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Tanks Program


The Heating Oil Tank Program handles issues related to:
  • Tanks storing fuel oil (typically Number 1 and 2 diesel oil) to heat buildings for human habitation.
  • Requirements for the voluntary decommissioning of heating oil tanks.
  • Reporting releases from heating oil tanks and the cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination.
  • Rules for contractors working on heating oil tanks and the cleanup of soil contamination.


The UST Program handles issues related to:
  • Tanks storing gasoline, ethanol, diesel, biodiesel and listed hazardous substances.
  • Tanks greater than 110 gallons in size (greater than 1,100 gallons in size if residential or farm use).
  • Tanks in use after 1974.
  • Rules governing installation, removal and modification of UST systems.
  • Reporting releases from USTs and the cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination.
  • Rules for contractors working on USTs and the cleanup of soil contamination.
  • The same universe of USTs as the Federal underground storage tank program (RCRA Subtitle I Tank Program). 

The Leaking UST Program handles issues related to:

  • Cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination from spills and releases from regulated underground storage tanks.
  • Contractors working on cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination at Leaking UST sites.
  • Enforcement of State and Federal Leaking UST rules.


seismicicon.jpgFuel tanks and seismic stability

In 2022, new legislation gave DEQ the authority to develop a program to evaluate the vulnerability of fuel tanks to earthquakes and requires facilities to develop a plan to reduce risk.