Annual Tank Inspection Frequently Asked Questions

WHEN must an annual inspection be done?

An annual inspection must be performed at your facility every twelve months with passing results and it must be submitted to the Department within 30 days of its completion. For example, if your last passing annual inspection was performed on October 1, 2007, then your next passing inspection should be done by October 1, 2008. If your annual inspection initially fails, you must arrange for completion of the necessary repairs and submit a passing annual inspection to be in compliance. If you have questions about when your next annual inspection is due, contact the DEP Underground Tanks Unit at (207) 287-2651.

WHAT equipment must be inspected?

Maine DEP requires annual inspection of equipment used to detect leaks and prevent spills and overfills from underground oil tank systems. Also, cathodic protection systems used to prevent corrosion of tank and piping systems must be tested annually. An annual inspection is also required for leak detection equipment on underground piping attached to aboveground oil tanks.

WHO may do an annual facility inspection?

Inspections may be done by anyone who is a Maine DEP certified underground tank installer or inspector. Please visit the Department’s website for a complete list of certified underground tank installers and inspectors at http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ust/index or contact the DEP Underground Tanks Unit at (207-287 2651). If your facility has a cathodic protection system and you hire a certified underground tank inspector to perform the annual inspection, the inspector must be approved as a cathodic protection tester in order to test your cathodic protection system.

WHERE should I send completed inspections forms?

Completed inspection forms should be mailed to Annual Tank Inspections, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Remember to keep a copy for your records.

HOW do I correct failures on an Annual Inspection?

The Department only accepts passing inspections, so there is no need to submit a failing inspection. Leak detection, spill or overfill prevention equipment that is broken or missing must be promptly repaired. If continuous, automatic or electronic leak detection is not properly operating within 30 days of discovery of the problem, the Department must be notified in writing by the owner or operator. Most failures require repair or replacement of equipment, which must be conducted by a Certified Tank Installer. (A Certified Tank Inspector may replace failed probes, consoles, overfill protection devices, and sump and spill bucket covers.) You must submit an Annual Inspection report indicating that each of those applicable items is passing.

If written records such as daily inventory, monitoring well logs and double walled tank manual monitoring logs are incomplete or missing, then the owner/operator must submit two recent months of records, along with the failing annual inspection. For specific information regarding failures owners and operators can resolve, please see http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ust/annualinspects.htm.

WHERE can I get more information?

For record keeping forms or additional UST information please visit the Department’s website at www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/ust/index. Contact the DEP Underground Tanks Unit at (207) 287-2651 if you have questions.

Updated October 10, 2008