Permanent Closure of Single-Walled Underground Storage Tanks in New Hampshire Required by December 22, 2015

If you have a single-walled underground storage tank in the State of New Hampshire, it is important to start planning for the implementation of the regulations set forth in 2005 requiring permanent closure by December 22, 2015.  As of that date, all such tanks containing regulated substance that do not have secondary containment and leak monitoring must be closed.  Those that do not comply with the regulations will be subject to a number of enforcement penalties, including fines, civil penalties , and delivery prohibition, much like the current “Red-Tag” program for facilities that violate spill prevention, overfill protection, release detection, leak monitoring, or corrosion protection requirements.  Not complying will also affect eligibility for state funds.  For further information about the 2015 requirements, visit the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Protection’s Underground Storage Tank Program’s website at http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/waste/orcb/ocs/ustp/index.htm .

Sources:

NH Code of Administrative Rules, Env-Wm 1401.18 des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/legal/rules/documents/env-wm1400.pdf

“Environmental Fact Sheet: Delivery Prohibition of Petroleum to Regulated Underground Storage Tanks,”  NH DES 2008 des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/rem/documents/rem-27.pdf

“New Hampshire’s Storage Tank Program.”  Power Point Presentation, NH DES, July 23, 2009.  http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/gsp/documents/storage_tank_program.pdf

- Melissa Murkette, Compliance Analyst