Aboveground Storage Tank Program (AST)

The State and Regional Water Boards originally administered the APSA program until 2008, when it was transferred to the Unified Program Agencies. Before 2008, Environmental Health (the CUPA) verified during routine inspections that regulated facilities had prepared an SPCC Plan. If a plan had not been prepared, Environmental Health referred the facility to the Regional Water Board for enforcement. Previous law also required tank facility owners and operators to file a storage statement and pay a fee to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

Assembly Bill 1130, the California Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act (APSA), became effective on January 1, 2008. The law transferred responsibility for administering APSA in Yolo County from the State and Regional Water Boards to Environmental Health, the CUPA. Environmental Health now oversees inspections, enforcement, and program implementation at regulated tank facilities. Program activities are funded through fees previously collected by the SWRCB.

Facilities are subject to APSA if:

The tank facility is subject to the SPCC Rule,
The tank facility stores 1,320 gallons or more of petroleum, or
The tank facility has one or more tanks in underground areas (TIUGA) (regardless of the facility’s total petroleum storage capacity if the tank is stationary, contains petroleum, and has a minimum shell capacity of 55 gallons).

What Does The Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act Require?

The Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act requires that the owners or operators of aboveground storage tank facilities:

Notify Yolo County Environmental Health of the Aboveground Storage Tank(s).
Pay a facility fee to the Yolo County Environmental Health Department.
Prepare and implement a federal SPCC Plan which must follow the sequence outlined in 40 CFR part 112 beginning with 112.7(a).

Are all AST Facilities Required to Prepare SPCC Plan?

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans are required for aboveground petroleum storage facilities with a single tank larger than 1,320 gallons or a total aboveground petroleum storage capacity exceeding 1,320 gallons. SPCC Plans must follow the requirements in 40 CFR Part 112, Section 112.7(a).

Certain facilities, including farms, nurseries, logging sites, and construction sites, are exempt if no individual tank exceeds 20,000 gallons and the total storage capacity does not exceed 100,000 gallons. Requirements for these exempt facilities are provided in California Health & Safety Code Section 25270.4.5(b).

Additional Resources on Aboveground Storage Tanks

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