Title of Regulation: 9VAC25-91. Facility and Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Regulation (amending 9VAC25-91-30).

Statutory Authority: §§ 62.1-44.15, 62.1-44.34:15, 62.1-44.34:15.1, and 62.1-44.34:19.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: October 27, 2021.

Agency Contact: William K. Norris, Department of Environmental Quality, 1111 East Main Street, Suite 1400, P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 698-4022, FAX (804) 698-4178, or email william.norris@deq.virginia.gov.

Summary:

Pursuant to Chapters 387 and 532 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, the amendments change the name of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to the Department of Energy and correct a citation to the Code of Virginia.

9VAC25-91-30. Exclusions.

A. The requirements of this chapter do not apply to:

1. Vessels;

2. Licensed motor vehicles, unless used solely for the storage of oil (e.g., airport refueling trucks and mobile refueling vehicles);

3. An AST with a storage capacity of 660 gallons or less of oil;

4. An AST containing petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, which is liquid at standard temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute) subject to and specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of § 101(14) of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 USC § 9601 et seq.);

5. A wastewater treatment tank system that is part of a wastewater treatment facility regulated under § 402 or § 307(b) of the federal Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.);

6. An AST that is regulated by the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy under Chapter 22.1 (§ 45.1-361.1 et seq.) 16 (§ 45.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 45.1 45.2 of the Code of Virginia;

7. An AST used for the storage of products that are regulated pursuant to the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC § 301 et seq.);

8. An AST that is used to store hazardous wastes listed or identified under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (Solid Waste Disposal Act) (42 USC § 6901 et seq.), or a mixture of such hazardous wastes and other regulated substances;

9. An AST that is used to store propane gas, butane gas or other liquid petroleum gases;

10. An AST used to store nonpetroleum hydrocarbon-based animal and vegetable oils;

11. A liquid trap or associated gathering lines directly related to oil or gas production, or gathering operations;

12. A surface impoundment, pit, pond, or lagoon;

13. A stormwater or wastewater collection system;

14. Equipment or machinery that contains oil for operational purposes, including but not limited to lubricating systems, hydraulic systems, and heat transfer systems;

15. An AST that forms an integral part (cannot be readily detached or removed) of the equipment or machinery and the contents of the AST are solely used by the attached equipment or machinery (e.g., fuel tank affixed into the frame of an emergency generator);

16. An AST used to contain oil for less than 120 days when: (i) used in connection with activities related to the containment and cleanup of oil; (ii) used by a federal, state or local entity in responding to an emergency, including response related drills; or (iii) used temporarily on-site to replace permanent capacity storage;

17. Oil-filled electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, transformers, circuit breakers or capacitors;

18. A flow-through process tank;

19. Oily water separators;

20. An AST containing dredge spoils;

21. An AST located on a farm or residence used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes with a storage capacity of 1,100 gallons or less; or

22. Pipes or piping beyond the first valve from the AST that connects an AST with production process tanks or production process equipment.

B. In addition to the exclusions listed in subsection A of this section, the following are excluded from the requirements contained in Part III (9VAC25-91-130 et seq., Pollution Prevention Requirements) of this chapter:

1. An AST with a capacity of 5,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored;

2. An AST storing asphalt and asphalt compounds which are not liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute); and

3. Line pipe and breakout tanks of an interstate pipeline regulated under the federal Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996 (49 USC § 60101 et seq.).

C. Asphalt and asphalt compounds that are not liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (60°F at 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute) are excluded from any requirement to install groundwater monitoring wells or groundwater protection devices or to conduct groundwater characterization studies under Part IV (9VAC25-91-170, Oil Discharge Contingency Plan (ODCP) Requirements) and Part V (9VAC25-91-180 et seq., Groundwater Characterization Study (GCS) and GCS Well Monitoring Requirements) of this chapter.