May 2019

Welcome back to The Petro Pulse! Our goal is to share information that will help you maintain compliance with the rules and regulations for operating and maintaining aboveground and underground storage tank facilities in Northwest Florida. We hope you find the information in this newsletters useful. We are here to assist, so please reach out to any of our contacts listed at the bottom of the newsletter with any questions, comments or suggestions.

A Season of Emergencies

Life can be unpredictable and full of emergencies. Florida weather can bring an emergency with high winds and flooding after an afternoon thunderstorm or complete chaos after a hurricane. The 2018 hurricane season left a severe impact on Florida, and the 2019 hurricane season will soon begin. We may not be able to stop the ravaging winds and flooding rain that nature brings, but we can be prepared. Whether it’s a flooded underground storage tank or an aboveground storage tank that shifted off its tank pad, being prepared for an emergency can mean the difference between survival and disaster.

The Northwest District Office covers 16 counties and regulates approximately 2,161 storage tank facilities. Those facilities have registered nearly 2,287 aboveground tanks and 1,626 underground tanks. Each one of these tanks can be seen as an opportunity for a discharge if preventative measures aren’t taken prior to bad weather moving into your area. 

Operator training for underground storage tank operators can provide you with a better understanding of tank system operations and emergency preparedness. State and federal regulations require this training. The training is divided into Class A, Class B and Class C operators and covers how to address a spill and the operation and maintenance of a tank system. More information can be found here.

Do You Have a Spill Kit?

A disaster doesn’t have to strike for a quick response to be needed. A spill can happen at any moment, and a prompt response relies on having the appropriate tools and training. Equipment for a spill kit can fit into something as small as a 5-gallon bucket or as big as a 55-gallon drum. You can purchase kits from many supply catalogs or create your own.                               

Preparation for the Event

Planning is the key to successfully surviving a storm. Here are some steps that storage tank owners can take to reduce the chance of having a release or a discharge from a storm and what to do once the storm has passed and it is safe to return to your facility.

Storage Tank Inspection Contacts

DEP contracts with counties to perform compliance inspections. This includes installation, closure and discharge inspections of petroleum storage tanks. The Northwest District provides management and oversight of these contracts.

Please contact the inspector(s) listed for your county with any comments or questions you might have.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/247ef37