The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a federal law that requires the regulation of underground storage tanks (USTs). The purpose of the law is to prevent the contamination of soil and water from leaking storage tanks. An underground storage tank is a tank or combination of tanks connected by piping systems that have at least 10% of their combined volume beneath the ground. A tank system may include the tank, underground connected piping, ancillary equipment, and any containment system. It should be noted that these regulations apply to any underground storage tanks or piping used to store petroleum or certain hazardous substances. USTs that store substances considered hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) are subject to the regulation governing petroleum and must have secondary containment and interstitial monitoring for leak detection. In Ohio, the regulatory responsibility for USTs has been delegated by the federal EPA to the Ohio Bureau of Commerce’s Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulation (BUSTR). BUSTR does not regulate heating oil tanks used for heating on the premises. These tanks need to be permitted and inspected by local fire departments. OEPA regulates any release from these tanks.
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