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Aboveground Fuel Storage Tank Requirements

Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) are storage tanks that can be used for a number of purposes, primarily for storage of water or fuel supplies. Although local, state and federal regulations concerning ASTs are less stringent than those that deal with Underground Storage Tanks (USTs), the use of ASTs is controlled and overseen by several different departments of government, including state Departments of Environment Quality and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Regulations for non-commercial government agencies using ASTs for not-for-profit purposes are laid out by the Federal Facilities Environmental Stewardship & Compliance Assistance Center.

  1. AST Regulations and Requirements

    • Due to the legal regulations surrounding aboveground storage tanks from federal, state and local governments, there are a number of requirements for ASTs even prior to the placement of the tank at its location. Some of the requirements include a Phase 1 site assessment (testing the site and surrounding areas for undiscovered environmental issues), a geotechnical investigation, a report on drainage issues, and an overview of permit compliance issues.

    AST Design

    • Aboveground storage tanks require special designs to comply with different government ordinances, including leak detection safeguards and investigation shutdown controls. According to the AST requirements at FedCenter.gov, they must also include a High Liquid Level Alarm, a High Liquid Level pump cutoff, or a fast response system to determine the level of liquid within the AST.

    Legal Description of Aboveground Storage Tanks

    • According to the FFESCAC at FedCenter.gov, an aboveground storage tank is any storage tank that is above ground, regardless of whether it is used to store petroleum products, hazardous waste, or other hazardous material. The Environmental Protection Agency has a more comprehensive definition, which is that a AST is any “tank or other container that is above ground, partially buried, bunkered, or in a subterranean vault.” This definition includes floating fuel systems used on off-shore rigs and commercial boats.

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