
Be Part of the Ultimate Safety & Compliance Community
Trending news, knowledge-building content, and more – all personalized to you!
Floods are a common natural disaster in the U.S. When they happen, an underground storage tank (UST) is vulnerable to damage that could cause an environmental release of its contents. UST owners and operators have a responsibility to act as first responders in most UST emergencies and are typically accountable for initial response and cleanup of UST system releases. Quick UST actions can protect human health and the environment when a flood arrives. This Fact File gives a detailed look at UST precautions to take before a flood occurs and actions to take after. It also explains what effects flooding has on UST systems.
Potential sources of floods can arise from many different types of areas and situations. Some examples include swollen rivers or streams, flash floods, levee or dam failure, spring thaw, or coastal or urban locales. Online flood maps such as the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) provide a better understanding of the threat of flooding near you.
Floods that damage UST parts can be expensive to repair and clean up after. Being prepared can save you time and money in the long-run.
The subsequent impacts on UST systems could arise because of flooding:
Areas can be so affected by flooding that it can be challenging to even find the UST due to all the mud and debris.
Owners and operators should take the following precautions if a flood may occur:
Owners and operators should take the following actions after flood waters recede and re-entry is allowed:
40 CFR 280 — Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
Cathodic protection means an electrical system for prevention of rust, corrosion, and pitting of metal surfaces which are in contact with water or soil.
Underground storage tank means any one or combination of tanks that is used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, and the volume of which is 10 percent or more beneath the surface of the ground.
Owners and operators should contact their financial institution or insurance provider to file a notice or claim and identify minimum requirements for continuing coverage. Failure to do so could risk coverage in the event of a successive release. In some cases, funds may be provided for immediate actions or longer-term cleanup and site recovery. State financial assurance programs may give loans and grants to qualified owners and operators. State trust funds could reimburse parties for corrective actions if prerequisites for coverage are met. In cases of emergency, states may use Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund money to conduct emergency responses, site assessments, or remedial actions. Check with your state environmental agency to determine what funding is available.
Flood events can be relatively isolated or far-reaching. In 2017, flooding from Hurricane Harvey caused over two dozen storage tanks, containing a total of more than 145,000 gallons of crude oil, gasoline, and various other contaminants to rupture or fail when the hurricane crashed into the coastline of Texas. This catastrophic event followed years of warnings that the area was not prepared for a major storm. Roughly one-third of the 4,500 storage tanks along the Houston Ship Channel were in locations vulnerable to flooding.
While some did suffer damage, other refineries were able to fill up their tanks to make them less buoyant before the storm arrived. Therefore, they were less prone to floating and subsequent damaged. Regulations require companies to prepare for spills. But regardless of this, companies still struggle to prepare for extreme weather events that can cause UST systems to fail. Make sure to properly prepare not just for floods, but other natural disasters to avoid UST damage, leaks, and harm to those nearby.
Floods are a common natural disaster in the U.S. When they happen, an underground storage tank (UST) is vulnerable to damage that could cause an environmental release of its contents. UST owners and operators have a responsibility to act as first responders in most UST emergencies and are typically accountable for initial response and cleanup of UST system releases. Quick UST actions can protect human health and the environment when a flood arrives. This Fact File gives a detailed look at UST precautions to take before a flood occurs and actions to take after. It also explains what effects flooding has on UST systems.
Potential sources of floods can arise from many different types of areas and situations. Some examples include swollen rivers or streams, flash floods, levee or dam failure, spring thaw, or coastal or urban locales. Online flood maps such as the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) provide a better understanding of the threat of flooding near you.
Floods that damage UST parts can be expensive to repair and clean up after. Being prepared can save you time and money in the long-run.
The subsequent impacts on UST systems could arise because of flooding:
Areas can be so affected by flooding that it can be challenging to even find the UST due to all the mud and debris.
Owners and operators should take the following precautions if a flood may occur:
Owners and operators should take the following actions after flood waters recede and re-entry is allowed:
40 CFR 280 — Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
Cathodic protection means an electrical system for prevention of rust, corrosion, and pitting of metal surfaces which are in contact with water or soil.
Underground storage tank means any one or combination of tanks that is used to contain an accumulation of regulated substances, and the volume of which is 10 percent or more beneath the surface of the ground.
Owners and operators should contact their financial institution or insurance provider to file a notice or claim and identify minimum requirements for continuing coverage. Failure to do so could risk coverage in the event of a successive release. In some cases, funds may be provided for immediate actions or longer-term cleanup and site recovery. State financial assurance programs may give loans and grants to qualified owners and operators. State trust funds could reimburse parties for corrective actions if prerequisites for coverage are met. In cases of emergency, states may use Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund money to conduct emergency responses, site assessments, or remedial actions. Check with your state environmental agency to determine what funding is available.
Flood events can be relatively isolated or far-reaching. In 2017, flooding from Hurricane Harvey caused over two dozen storage tanks, containing a total of more than 145,000 gallons of crude oil, gasoline, and various other contaminants to rupture or fail when the hurricane crashed into the coastline of Texas. This catastrophic event followed years of warnings that the area was not prepared for a major storm. Roughly one-third of the 4,500 storage tanks along the Houston Ship Channel were in locations vulnerable to flooding.
While some did suffer damage, other refineries were able to fill up their tanks to make them less buoyant before the storm arrived. Therefore, they were less prone to floating and subsequent damaged. Regulations require companies to prepare for spills. But regardless of this, companies still struggle to prepare for extreme weather events that can cause UST systems to fail. Make sure to properly prepare not just for floods, but other natural disasters to avoid UST damage, leaks, and harm to those nearby.