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GeoInsighter Summer
2000 Newsletter ALERT! December 1, 2000 Deadline for AST Inspections in Massachusetts Return to the Newsletter Index Owners of above ground
storage tanks (AST) in Massachusetts are now required to conduct monthly
and annual inspections of their tank systems as a condition of their
continued use. The State Fire Marshal has adopted 502 CMR 5.00, Permit
Requirements & Annual Inspection of Above Ground Storage Tanks or
Containers of More Than Ten Thousand Gallons' Capacity, to provide
uniform Self-inspections shall be conducted by the owner or operator on at least a monthly basis, and a record of the inspections shall be kept at the facility or another location readily available for inspection by the State Fire Marshal. Annual inspections must also be conducted by either a Massachusetts registered professional engineer, a person certified according to American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 653 Appendix D, or other qualified person as determined by the State Fire Marshal, on or before December 1. At this time, the State Fire Marshal has not yet prepared an approved inspection check-list format. Therefore, according to the State Fire Marshal's office, inspection forms are to be submitted to their office for review and approval. Owners intending to conduct annual inspections must notify the State Fire Marshal's office or the head of the local fire department at least 14 days prior to the inspection. The Fire Marshal may elect to participate in the inspection or conduct an independent inspection to evaluate AST safety and review records maintained by the owner. Inspection reports must be filed for each AST with the State Fire Marshal's office after each annual inspection and must include a history of all inspections, repairs, alterations, and service. Records need to be maintained for a period of five years beyond the demolition of the tank. In addition to the requirements for inspections, AST owners who are planning maintenance or construction of new tanks are required to obtain a permit from the State Fire Marshal. The documentation required to obtain the permit includes a certified plot plan, foundation plan, dike plans, and mechanical drawings of proposed tanks. One year permits would be issued by the Fire Marshal's office after a review of the documentation and a site inspection. For more information regarding AST regulations and inspection requirements, call the State Fire Marshal's office at (978) 567-3100 or refer to 502 CMR 5.00 and API Standard 653. Brian D. Kisiel Return to the Newsletter Index
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requirements for
the construction, maintenance, and use of ASTs. This new regulation,
which became effective in December 1999, is applicable to all ASTs
containing fluid other than water with a capacity of greater than 10,000
gallons.