Ahead of the NISTM conference in December 2023, TCEQ share the highlights from their scheduled talks on aboveground storage vessel safety.
On 5-7 December, the tank storage industry will descend on Texas, USA, for the 16th annual national aboveground storage tank conference and trade show, run by NISTM. The conference is always full of industry experts ready to share best practices and updates in the tank storage industry.
Tank Storage Magazine is proud to be a media sponsor, and our team will be in attendance this December, so be sure to say hello at our stand. In the meantime, enjoy these insights from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The aboveground storage vessel safety program
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has adopted new 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 338, Aboveground Storage Vessel Safety (ASVS) Program, to implement the statutory changes to the Texas Water Code (TWC) made by senate bill 900, passed during the 87th legislative session.
The regulations identify the safety elements that TCEQ included, and the entities regulated. Safety standards come from both federal regulations and national consensus standards. The ASVS program is intended to provide for the protection of groundwater and surface water resources in the event of an accident or natural disaster.
Additionally, the TCEQ regulates aboveground and underground petroleum storage tanks (PSTs) that contain or have contained a regulated substance, including the assessment and cleanup of leaking petroleum storage tanks (LPSTs). Furthermore, the TCEQ implements numerous state and federal air regulations to permit and control air emissions from storage tanks.
Regulated aboveground storage vessels (ASVs) under this program are those that are made of non-earthen material, have a capacity of 21,000 gallons or more, store a regulated substance, and are located at a petrochemical plant, petroleum refinery, or bulk storage terminal. There are also specific exemptions set out in the rule.
Owners or operators of ASVs are required by 1 September 2027 to register with the TCEQ and pay the annual registration fee. Owners or operators must certify compliance with the applicable safety standards no later than 1 September 2037 as outlined in 30 TAC Chapter 338, and then every 10 years thereafter. TCEQ will conduct on-site inspections at least once every five years to determine compliance.
At NISTM’s conference, TCEQ is hosting a panel discussion on the Aboveground Storage Vessel Safety Program. The panel will include six members from the commission who will discuss the requirements and deadlines for the new ASVS program.
TCEQ is looking forward to attending NISTM and share the news about the brand-new ASVS program. The commission is keen to take advantage of opportunities to inform possibly impacted entities and provide advance notice so owners and operators can be prepared to comply. NISTM is a great forum for outreach for this new program as many potentially impacted entities will be in attendance.
For more information:
TCEQ will be speaking at the NISTM conference, held on 5-7 December 2023 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, Texas.
