62-762.701. Repairs, Operation and Maintenance of Shop Fabricated Storage Tank Systems

(1) Repairs.

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

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

2. The presence of groundwater in the interstice of an underground double-walled pipe, or

3. An operational or structural problem that could potentially result in a release or discharge, or lead to the presence of water in the interstice of a storage tank or integral piping other than condensate.

(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 component results in an on-going discharge, pursuant to Rule 62-762.441, 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 for the remaining operational life of the storage tank system; and,

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

(d) Repairs shall be evaluated and performed in accordance with Standard for Repair of Shop Fabricated Aboveground Tanks, STI SP031, 5th Edition, January 2018, hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, and available from the address listed in subsection 62-762.211(1), F.A.C., or from the publisher at STI, 944 Donata Court, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, [phone], or at https://www.steeltank.com/, or other equivalent procedures, regardless of the date of installation of the storage tank system or storage tank system component.

(e) Repaired tanks, integral piping, sumps, and spill containment systems shall be integrity tested for liquid tightness before being placed back into operation.

(f) Piping that is damaged or that has caused a discharge of a regulated substance shall be replaced or repaired. Repairs of pipe sections, sump penetration fittings, and pipe fittings shall be made in accordance with applicable requirements in subsections 62-762.501(3) and (4), F.A.C. Replacement of additional lengths of single-walled piping in contact with the soil are exempt from the requirements for secondary containment, provided that:

1. The piping system does not have, or will not have to install, secondary containment until the deadlines established in Rule 62-762.501, F.A.C.; and,

2. The length of replacement or additional piping is less than 25 percent of the total length of the existing integral piping for the individual tank, or 100 feet, whichever is more for each repair event.

(g) 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 62-762.801(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 62-762.801(2), F.A.C.

(2) Cathodic and corrosion protection.

(a) Cathodic and corrosion 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 interstitial spaces using vapor corrosion inhibitor technologies.

(b) Inspection and testing requirements.

1. Storage tank systems equipped with cathodic protection, regardless of the date of installation of the storage tank system or storage tank system component, 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 SP0169-2013, 2013 Edition, incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-762.501(3)(c)2., F.A.C., and External Corrosion Control of Underground Storage Tank Systems by Cathodic Protection, NACE Standard SP0285-2021, 2011 Edition, hereby adopted and incorporated by reference and, as a copyright protected document, is available for inspection at the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of State address provided in subsection 62-762.211(1), F.A.C., or from the publisher at AMPP, 15835 Park Ten Place, Houston, Texas 77084, [phone], or https://www.ampp.org/home, provided in paragraph 62-762.211(2)(g), F.A.C., regardless of the date of installation of the storage tank system or storage tank system component. 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 equipped with impressed current systems shall be inspected at intervals not exceeding once every 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 2,976 hours in one year shall be 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 62-762.711(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 paragraph 62-762.701(1)(c) or 62-762.702(1)(c), F.A.C., or

2. Be closed in accordance with subsection 62-762.801(2) or 62-762.802(3), F.A.C.

(3) Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor Systems.

(a) Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor systems, if installed, shall be operated and maintained to provide continuous corrosion protection to the metal surfaces within the interstitial spaces of storage tanks, piping and other enclosed spaces for storage tank systems.

(b) Inspection and testing requirements.

1. Storage tank systems equipped with VCI 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 thereafter.

2. Systems using vapor corrosion inhibitor technology must be tested in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

(c) Records of the continuous operation of VCI systems and all inspection, testing, and repair activities shall be maintained in accordance with paragraph 62-762.711(3)(c), F.A.C.

(d) Storage tank systems with VCI protection systems that have been determined by a Corrosion Professional that the VCI system requires replenishing shall:

1. Be replenished or replaced within 90 days and be retested within 90 days from the date of replenishment, or

2. Be closed in accordance with subsection 62-762.801(2), F.A.C.

(4) 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 system or system components without manufacturer integrity or containment testing specifications, PEI/RP1200-19, 2019 Edition, incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-762.501(1)(b)8., 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 double-walled piping in contact with the soil or over surface waters of the state, shall be tested at the time of installation and at the time of any subsequent repair,

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

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

d. Piping and dispenser sumps over 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. Below-grade spill containment systems shall be tested by January 11, 2018, and at intervals not exceeding every three years thereafter, not to exceed 36 months; and,

f. Hydrant sumps in contact with the soil shall be tested by January 11, 2018, and every three years thereafter, not to exceed 36 months.

2. Any integrity test that indicates that the component is not tight shall be reported and investigated as an incident pursuant to Rule 62-762.431, 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 substances 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) Exterior Coatings shall be maintained to prevent corrosion.

(5) Stormwater management for secondary containment systems.

(a) The removal of stormwater from a facility should be performed in accordance with all applicable Department rules. Owners and operators are advised that other federal, state, or local requirements may apply to these activities.

(b) Accumulated stormwater shall:

1. Be drawn off within one week after a rainfall event unless another frequency is allowed by the facility’s stormwater discharge permit or by another instrument, such as a Spill Prevention Control Countermeasure Plan or a Department permit; and,

2. Not be discharged without treatment if it has free product, a visible sheen, sludge, or emulsion of regulated substances.

(c) If gravity drain pipes are used to remove water from the dike field areas, all valves shall be kept closed except when the operator is in the process of draining water.

(d) The removal of stormwater from a dike field area or secondary containment system can be continuously removed through equipment registered in accordance with subsection 62-762.851(2), F.A.C., which is designed to allow filtration of water and prevent discharges of contaminated water.

(6) Evaluation and testing of single-walled metallic bulk product and hydrant piping systems in contact with the soil associated with shop fabricated storage systems shall meet the requirements of subsection 62-762.702(7), F.A.C.

(7) When a storage tank system is registered out-of-service, the system shall continue to be maintained in accordance with subsection 62-762.801(1), F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 376.303 FS. Law Implemented 376.303, 403.091 FS. History–New 6-21-04, Amended 1-11-17, 7-9-19, 6-26-23.