USEPA recently announced rulemaking to revise the 1988 underground storage tank (“UST”) regulations at 40 CFR part 280, which include: adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced tanks, piping, and dispensers; adding operator training requirements; adding periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST systems, including monthly walkthroughs; removing certain deferrals, including those at airports; adding new release prevention and detection technologies; updating codes of practice; making editorial and technical corrections; and updating state program approval requirements to incorporate these new changes. Revising Underground Storage Tank Regulations--Revisions to Existing Requirements and New Requirements for Secondary Containment and Operator Training; Proposed Rule, 76 Federal Register 71708, published Nov. 18, 2011.

Read more about the background, biofuels, and new release detection options in a recent blog post on Taft Environmental Law Insight.