WV DEP reminds public of aboveground storage tank registration requirements

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently issued a reminder of the state’s aboveground storage tank (AST) registration requirements and complementary spill prevention and response plans (SPRPs), for which the deadline has passed.

The DEP regulations on ASTs are based on the AST Act, which the West Virginia Legislature passed in its 2015 session. The requirements have been in effect since June 12, 2015, and the deadline for registering ASTs and submitting SPRPs was July 1, 2015, meaning that the DEP is now issuing violation notices for all unregistered ASTs. The department currently has more than 10,000 tanks registered, but is striving to bring all AST owners into compliance.

Those with Level 1 and Level 2 ASTs are also required to submit the SPRP, though ASTs that are included in a groundwater protection plan (GPP) are exempt from that requirement, provided that the plan is approved by the DEP secretary or qualifies under federal regulations.

Owners of unregistered ASTs are encouraged to submit spill plans and certifications online at the DEP’s website, though the department does have processes in place for those without computer access.