Closure of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1604 FOURTH EDITION, FEBRUARY 2021

Special Notes

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Foreword

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

   1. Scope 1

   2. UST Systems, as Defined by Federal Regulations 1

   3. If Tank Entry is Required 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Compliance with Regulations and Safety Considerations 4

   1. Compliance with Regulations and Standards 4

   2. Special Precautions 4

5. Temporary Closure 6

   1. Notification 6

   2. Applicability 6

   3. Securing Tank Systems 6

   4. Time Limits for Systems in Temporary Closure 7

   5. Re-opening Tanks in Temporary Closure 7

6. General Requirements for Permanent Closure and Change of Service 7

   1. General 7

   2. Applicability 7

   3. Notification 8

   4. Pre-closure Evaluation 8

   5. Closure Assessment 8

   6. Corrective Action 8

   7. Recordkeeping 8

7. Permanent Closure and Change of Service 8

   1. Applicability 8

   2. Preparation 9

   3. Purging and lnerting 9

   4. Testing 10

   5. Closure in Place 11

   6. Removal 11

   7. Change of Service 13

8. Temporary Storage of Used Tanks 13

   1. Storage Considerations 13

   2. Storage Procedures 13

   3. Considerations for Reuse 13

   4. Conditions of Sale 14

9. Disposal 14

   1. Disposal Criteria 14

   2. Disposal Procedures 14

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Closure of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks

1 Scope

1.1 Scope

This recommended practice covers procedures for the closure in place, removal, storage, and off-site disposal of undergroundstoragetank(UST) systemsthathavecontainedpetroleumliquids. Ingeneral, itoutlinesrequirements, procedures, and operating conditions to be followed by contractors, engineers, and other individuals who may be involved in these practices. While this recommended practice specifically addresses underground petroleum storage tank systems at service station facilities, the principles outlined may be applied to similar systems used at other petroleum storage facilities. In addition, the principles may be applied to specialized chemicals not specifically addressed by this recommended practice, taking into account the appropriate differences in physical, chemical, and human and environmental effects that may be hazardous.

1. UST Systems, as Defined by Federal Regulations

   
   

   Under applicable federal regulations, including 40 CFR Part 280, a UST system consists of the UST and the connected underground piping, underground ancillary equipment, and containment system, if any. The procedures outlined in this recommended practice can be applied to all portions of an UST system.

   
   

2. If Tank Entry is Required

The procedures outlined in this recommended practice should be performed without entering the tank. If tank entry is required, the procedures outlined in NFPA 326, API Standard 2015, API Recommended Practice 1631, and API Publication 2217A should be followed (see also 29 CFR Part 1910.146 regarding “Permit required confined space”).

2 Normative References

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any addenda) applies.

API Publication 1628, A Guide to the Assessment and Remediation of Underground Petroleum Releases

API Publication 1629, A Guide for Assessing and Remediating Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils API Standard 2015, Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks API Publication 2217A, Guidelines for Work in Inert Confined Spaces in the Petroleum Industry API Publication 2219, Safe Operating Guidelines for Vacuum Trucks in Petroleum Service

API Recommended Practice 2003, Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents

NFPA1 70, National Electric Code

NFPA 326, Safe Entry of Underground Storage Tanks

NFPA 326, Standard for the Safeguarding of Tanks and Containers for Entry, Cleaning, or Repair

1 National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-07471, www.nfpa.org.

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