(C) To comply with paragraph (B) of this rule, secondary containment systems shall be, at a minimum:

(1) Constructed of or lined with materials that are compatible with the wastes to be placed in the tank system, and shall have sufficient strength and thickness to prevent failure due to pressure gradients (including static head and external hydrological forces), physical contact with the waste to which the containment systems are exposed, climatic conditions, the stress of installation, and the stress of daily operation (including stresses from nearby vehicular traffic);

(2) Placed on a foundation or base capable of providing support to the secondary containment system and resistance to pressure gradients above and below the system and capable of preventing failure due to settlement, compression, or uplift;

(3) Provided with a leak detection system that is designed and operated so that the leak detection system shall detect the failure of either the primary and secondary containment structure or any release of hazardous waste or accumulated liquid in the secondary containment system within twenty-four hours, or at the earliest practicable time if the existing detection technology or site conditions does not allow detection of a release within twenty-four hours; and

(4) Sloped or otherwise designed or operated to drain and remove liquids resulting from leaks, spills, or precipitation. Spilled or leaked waste and accumulated precipitation shall be removed from the secondary containment system within twenty-four hours, or in as timely a manner as is possible to prevent harm to human health or the environment, if removal of the released waste or accumulated precipitation cannot be accomplished within twenty-four hours.

[Comment: If the collected material is hazardous under Chapter 3745-51 of the Administrative Code, the collected material is subject to management as a hazardous waste in accordance with all applicable requirements of Chapters 3745-52, 3745-53, 3745-54 to 3745-57 and 3745-205, and 3745-65 to 3745-69, 3745-205, and 3745-256 of the Administrative Code. If the collected material is discharged through a point source to waters of Ohio, the collected material is subject to Sections 301, 304, and 402 of the Clean Water Act. If discharged to publicly owned treatment works (POTW), the collected material is subject to Section 307 of the Clean Water Act. If the collected material is released to the environment, the collected material may be subject to the reporting requirements of 40 CFR Part 302.]

(D) Secondary containment for tanks shall include one or more of the following devices:

(1) A liner (external to the tank);

(2) A vault;

(3) A double-walled tank; or

(4) An equivalent device as approved by the director.

(E) In addition to paragraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this rule, secondary containment systems shall satisfy the following requirements:

(1) External liner systems shall be:

(a) Designed or operated to contain one hundred per cent of the capacity of the largest tank within the external liner system's boundary;

(b) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. Such additional capacity shall be sufficient to contain precipitation from a twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour rainfall event;

(c) Free of cracks or gaps; and

(d) Designed and installed to completely surround the tank and to cover all surrounding earth likely to come into contact with the waste if released from the tanks (i.e., capable of preventing lateral as well as vertical migration of the waste); .

(e) Constructed with chemical-resistant water stops in place at all joints, if any (for concrete liners only); and

(f) Provided with an impermeable interior coating or lining that is compatible with the stored waste and that prevents migration of waste into the concrete (for concrete liners only).

(2) Vault systems shall be:

(a) Designed or operated to contain one hundred per cent of the capacity of the largest tank within the vault system's boundary;

(b) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. Such additional capacity shall be sufficient to contain precipitation from a twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour rainfall event;

(c) Constructed with chemical-resistant water stops in place at all joints (if any);

(d) Provided with an impermeable interior coating or lining that is compatible with the stored waste and that prevents migration of waste into the concrete;

(e) Provided with means to protect against the formation of and ignition of vapors within the vault, if the waste being stored or treated, is either of the following:

(i) Meets the description of ignitable waste under rule 3745-51-21 of the Administrative Code; or

(ii) Meets the description of reactive waste under rule 3745-51-23 of the Administrative Code and may form an ignitable or explosive vapor; and

(f) Provided with an exterior moisture barrier or be otherwise designed or operated to prevent migration of moisture into the vault if the vault is subject to hydraulic pressure.

(3) Double-walled tanks shall be:

(a) Designed as an integral structure (i.e., an inner tank within an outer shell) so that any release from the inner tank is contained by the outer shell;

(b) If constructed of metal, protected from both corrosion of the primary tank interior and the external surface of the outer shell; and

(c) Provided with a built-in, continuous leak detection system capable of detecting a release within twenty-four hours or at the earliest practicable time, if the owner or operator can demonstrate to the director, and the director concurs, that the existing leak detection technology or site conditions do not allow detection of a release within twenty-four hours.

[Comment: The provisions outlined in the "Steel Tank Institute's (STI) Standard for Dual Wall Underground Steel Storage Tank" may be used as guidelines for aspects of design of underground steel double-walled tanks.]

(F) Ancillary equipment shall be provided with full secondary containment (e.g., trench, jacketing double-walled piping) that complies with paragraphs (B) and (C) of this rule, except for all of the following:

(1) Aboveground piping (exclusive of flanges, joints, valves, and connections) that are visually inspected for leaks on a daily basis;

(2) Welded flanges, welded joints, and welded connections that are visually inspected for leaks on a daily basis;

(3) Sealless or magnetic coupling pumps and sealless valves that are visually inspected for leaks on a daily basis; and

(4) Pressurized aboveground piping systems with automatic shut-off devices (e.g., excess flow check valves, flow metering shutdown devices, loss of pressure-actuated shut-off devices) that are visually inspected for leaks on a daily basis.

(G) The owner or operator may obtain a variance from this rule if the director finds, as a result of a demonstration by the owner or operator, either that alternative design and operating practices, together with location characteristics, prevent the migration of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents into the ground water or surface water at least as effectively as secondary containment during the active life of the tank system; or that in the event of a release that does migrate to ground water or surface water, no substantial present or potential hazard is posed to human health or the environment. New underground tank systems, per a demonstration in accordance with paragraph (G)(2) of this rule, may not be exempted from the secondary containment requirements of this rule. Application for a variance as allowed in this paragraph does not waive the requirement to comply with rules 3745-66-90 to 3745-66-102 of the Administrative Code for new tank systems.

(1) In deciding whether to grant a variance based on a demonstration of equivalent protection of ground water and surface water, the director shall will consider:

(a) The nature and quantity of the waste;

(b) The proposed alternate design and operation;

(c) The hydrogeologic setting of the facility, including the thickness of soils between the tank system and ground water; and

(d) All other factors that would influence the quality and mobility of the hazardous constituents and the potential for the hazardous constituents to migrate to ground water or surface water.

(2) In deciding whether to grant a variance, based on a demonstration of no substantial or present or potential hazard, the director shall will consider:

(a) The potential adverse effects on ground water, surface water, and land quality taking into account:

(i) The physical and chemical characteristics of the waste in the tank system, including the waste's potential for migration;

(ii) The hydrogeological characteristics of the facility and surrounding land;

(iii) The potential for health risks caused by human exposure to waste constituents;

(iv) The potential for damage to wildlife, crops, vegetation, and physical structures caused by exposure to waste constituents; and

(v) The persistence and permanence of the potential adverse effects.

(b) The potential adverse effects of a release on ground water quality, taking into account:

(i) The quantity and quality of ground water and the direction of ground water flow;

(ii) The proximity and withdrawal rates of water in the area;

(iii) The current and future uses of ground water in the area; and

(iv) The existing quality of ground water, including other sources of contamination and the cumulative impact of contamination on the ground water quality.

(c) The potential adverse effects of a release on surface water quality, taking into account:

(i) The quantity and quality of ground water and the direction of ground water flow;

(ii) The patterns of rainfall in the region;

(iii) The proximity of the tank system to surface waters;

(iv) The current and future uses of surface waters in the area and any water quality standards established for those surface waters; and

(v) The existing quality of surface water, including other sources of contamination and the cumulative impact on surface water quality.

(d) The potential adverse effects of a release on the land surrounding the tank system, taking into account:

(i) The patterns of rainfall in the region; and

(ii) The current and future uses of the surrounding land.

(3) The owner or operator of a tank system, for which a variance from secondary containment had been granted in accordance with paragraph (G)(1) of this rule, at which a release of hazardous waste has occurred from the primary tank system but has not migrated beyond the zone of engineering control (as established in the variance), shall:

(a) Comply with paragraphs (A), (B), (C), (E), and (F) of rule 3745-66-96 of the Administrative Code;

(b) Decontaminate or remove contaminated soil to the extent necessary to:

(i) Enable the tank system, for which the variance was granted, to resume operation with the capability for the detection of and response to releases at least equivalent to the capability it the tank system had prior to the release; and

(ii) Prevent the migration of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to ground water or surface water.

(c) If contaminated soil cannot be removed or decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (G)(3)(b) of this rule, comply with paragraph (B) of rule 3745-66-97 of the Administrative Code.

(4) The owner or operator of a tank system, for which a variance from secondary containment had been granted in accordance with paragraph (G)(1) of this rule, at which a release of hazardous waste has occurred from the primary tank system and has migrated beyond the zone of engineering control (as established in the variance), shall:

(a) Comply with paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of rule 3745-66-96 of the Administrative Code;

(b) Prevent the migration of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to ground water or surface water, if possible, and decontaminate or remove contaminated soil. If contaminated soil cannot be decontaminated or removed, or if ground water has been contaminated, the owner or operator shall comply with paragraph (B) of rule 3745-66-97 of the Administrative Code; and

(c) If repairing, replacing, or reinstalling the tank system, provide secondary containment in accordance with paragraphs (A) to (F) of this rule or reapply for a variance from secondary containment and meet the requirements for new tank systems in rule 3745-66-92 of the Administrative Code if the tank system is replaced. The owner or operator shall comply with these requirements even if contaminated soil can be decontaminated or removed, and ground water or surface water has not been contaminated.

(H) The following procedures shall be followed in order to request a variance from secondary containment:

(1) The director shall be notified in writing by the owner or operator that the owner or operator intends to conduct and submit a demonstration for a variance from secondary containment as allowed in paragraph (G) of this rule according to the following schedule:

(a) For existing tank systems, at least twenty-four months prior to the date that the secondary containment shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (A) of this rule; and

(b) For new tank systems, at least thirty days prior to entering into a contract for installation of the tank system.

(2) As part of the notification, the owner or operator also shall submit to the director a description of the steps necessary to conduct the demonstration and a timetable for completing each of the steps. The demonstration shall address each of the factors listed in paragraph (G)(1) or (G)(2) of this rule.

(3) The demonstration for a variance shall be completed and submitted to the director within one hundred eighty days after notifying the director of intent to conduct the demonstration.

(4) The director shall will inform the public, through a newspaper notice, of the availability of the demonstration for a variance. The notice shall be placed in a daily or weekly major local newspaper of general circulation and shall provide at least thirty days after the date of the notice for the public to review and comment on the demonstration for a variance. The director shall also also will hold a public hearing in response to a request or at the director's discretion, whenever such a hearing might clarify one or more issues concerning the demonstration for a variance. Public notice of the hearing shall will be given at least thirty days prior to the date of the hearing and may be given at the same time as notice of the opportunity for the public to review and comment on the demonstration. These two notices may be combined.

(5) The director shall will approve or disapprove the request for a variance within ninety days after receipt of the demonstration from the owner or operator and shall will notify in writing the owner or operator and each person who submitted written comments or requested notice of the variance decision. If the demonstration for a variance is incomplete or does not include sufficient information, the ninety-day time period shall will begin when the director receives a complete demonstration, including all information necessary to make a final determination. If the public comment period in paragraph (H)(4) of this rule is extended, the ninety-day time period shall will be similarly extended.

(I) All tank systems, until such time as secondary containment that complies with this rule is provided, shall comply with the following:

(1) For non-enterable underground tanks, a leak test that complies with paragraph (B)(5) of rule 3745-66-91 of the Administrative Code shall be conducted at least annually.

(2) For other than non-enterable underground tanks, and for all ancillary equipment, the owner or operator shall either conduct a leak test, as described in paragraph (I)(1) of this rule or an internal inspection or other tank integrity examination by a qualified professional engineer that addresses cracks, leaks, and corrosion, or erosion at least annually. The owner or operator shall remove the stored waste from the tank, if necessary, to allow the condition of all internal tank surfaces to be assessed.

[Comment: The practices described in the "American Petroleum Institute (API)" publication, "Guide for Inspection of Refinery Equipment," chapter XIII, "Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks," fourth edition, 1981, may be used, when applicable, as guidelines for assessing the overall condition of the tank system.]

(3) The owner or operator shall maintain on file at the facility a record of the results of the assessments conducted in accordance with paragraphs (I)(1) to (I)(3) of this rule.

(4) If a tank system or component is found to be leaking or unfit for use as a result of the leak test or assessment in paragraphs (I)(1) to (I)(3) of this rule, the owner or operator shall comply with rule 3745-66-96 of the Administrative Code.

[Comment: For dates of non-regulatory government publications, publications of recognized organizations and associations, federal rules, and federal statutory provisions referenced in this rule, see rule 3745-50-11 of the Administrative Code titled "Incorporated by reference."]

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3745-66-93

Effective: 3/7/2025
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/12/2024 and 11/11/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3734.12
Rule Amplifies: 3734.12
Prior Effective Dates: 04/15/1981, 01/07/1983, 05/29/1985 (Emer.), 08/29/1985, 12/08/1988, 12/30/1989, 06/29/1990, 02/11/1992, 12/07/2000, 12/07/2004, 09/05/2010, 10/31/2015, 10/05/2020, 06/12/2023