The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than half a million underground storage tanks (USTs) nationwide are buried and filled with petroleum or other hazardous substances. Nearly 18,000 of them are located in Virginia.  Owners of these USTs can range from municipalities and large corporations to state parks or small family-owned gas stations.

All must be in compliance with local, state and federal regulations to ensure they do not pose an environmental threat.

ONE Environmental Group works with companies and facilities of all sizes to ensure they comply with EPA and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations. ONE can develop a comprehensive UST compliance program from scratch, assess a current compliance program, or manage the closure of a UST that is corroded or no longer needed due to the transition of a business.

Failure to comply with regulations can lead to penalties and fines, or in more extreme cases, shutdown of operations.

ONE Checklist for Compliance

The ONE team handles all aspects of UST compliance for clients. This includes:

• Registration — USTs must be registered with DEQ, and that registration must be up to date when changes to ownership or equipment are made.
• Spill and leak protection — If groundwater is contaminated, this could affect the safety of drinking water or pose another hazard. Monitors and sensors can be added to detect leaks or spills.
• Overfill protection — UST systems must be equipped with overfill protection consistent with current regulations. These will automatically shut off flow into the tank, alert the transfer operator, or restrict flow. They must be periodically inspected.
• Tank and line tightness testing — Damaged or leaking tanks need to be repaired or replaced to prevent releases.
• Air permitting applicability – ONE can perform air permitting applicability determinations for equipment powered by fuel from a UST.
• Training for routine inspections — ONE can educate onsite staff to perform monthly inspections of USTs and provide safety training in the handling of hazardous waste.  
• Recordkeeping – ONE can maintain all required records
• Cleanup services if a leak or spill is detected — Corrective action must be taken should an emergency arise
• Proper closure of a UST to prevent environmental risks to future development

DEQ conducts more than 1,500 inspections annually. The safeguards ONE puts in place offer business owners peace of mind in knowing that any potential issues are corrected prior to a DEQ inspection. ONE partners with clients to address all UST requirements and other complex environmental, health and safety compliance issues that business and organizations may encounter that could affect operations.