Proposed Revision To Colorado Tank Rules

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) – Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) is proposing changes to all Articles of regulation 7 CCR 1101-14, Storage Tank Regulations. These proposed changes include some technical changes (additions or changes of existing requirements) and to clarifications.

Some of the key proposed changes include:
Article 1 – General Provisions
• Add some definitions from statutes or from existing regulation Articles.
• Add a Glossary of terms.
• Clarified the definition of “Owner”.

Article 1.5 (New) – Motor Fuel Dispensing, Weights and Measures, and Product Quality
• Add a Motor Fuel Dispensing and Weights and Measures Article describing current requirements.

Article 2 – Underground Storage Tanks
• Clarify UST systems that are exempt from the Regulations.
• Clarify “Determination of Ownership and Use”.
• Remove specifics of what is required on the installation application and defaulted to the current application for these specifics.
• Added the requirement to conduct an assessment during repairs of subsurface portions of a UST system.
• Add out of service requirements to add flexibility for tank owners with systems that operate seasonally.

Article 3 – Aboveground Storage Tanks
• Added a new table describing restricted-capacity fleet vehicle motor fuel dispensing operations.

Article 4 – Release Reporting, Investigation, and Confirmation
• Define water in tank as two inches or more.
• Define suspected release in containment equipment as when fuel is in contact with penetration points, and add a requirement for hydrotesting of spill containment in response to this suspected release.
• Add a requirement for a site check in response to inconclusive SIR results.
• Add a requirement for a site check in response to a failed system test.

Article 5 – Release Response and Corrective Action
• Remove parameters of calculating site-specific target levels. This information will be included in the Guidance Document.
• Clarify that the responsibility for addressing releases remains with the owner/operator who owned the tank system at the time of the release.
• Add requirement to assess groundwater in response to a confirmed release.
• Add specifications for pilot testing.
• Add specific conditions to be met prior to requesting no further action.

Article 6 - Enforcement
• Add a description of the enforcement process which is currently employed.

Article 8 – Petroleum Storage Tank Fund
• Add language specifying that an owner/operator who is reimbursed for cleanup costs must remain in operational compliance to continue to be reimbursed.
• Add language specifying reimbursement/invoice format requirements.
• Add the requirement that applications for reimbursement of costs must be submitted within 5 years of incurring the costs.
• Add “unallowed status” for costs, associated with fees or other payments, incurred to obtain access to off-site properties.
• Add “unallowed status” for costs associated with the rental of equipment owned by the applicant if the purchase of the equipment was previously reimbursed.
• Add requirement to send an application back to the Committee for review if the facility is out of operational compliance.
• Add a description of the “Vendor Offset” policy.


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