Section 18.78.017. Operations inspection.

	(a)  Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this section, the owner or operator of a UST system shall have each UST inspected at least every three years to determine compliance with the release detection, spill and overfill prevention, and corrosion protection requirements of this chapter. Each inspection must be performed by an inspector who is certified under 18 AAC 78.410 and must include, as applicable, examination, assessment, testing, and documentation of the following for the UST system inspected:  
		(1) equipment;  
		(2) procedures;  
		(3) operations;  
		(4) maintenance;  
		(5) recordkeeping.  
	(b)  Unless another date is approved under (d) of this section, an initial inspection of each UST at the facility must occur no sooner than April 30 and no later than August 31 of the year specified in Table 1 of this subsection:  
                  Table 1. Initial Inspection Requirements 
Last Digit of ADEC   For UST registered on or      For UST registered after
Facility ID Number     before June 1, 2000               June 1, 2000
                       Year Inspection Due            Year Inspection Due
         1                     2000
         2                     2000
         3                     2000
         4                     2000                   The third calendar
         5                     2001                year after registration.
         6                     2001
         7                     2001
         8                     2002
         9                     2002
         0                     2002
	(c)  For a UST facility with multiple registration dates, all USTs shall be inspected no later than the earliest applicable date in Table 1 of (b) of this section.  
	(d)  In a geographic area of the state in which obtaining an inspection may cost more because an inspector does not routinely offer services in that area, two or more owners or operators may arrange for an inspector to inspect a group of USTs in that area at the same time. The inspection must be completed on or before the earliest applicable date in Table 1 of (b) of this section unless the department grants an extension. The department will grant an extension for a group of tanks under this subsection, upon request, if the department determines that an earlier date is not practicable. The department will not grant an extension beyond the last applicable date specified in Table 1 in (b) of this section for a facility in the group receiving the extension. The department will provide a temporary extension tag, decal, or notice for a UST that receives an extension under this subsection.  
	(e)  An inspection is not required for a tank that is permanently out of service.  
	(f)  The department will provide each new UST with a tag, decal, or notice no later than 30 days after receiving the registration. A tag will not be provided for a UST that is permanently closed under 18 AAC 78.085.  
	(g)  A person performing an inspection must be a certified inspector under 18 AAC 78.410 and shall ensure that the inspection conforms to the requirements in 18 AAC 78.455(a)(5).  
	(h)  No later than September 30 of the year the inspection is due, the inspector who performed the inspection of the UST system shall provide to the department the results of the inspection on a form provided by the department. The form must be signed by the certified inspector who conducted the inspection and the owner or operator of the UST system.  
	(i)  A tag, decal, or notice expires on October 31 of the third year after issuance.  
	(j)  Within 30 days after receiving a form under (h) of this section that indicates the UST system is in compliance with this chapter, the department will provide the owner or operator with a tag, decal, or notice to be affixed as required by 18 AAC 78.015(a).  
	(k)  If, after inspection, the inspector finds that the UST system is not in compliance with this chapter,  
		(1) the department will consider the UST system to be a substandard UST until required repairs are completed in accordance with 18 AAC 78.055;  
		(2) the inspector shall immediately notify the owner or operator of noncompliance;  
		(3) no later than 10 days after the inspection was performed, the inspector shall submit the inspection report to the department;  
		(4) no later than 60 days after the inspection was performed, the owner or operator shall return the tag, decal, or notice for the UST system to the department, unless the required repairs have been completed in accordance with 18 AAC 78.055 and the department receives documentation of those repairs during the 60-day period; if repairs will take longer than 60 days, and upon receipt of a written request accompanied by detailed repair information and a schedule of repairs, the department may grant, under 18 AAC 78.018(c), a temporary deferral of any prohibition on the acceptance, delivery, or deposit of petroleum; and  
		(5) the UST system must be temporarily taken out of service no later than 90 days after the date of the inspection, unless the department has granted a temporary deferral under (4) of this subsection and 18 AAC 78.018(c); a substandard UST must be permanently closed under 18 AAC 78.085 no later than 15 months after the date of the inspection.  
	(l)  Repealed 7/25/2012.  
	(m)  If a tag, decal, or notice is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the owner or operator may obtain a replacement by providing the department with a sworn statement or affidavit that includes the facility number and tank number assigned by the department and an explanation of why a replacement is needed.  

Authorities

46.03.020;46.03.365;46.03.375;46.03.380;46.03.385;46.03.395;46.03.400;46.03.405;44.62.125;46.03.410

Notes

Reference

18 AAC 78.008
18 AAC 78.015
18 AAC 78.018
18 AAC 78.100

Authority

AS 46.03.020 AS 46.03.365 AS 46.03.375 AS 46.03.380 AS 46.03.385 AS 46.03.395 AS 46.03.400 AS 46.03.405 Editor's note: As of Register 179 (October 2006), and acting under AS 44.62.125(b)(6), the regulations attorney made a technical revision to the authority citation following 18 AAC 78.017. This change reflects the enactment of sec. 2, ch. 102, SLA 2006, effective August 5, 2006, which repealed AS 46.03.410.

History

Eff. 8/15/99, Register 151; am 4/16/2000, Register 154; am 1/30/2003, Register 165; am 7/25/2012, Register 203; am 7/19/2013, Register 207

References

18.78.017