Reasonable Cost Guidelines (RCGs) Update
OPS reviewed the Reasonable Cost Guidelines (RCGs) and presented recommendations to the Petroleum Storage Tank Committee (PSTC) during the May 2025 meeting. These were posted online, and there was a 30-day public comment period. During this time, OPS received six (6) public comments from:
Drilling Company Stakeholders (1)
Lab Owner Stakeholders (2)
REP Peer Group (1)
Consultant Company Stakeholders (2)
The public comments generally addressed drilling rates, lab contaminant of concern rates, labor rates, and groundwater sampling rates. OPS discussed some of these items with stakeholders and, in some cases, adjusted the rates based on the justification provided by the stakeholders.
During the June 2025 Meeting, the PSTC voted to approve the OPS-recommended RCGs for direct push (1.x), drilling (2.x), lab analysis (6.x), IDW (11.x), and field supplies (12.x), along with a 5% increase in labor rates (4.x, 5.x, and 7.x TLCs). Additionally, the OPS and REP Peer Group will work together to draft a policy on reviewing RCGs moving forward to adjust the rates better to account for projected inflation rather than adjusting the RCGs in arrears. The committee will vote on this policy to become PSTC Policy Number 30.
Public Comments and the RCGs, which took effect on July 1, 2025, are posted under "What's New?" on the OPS Website. The Corrective Action Remediation (CAP) Report has been updated and posted to the website. Please begin using this updated CAP Report, as the Release Number has been added and the Event ID has been removed.
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Remediation Status Update – Second Quarter 2025 (as of 6/30/2025)
Confirmed Releases: 42
Closed Release Events: 35
Total Open Release Events: 554
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New Retail Electric Vehicle Charger Program at OPS
House Bill HB25-1267 was signed into law in May 2025, and it directs OPS to adopt regulations that include minimum standards relating to specifications and tolerances for retail electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and methods of retail sale at publicly accessible EV charging stations in Colorado. The goal is to promote fairness and consistency in the marketplace, and OPS expects to adopt new regulations by July 1, 2026, and to enforce the rules beginning July 1, 2027.
OPS already regulates the retail sale of all other transportation fuels from a weights and measures standpoint to ensure consumer protection and equity in the marketplace. Currently there is no regulatory oversight in Colorado over the retail sale of electricity at publicly accessible retail EV charging stations, and therefore a variety of equipment and pricing structures exist in the marketplace. As with all other transportation fuels in use in Colorado, the regulatory oversight will ensure transparency, uniformity, equity, and confidence in the marketplace for both retailers and consumers at publicly accessible EV charging stations. Simply put, it will ensure consumers get what they pay for.
If you are interested in participating as we develop these regulations, please plan on attending our first stakeholder meeting at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 29th.
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ktf-bygt-rpq
Or dial: (US) +1 478-974-9288 PIN: 625 644 078#
Additionally, you can contact Zach Hope at zach.hope@state.co.us if you would like to be involved or if you have questions about the new program.
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Steel Tank Institute’s Cathodic Protection Training Course at OPS in September
The Steel Tank Institute (STI/SPFA) is holding a cathodic protection training course September 16-18 at the OPS office in Denver. The course is focused on the real-world needs of individuals and companies that plan to conduct field testing of cathodic protection monitoring systems. Industry experts will show you the latest methods for monitoring and troubleshooting cathodic protection systems associated with USTs.
You can learn more about STI/SPFA’s class on their website.
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Compliance Status Update – Second Quarter 2025 (as of 6/30/2025)
Storage Tanks Installed: 36 (includes liquefied and compressed gas storage)
Storage Tank Closures/Removals: 37
Technical Compliance Rate for USTs: 90.6%
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OPS Welcomes New Employees!
The Petroleum Storage Tank Fund section has welcomed Rebel Valentine to assist with application intake and cost review. Rebel joins us after transferring from the FAMLI Division within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. He brings experience reviewing insurance applications from his previous work, and assisting with claims processing of FAMLI payments. Rebel has proven to be a quick study, and we are excited to have him! If you need to reach out, Rebel's contact information is: rebel.valentine@state.co.us, or (303) 475-0304.
We would also like to welcome Calvin Kline to the OPS team as our new Oil Inspector. Calvin has experience in the service and installation side of the petroleum storage industry, and his territory includes the east metro Denver area down to the southeast portion of the state. Please help us welcome Calvin to the team! Calvin can be reached at calvin.kline@state.co.us or (303) 378-8322.
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Petroleum Storage Tank Fund Status Update – Second Quarter 2025
PSTF Balance (as of 6/30/2025): $5,000,000
Reimbursement Applications (PREQs) Received FY25: 223 PREQs
PREQs Average Days to Process (FY25): 72 days
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Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) Update
As of mid-June, random fuel sampling & testing within the severe ozone nonattainment area shows that the majority of retail station owners/operators are following the federally-mandated RFG program, which requires clean-burning RFG to help mitigate air pollution. In addition, OPS is rolling out a seasonal vapor pressure testing program aiming to continue this promising trend and maximize compliance.
The Division would like to thank the many retail station owners and operators within the Denver Metro and North Front Range Nonattainment Area for their cooperation and contribution to improving air quality for all Coloradans.
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Retail Motor Fuel Dispenser Security – Past, Present, and Future
Traditionally, fuel dispenser cabinets were secured by a lock utilizing the manufacturer’s common key for convenience. These locks were primarily for safety and the prevention of vandalism. With the implementation of pay-at-the-pump technology, cabinets now contain sensitive financial equipment and data that need to be protected.
As early as 2010, this credit card information was becoming a target of theft, so law enforcement and weights and measures professionals teamed up to develop reasonable dispenser security requirements. In 2016, NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) adopted dispenser security standards in Handbook 44. Their primary purpose is to restrict the ability of unauthorized persons to obtain or manipulate payment information, which can be achieved through one or more of these methods:
- A physical lock (that does not use a universal key) that restricts access to the electronic financial transaction compartment, or
- electronic alarming or disabling of the equipment if unauthorized access is attempted, or
- advanced payment acceptance technologies that increase protections against theft of information, or
- another security solution that has been approved by OPS.
You can read the full text of Handbook 44 on the NIST webpage.
With the updated Colorado Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations that became effective January 1, 2025, these security standards are now part of regulations in Colorado. Please be aware that OPS inspectors will be checking equipment at retail facilities to ensure compliance with these new requirements.
These requirements are critical to reducing credit card fraud, identity theft, and product theft. If you have questions about dispenser security, contact Scott Wagner at scotta.wagner@state.co.us.
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Fuel Quality Lab - Second Quarter 2025
Fuel Samples Analyzed: 220
Analytical Compliance Rate: 94.9%
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National Tanks Conference
The 28th National Tanks Conference (NTC) will be held September 22-25, 2025, in Spokane, Washington. The NTC brings together storage tank inspectors, cleanup specialists, state and federal regulators, and industry representatives to network and learn about emerging issues, policy, equipment, and many other UST topics.
Registration is open, and a draft agenda has been developed that includes tracks for UST compliance, remediation, and reimbursement sessions.
You can learn more about the NTC on their webpage. We hope to see you there in September!
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OPS is Moving!
OPS will be moving our downtown Denver offices to a new location in October. The Department of Labor and Employment’s (CDLE’s) lease at 633 17th Street is ending, and CDLE found more suitable space across the street. Our new address will be 707 17th Street in Denver. Watch for updates in future bulletins, or check our What’s New website for the latest news on the move.
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