How to Conduct Underground Gas Station Tank Inspections

Inspect underground gas station tanks to reduce the chance of a leak of contaminating, hazardous chemicals into the soil and the water system. Ensure the tanks comply with current government guidelines, such as those described by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Incorporate specific spill prevention measures. Consider the type and age of the tank during an inspection. Record and submit what you have done to the EPA. Inspect pipes and connections carefully as well.

Things You'll Need

• Contact list
• Flashlight
• Crowbar
• Camera and tripod
• Automatic gauges
• Vapor monitoring equipment
• Plumb bob
• Alarm system
• Spare bulbs and wiring

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Instructions

• 1

  Inspect the documentation you have. Check that your tanks are registered with the EPA by contacting the agency and asking for further documentation, which you must read carefully. This can be especially important if you are taking over an existing gas station. List the contact details for a representative of the EPA, personnel of OSHA, a representative of your municipality and the fire department.

• 2

  Conduct a physical inspection of each tank. Access the underground storage tanks (USTs) by going underground using the access tunnel that was installed with the tanks. Take a flashlight or use safe electric lighting. Open manhole covers using a crowbar. Pay particular attention to single-skin tanks, as opposed to double-skin tanks, because they pose a greater risk leak (single-skin tanks are also called single-walled tanks). Take photographs of everything you inspect. A tripod can be useful if you are working alone or in dark spaces. Cross-reference your findings with the documentation. Evaluate the location of the sewer system. Look at your building's plans. Single-skin tanks must be located no less than 20 feet from a sewer pipe.

• 3

  Inspect existing structures for cracks and damage once a month. Record any noticeable changes and signs of wear and tear to seals, valves and pipework. Check that gas is being dispensed at the right speed and volume by measuring the flow and pressure using on-site measuring equipment. Use a plumb bob on a cord to measure the level of fluid in each tank. Record every measurement. Inspect corrosion, spill and leak/overfill prevention mechanisms thoroughly. Such mechanisms include automatic gauging; inventory control and soil vapor monitoring such as an explosimeter and a vapor detector.

• 4

  Test the facility's alarm system. Examine the wires that lead to the gas station office. Ensure that pressure changes or leaks can be detected quickly and that information is automatically sent to your on-site personnel. Identify any potential areas of fault in the circuits, wiring and light bulbs (which should illuminate when a problem has been detected) and repair them immediately, or contact a qualified local electrician with expertise in tank safety systems.

• 5

  Invite a qualified inspector from the EPA to check the site once a year, as recommended by the National Work Group On Leak Detection Evaluations. Grant full access to the site and underground tanks. The EPA representative will hire a private company of environmental engineering contractors to carry out specific measurements, such as gas leak testing in surrounding soil and distance between tanks and sewer system components. If you sell petroleum, they will also test for petroleum leaks.

• 6

  Give permission to the contractor to access the tanks and take samples. Make the inspector and his contractor aware of your measurements and any alterations you have recently made. Contact the fire department and municipal authorities if excavation is being planned. They need to be aware and may send a representative to follow proceedings. Remember to inspect any newly fitted components regularly to ensure they work effectively.