Texas Class A and Class B UST Facility Operator Training

"Class A operators have primary responsibility for on-site operation and maintenance of a UST facility.

Class A operators:

Manage resources and personnel;
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations;
Ensure that required records are kept; and
Ensure that operators at the facility are trained to respond to releases, spills, and other emergencies.
Class A operators must be trained on:

Spill and overfill prevention;
Methods of release detection and corrosion protection;
Emergency response procedures;
Product and equipment compatibility;
Financial responsibility;
Registration and spill notification;
Release and suspected release reporting and recordkeeping;
Requirements for temporary and permanent closure; and
Training requirements for Class B and Class C operators.

Class B operators have responsibility for the daily operation and maintenance of a UST facility.

Class B operators:

Meet release detection recordkeeping and reporting requirements;
Meet release prevention recordkeeping and reporting requirements;
Ensure that equipment complies with industry standards; and
Train personnel to properly respond to emergencies caused by releases or spills.
Class B operators must be trained on:

Materials and components of UST systems, and their operation and maintenance;
Spill and overfill prevention;
Methods of release detection and corrosion protection;
Emergency response procedures;
Product and equipment compatibility;
Financial responsibility;
Registration and spill notification;
Release and suspected release reporting and recordkeeping;
Requirements for temporary and permanent closure; and
Training requirements for Class B and Class C operators."

"Chapter 1 - Operator Overview
This chapter describes the primary responsibilities of the Class A, Class B, and Class C operator. It also includes the training requirements for each class of operator. Page 6 covers the facility operations and maintenance plan requirement, and both the Illinois Operations and Maintenance Plan Template and Emergency Procedures Template are available as downloads. Page 11 includes the EPA's Musts for USTs as a download.

Chapter 2 - System and Components
This chapter seeks to raise environmental awareness as well as clearly communicate a fundamental comprehension of UST systems. Components covered include spill buckets, sumps, emergency shut-off valves, vapor recovery, tank materials, and piping materials. Illinois UST signage requirements are also discussed. This chapter includes a download of the Illinois UST definitions (41 Ill. Adm. Code 174.100) on page 2.

Chapter 3 - Release Detection
This chapter emphasizes release detection methods. Equipment testing, the analysis of test results, and monitoring of the UST system are addressed in this chapter. Release detection methods covered include automatic tank gauging (ATG), inventory control, secondary containment with interstitial monitoring, statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), manual tank gauging, vapor monitoring, groundwater monitoring, and tank tightness testing. Release detection methods for piping, such as electronic and manual line leak detectors, are also discussed. Downloads available in this chapter are the EPA's Automatic Tank Monitoring & Line Leak Detection Reference Manual, Doing Inventory Control Right for Underground Storage Tanks, Straight Talk on Tanks, Introduction to Statistical Inventory Reconciliation for Underground Storage Tanks, Manual Tank Gauging for Small Underground Tanks, and the Illinois manual tank gauging chart from 41 Ill. Adm. Code 175.630(b)(2).

Chapter 4 - Release Prevention
This chapter prompts the trainee to be proactive in preventing spills and releases. It covers the system components that are designed to prevent corrosion, spills, and overfills. These include spill buckets and sumps as well as galvanic and impressed current cathodic systems, tank lining, overfill protection valves, overfill alarms, and ball float valves. Secondary containment as well as alarms and warnings are covered in this chapter. Downloads available in this chapter are the EPA's UST Systems: Inspecting and Maintaining Sumps and Spill Buckets and the EPA's Correct Filling Checklist.

Chapter 5 - Planning and Response
The focus of this chapter is preparation for a release and initial response actions after a release has occurred. Topics include recognizing the warning signs of a leak, maintaining spill kits, knowing the location of the emergency stop button, and posting emergency contact information. Critical attention is given to clean-up and release reporting requirements, including sensitive receptor protection and state notification requirements.

Chapter 6 - Financial Responsibility
Owners and operators of petroleum USTs must demonstrate financial responsibility for bodily injury and property damage caused by spill and releases. This chapter covers financial responsibility statutes and financial assurance mechanisms as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements for Illinois. The EPA's publication Dollars and Sense is available for download on page 1. The Illinois Certification of Financial Responsibility form and Leaking UST Fund Application are also available for download in this chapter.

Chapter 7 - Registration and Installation
This chapter discusses registration and permitting and UST installation requirements. Information on finding and accessing the Illinois UST database is included. Permit applications for UST installation, upgrade or repair, hotwork/tank entry, interior lining/lining inspection, removal, abandonment-in-place, and cathodic protection system installation, upgrade, or repair are available for download on page 5. The Illinois Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form is available for download on page 6.

Chapter 8 - Inspection and Closure
Recommended and required UST inspections are covered in this chapter. Particular attention is given to OSFM periodic inspections and the quarterly inspection requirement. Delivery prohibition and temporary and permanent tank closures are also addressed. Available downloads include the Illinois Monthly Impressed Current Log, Quarterly Inspection Checklist, Certification of Removal, Certification of Abandonment-in-Place, and Equipment Testing Guide."

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