Fuel Storage Tanks: Your Responsibilities as an Owner or Operator

If you or your organisation own or operate a fuel storage tank, you would already be familiar with fuel polishing. Consequently, listing the benefits of that process will be irrelevant to you.

However, there needs to be an examination of the comprehensive maintenance of fuel tanks. More importantly, what are your responsibilities as an owner?

For instance, there have been increasing reports of leakage in the U.S., with Utah alone having a relatively high number of them. Thus, owning such fuel storage tanks in Salt Lake City, UT, makes it essential to revisit those questions.

Before answering those questions, you need to understand some of the tell-tale signs of when you need to clean your storage tanks.

Understanding the signs of your fuel storage tank being compromised

Amongst individuals who operate such tanks, it’s common knowledge that the three biggest threats are water, microbes, and corrosion.

What they often overlook, though, is that all three are related and consequential events in that exact order.

When water starts to collect in your tank, soon enough, it becomes a breeding ground for microbes. Let that microbial contamination stay long enough, and your storage tanks will get corroded.

Thus, it becomes critical to spot any water collection at the earliest stage. Dissolved water in your tank may not be noticeable early on. However, soon that water will bring on a cloudy appearance in your fuel as it starts to emulsify.

That’s precisely the stage at which you need to begin the cleaning process. Granted that it would be better if it didn’t come to that all. Still, if you own such fuel storage tanks in Salt Lake City, UT, it’s never too late to act appropriately.

Having established that, there is a need to examine some of the responsibilities of owners of fuel storage tanks.

What are some responsibilities and policies that owners and operators must abide by?

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) does not use the phrase ‘above ground storage tanks’. Instead, it refers to such tanks as bulk storage containers. Additionally, these containers can be above ground, partially or entirely buried, or even bunkered.

This specific stipulation in the regulations has significant implications for you as an owner. Essentially, a technicality will not free you from legal repercussions in the case of a leakage.

As such, you need to adhere to the construction and maintenance guidelines for such containers. They include:

• The incorporation of audible or visual alarms in the case of high liquid levels
• Provision of devices that cut off the pump at 95% storage capacity
• Direct line of communication between the container gauge and the pumping station
• Devices that have a fast response system to determine tank liquid level

While these factors come into play while installing a fuel storage tank, there are some additional guidelines and policies.

For instance, in the case of field constructed fuel storage tanks, there needs to be a comprehensive risk assessment if:

• The storage tank has undergone any recent repairs
• There has been any alteration in the components of the storage tank
• Any reconstruction of the tank or its peripheral fitting has happened recently
• There has been a change in the servicing process of the tank

While all these measures may seem exhaustive, you must understand why they are set in place. A report by the Chicago State University, for example, puts the annual number of storage tank leaks at 9000.

With that said, if you operate fuel storage tanks in Salt Lake City, UT, it’s your moral responsibility to prevent adding to that number.

While organisational needs must be met, there is also a need for comprehensive oversight. When it comes to fuel storage tanks, this is doubly true.

After all, maintaining such tanks safeguards the environment and also determines your organisation’s operational efficiency.

Danny White