PROTECT YOUR WATER FROM SPILLED FUEL
If you have small acreage or a large farm, you will most likely be using storage tanks to fill up tractors and equipment.  Click on one of the tabs below to find out how to properly handle your fuel to avoid spills, manage above ground storage tanks (ASTs) and underground storage tanks (USTs), and to close any unused or unsafe tanks to protect water resources.  
  • FUEL HANDLING
  • ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANKS
  • UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
  • CLOSING TANKS
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FUEL HANDLING

AVOID FUEL SPILLS
Small spills during fueling are bound to happen. Although fuel evaporates rapidly at the land surface it also readily seeps into the soil.  Once in the groundwater, fuel contamination is very difficult to clean up. ​Even small spills or leaks in the same place over time are a potential threat to your groundwater. The cumulative results of many small spills over time can lead to big problems.
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> > TAKE ACTION! 
write a spill prevention control & countermeasure (SPCC) PLAN

The plan should be approved and certified by a registered professional engineer. The plan needs to be updated every three years. Check with your local fire department for details.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
See this table from the Utah Division of Environmental Response & Remediation for a quick reference the types of spills that must be reported, contact information, and more.  For quick reference, print out this document and post it where you can find it quickly in case of an emergency, fire, or uncontained spill.
Report a spill to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.

ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANKS (ASTs)

The use of above ground storage tanks (ASTs) is the preferred choice for storing gasoline, propane, heating oil, and diesel on farmsteads or acreages. Compared to underground tanks, ASTs provide easy access and greater opportunity to observe and monitor tanks for leaks. However, special care must be taken with ASTs to protect them from impact by farm equipment and personal vehicles. 
LOCATING AN AST TO PROTECT GROUND & SURFACE WATER
Locate fuel tanks as far as reasonably possible from wells. Generally, you should try to locate a new tank downslope and at least 250 feet from your well. Avoid areas with porous, corrosive or wet soils or sites that contain abandoned drainage tiles or previously disposed waste materials. Also avoid designated flood plain areas or areas where the water table is close to the surface. The tank should not be in contact with bare soil. All tanks should be within a secondary containment system with sufficient holding capacity for the contents of the existing tank (or largest tank for multiple-tank facilities) plus a 10% freeboard.
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To protect against the rare event of an explosion, ASTs need to be placed as far as possible from livestock facilities and human dwellings. Choose a site where farm vehicles can easily maneuver for fueling. 
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FOR AN AST
Underground storage tanks should never be reused as aboveground storage tanks. This practice is not only illegal, but also dangerous. Your AST must comply with state and local rules for electrical safety and for fire prevention. Check with your local fire department for details on fire code. 

> > TAKE ACTION! 
FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT AGAINST EXPLOSIONS & FIRE

  • Keep a fire extinguisher in close proximity.
  • Locate ASTs at least 50 feet from any building or combustible storage.
  • Label tank contents along with health and physical  hazards.
  • Display a “No Smoking” sign.
  • Secure against vandalism or tampering.
  • If the AST is top-opening only, place tank on a non-combustible surface.
  • If the AST has gravity discharge, equip it with a heat-actuated shut-off valve at the discharge opening, and a self-closing valve at the fuel dispensing hose.
  • Use a light-colored tank to avoid heating problems
  • Enclose wiring in a conduit.
  • Above ground piping must be made of steel and coated to prevent corrosion.
  • All piping within a dike must be above ground and must extend over, rather than through, the dike wall. 
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
In most cases, no permit is required to install an AST with a capacity of less than 660 gallons. However, if the location of an AST may put environmentally sensitive waters at risk, special precautions must be taken.
KEEP THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND:
  • Community water supplies are required by law to protect an area around their source from potential contaminants. Check with the Utah Division of Drinking Water to determine if a proposed fuel tank is within a contamination zone for a community water supply.
  • Tanks placed in environmentally sensitive areas, such as flood plains or areas with a shallow water table, may be subject to local rules and require special installation  such as a double walled tank. Contact the Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) for more information about placing tanks in these areas.

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (USTs)

Underground storage tanks are no longer the preferred means of storing fuel on your farmstead or acreage. Anyone who has a UST should take special care that the tanks are in good condition and are not leaking. A primary factor in leaking tanks is age and type. Steel tanks need special corrosion protection prior to installation. Older tanks made of unprotected steel are subject to corrosion that weakens the tank walls and seams, eventually creating a leak. If you have a steel UST that is more than 15 years old, consider replacing the tank with a new underground storage tank or an aboveground storage tank.
USTs UNDER 1,100 GALLONS
Federal and state environmental regulations do not apply to farm or residential tanks which hold 1,100 gallons or less of motor fuel, are not used for commercial purposes, or for tanks storing heating oil to be used on the premises. Even if your underground storage tank is not covered by environmental regulations, you should take the  precautions to prevent contamination of water resources. 
  • Do not locate a tank near a water supply, where there is standing water, or where the water table is close to the surface at any time of the year.
  • Consider installing a spill and overfill protection (such as a catch basin to collect spills when the tank is filled) and an automatic shutoff or buzzer.
  • Make sure your tank meets compliance standards with Utah’s Division of Environmental Remediation and Response (DERR) Underground Storage Tank Branch.
  • Also, you must comply with fire code regulations for all USTs. Contact your local fire department for more information.
REGULATED USTS
All USTs with a capacity greater than 1,100 gallons (in single or multiple-tank arrangements) are covered by state and federal environmental regulations.

​Contact the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Environmental Response & Remediation (DERR) Underground Storage Tank Branch to assure that your underground storage tank is safe and in compliance. 
 
These tanks must be registered with DERR, be monitored for leaks at least monthly with a DERR-approved leak detection method, and comply with approved corrosion protection requirements for tanks and piping. USTs also require a minimum set of basic requirements for spill and tank overfill prevention.
Facilities that do not have an active Certificate of Compliance are ineligible to receive deliveries of fuel.
MONITORING ALL TANKS, PIPES & VALVES FOR LEAKS
Regular monitoring of fuel levels in your storage tanks helps detect leaks quickly. At a minimum, compare the volume of tank contents regularly with product delivery and withdrawal records to help detect leaks before major problems develop. 
 
Remember most leaks result from piping failures. You can easily spot leaks in an AST by noting a fuel spot on the tank or dead vegetation on the ground below the tank.
IF YOU FIND A LEAK
If you suspect a leak (due to suspicious smells, fumes, or loss of product), call the local fire department immediately. They can check your tank and piping to make sure it’s safe. Remember, fuel leaks of less than 25 gallons that are cleaned up within 24 hours do not have to be reported to the DERR.
 
For all other leaks or spills, whether from an AST, a UST, or a vehicle-mounted tank, state law requires you notify the DERR UST Program within 24 hours of its discovery. DE​RR has a 24-hour  hotline (801-536-4123) to report spills and leaks. Owners or operators of storage tanks are required to follow the instructions they receive and must take whatever actions are necessary to remedy the problem.
TESTING FOR LEAKS IN UNREGULATED USTs
Although unregulated USTs (less than 1,100 gallons) are not required to be monitored for leaks, it is still a very good idea to check for leaks at least once a year. If your tank is more than 15 years old, or if you don’t know its age, make a special effort immediately to determine whether leaks exist or possible danger spots. Regulated USTs have monitoring requirements and must be fitted with leak detection systems.​  Go to the ​Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Environmental Response & Remediation (DERR) Underground Storage Tank Branch​ for more information.
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Testing for Leaks in Tanks With a Capacity ≤ 1,100 Gallons:
You will need a gauging stick with a scale to one-eighth inch increments, a pencil, and a notebook.
  1. Measure and record the depth of product at the beginning and end of a pre-defined time period (e.g. 24 hours) during which no fuel is being used.
  2. Perform test several times to improve accuracy of the test.
  3. If product level changes over the defined time period, check your tank for leaks.

CLOSING TANKS

Any regulated underground tank which has not been used for 12 months or more must be removed from the property and properly disposed of in accordance with fire code requirements and DERR regulations. This requires pre-approval by DERR and the fire department, a site assessment, and supervision by a certified tank contractor.
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Tanks no longer in use can cause problems for owners and operators many years later. They continue to corrode and, if they still contain gas or oil, will likely contaminate groundwater. Determine the location of any unused tanks on your property. Proper closure procedures must be followed to prevent groundwater contamination, fire, explosion, or other health and safety problems. Always notify the fire department before removing a tank to ensure it is safe to remove it, and to follow fire protection codes.
Utah State University Extension Water Quality
​Utah Water Quality Task Force
Utah Division of Water Quality
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We’ve designed this website for Utah’s small acreage farmers. We hope you like it. We value your feedback, questions and concerns.  Email us at waterquality@usu.edu.