Pursuant to Florida Administrative Code, chapter 62-761, effective December 31, 2009, all underground storage tank systems in the state of Florida must adhere to the requirements for “secondary containment” with “interstitial monitoring,” which were established in July 1998. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has indicated that the FDEP will enforce the deadline strictly and will deem the failure to adhere to these requirements to be “a serious violation.” Further, FDEP has strongly encouraged facility owners to take steps to ensure compliance before the deadline. There have been six similar deadlines for tank upgrades in Florida; none has been extended.
Chapter 62-761 provides that “secondary containment” means “a release detection and prevention system that meets the performance standards of paragraph 62-761.500(1)(b), F.A.C., and includes dispenser sumps, piping sumps, spill containment systems, double-walled tanks and piping systems, or single-walled tanks or piping systems that are contained within a liner or an impervious containment area.” It further provides that “Any component of a storage tank system with secondary containment shall have an interstitial monitoring method meeting the requirements of Rule 62-761 F.A.C.” Accordingly, the entire tank system, including tanks, piping, dispensers, and spill containment systems, must have some form of secondary containment and monitoring system.
“Interstitial monitoring” monitors the space between the inner and the outer walls of integral secondary containment tanks or piping systems. This monitoring method can detect a leak before it releases into the environment.
The link to Florida Administrative Code, chapter 62-761 is here.
