62-761.700. Repairs, Operation and Maintenance

(1) Repairs.

(a) Repairs shall be performed if any component of a storage tank system has:

1. A release or discharge or contributed to a release or discharge of a regulated substance, or

2. An operational or structural problem that could potentially result in a release or discharge, or lead to the presence of groundwater or surface water in the interstice of a double-walled storage tank or integral piping.

(b) The storage tank system shall immediately cease operating, dispensing, and accepting deliveries if:

1. Repairs are required for any component of a storage tank system; and,

2. The nature of the repair activities or the condition of the component cannot be otherwise isolated from the storage tank system. The restrictions against operating the storage tank system shall not apply if the storage tank system contains fuels used solely for the generation of electricity by an electric utility as defined in Chapter 366, F.S., where the removal of the storage tank system from use would result in the shutdown of electrical generating units serviced by the storage tank system; and,

3. The condition of the system component results in an on-going discharge, pursuant to Rule 62-761.400, F.A.C.

(c) Repairs shall be made:

1. To restore the structural integrity of the storage tank system and in a manner that will prevent releases or discharges from structural failure or corrosion for the remaining operational life of the storage tank system; and,

2. In accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and applicable reference guidelines.

(d) If repairs are needed for any primary or secondary tank or piping system walls, or any interstitial spaces of storage tank system components, the repaired components shall be integrity tested for liquid tightness before being placed back into operation.

(e) A storage tank system that requires repair but cannot be repaired within 90 days to operate in accordance with the requirements of this chapter shall be taken out-of-service in accordance with subsection 62-761.800(1), F.A.C. If the system cannot be repaired within 365 days after being taken out-of-service, it shall be permanently closed pursuant to subsection 62-761.800(2), F.A.C.

(2) Cathodic protection.

(a) Cathodic protection systems shall be operated and maintained to provide continuous corrosion protection to the metal components of those portions of the storage tank and integral piping in contact with the soil or within metallic interstitial spaces using vapor corrosion inhibitor technologies.

(b) Inspection and testing requirements.

1. Storage tank systems equipped with cathodic protection must be inspected, tested, and evaluated by or under the direction of a Corrosion Professional within six months of installation or repair and at least every year, or every three years for factory-installed (galvanic) cathodic protection systems, thereafter in accordance with the criteria contained in AMPP, formerly NACE International Standards SP0169-2013, incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-761.500(3)(d)2., F.A.C., and SP0285-2021, incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-761.500(2)(c)4., F.A.C.; or STI R051-17 Cathodic Protection Testing Procedures for sti-P3® UST’s, (R051), Revised April 2017, as applicable, regardless of the date of installation of the storage tank system. STI R051-17, Revised April 2017, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, and available from the publisher Steel Tank Institute (STI) publisher at STI, 944 Donata Court, Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047, [phone], or from the publisher’s website at https://www.steeltank.com/. The copyright protected documents in this subparagraph are available for inspection at the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of State address provided in subsection 62-761.210(1), F.A.C. All cathodic protection systems shall either have permanent test stations for soil-to-structure potential measurements or use temporary field test stations for required testing in accordance with this subparagraph.

2. Storage tank systems with impressed current systems shall be inspected at intervals not exceeding 60 days. All sources of impressed current shall be inspected. Evidence of proper functioning shall be current output, normal power consumption, a signal indicating normal operation, or satisfactory electrical state of the protected structure. Impressed current systems that are inoperative for a cumulative period exceeding 1,440 hours in one year shall be immediately taken out-of-service and assessed within 30 days by a Corrosion Professional to ensure that the storage tank system is structurally sound, free of corrosion holes, and operating in accordance with the design criteria before being returned to service.

(c) Records of the continuous operation of impressed current systems and all cathodic protection inspection, testing, and repair activities shall be maintained in accordance with paragraph 62-761.710(3)(c), F.A.C.

(d) Storage tank systems with cathodic protection systems that have been determined by a Corrosion Professional that the cathodic protection system cannot achieve or maintain protection levels in accordance with the design criteria shall:

1. Be repaired within 90 days in accordance with subparagraph 62-761.700(2)(b)1., F.A.C., or

2. Be closed in accordance with subsection 62-761.800(2), F.A.C.

(3) Operation and maintenance.

(a) Integrity testing.

1. The integrity of secondary containment systems and interstitial spaces, regardless of the date of installation of the storage tank system or storage tank system component, shall be verified by performing an interstitial or containment integrity test in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications. For storage tank systems or system components without manufacturer integrity or containment testing specifications, PEI/RP1200-19, 2019 Edition, incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-761.500(1)(b)5., F.A.C., shall be used. Secondary containment systems that use vacuum, pressure, or liquid level (hydrostatic) monitoring for release detection are exempt from this requirement. The interstitial or containment integrity tests shall be performed in accordance with the following schedule:

a. Double-walled storage tanks and piping shall be tested at the time of installation and at the time of any subsequent repair,

b. Piping sumps shall be tested by October 13, 2018, and every three years thereafter, not to exceed 36 months,

c. Dispenser sumps shall be tested by October 13, 2018, and every three years thereafter,  not to exceed 36 months,

d. Piping and dispenser sumps over the surface waters of the state shall be tested within one year of July 9, 2019, and every three years thereafter, not to exceed 36 months,

e. Double-walled spill containment systems shall be tested by October 13, 2018, and every three years thereafter, not to exceed 36 months,

f. All single-walled spill containment systems shall be tested at intervals not exceeding every 12 months and will be deemed timely if performed within the same calendar month in which the test is due; and,

g. Single-walled storage tanks or integral piping installed within liners are exempt from this requirement.

2. Any integrity test that indicates that the component is not tight shall be reported and investigated as an incident pursuant to Rule 62-761.430, F.A.C.

(b) Water removal.

1. Spill containment systems, interstitial spaces, dispenser sumps, and piping sumps shall be maintained to provide access for examination and water removal. Water in excess of one inch in depth, or any regulated substance collected in secondary containment, spill containment systems, or in piping sumps and dispenser sumps shall be removed within 72 hours of discovery and be either reused or properly disposed.

2. Petroleum Contact Water. Petroleum contact water from storage tank systems shall be managed in accordance with Chapter 62-740, F.A.C.

(c) When a storage tank system is registered out-of-service, the system shall continue to be maintained in accordance with subsection 62-761.800(1), F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 376.303 FS. Law Implemented 376.303, 403.091, 489.133 FS. History–New 3-12-91, Formerly 17-761.700, Amended 9-30-96, 7-13-98, 6-21-04, 1-11-17, 7-9-19, 6-25-23.