For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Aboveground storage tank” or “storage tank” means a tank or container that has the capacity to store 55 gallons or more of petroleum that is substantially or totally above the surface of the ground, except that, for purposes of this chapter, “aboveground storage tank” or “storage tank” includes a tank in an underground area. “Aboveground storage tank” does not include any of the following:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) A pressure vessel or boiler that is subject to Part 6 (commencing with Section 7620) of Division 5 of the Labor Code.

(2) A tank containing hazardous waste or extremely hazardous waste, as respectively defined in Sections 25117 and 25115, if the owner or operator of the storage tank has a hazardous waste facilities permit from the Department of Toxic Substances Control or a permit by rule authorization from the unified program agency for the storage tank.

(3) An aboveground oil production tank that is subject to § 3106 of the Public Resources Code.

(4) Oil-filled electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, transformers, circuit breakers, or capacitors, if the oil-filled electrical equipment meets either of the following conditions:

(A) The equipment contains less than 10,000 gallons of dielectric fluid.

(B) The equipment contains 10,000 gallons or more of dielectric fluid with PCB levels less than 50 parts per million, appropriate containment or diversionary structures or equipment are employed to prevent discharged oil from reaching a navigable water course, and the electrical equipment is visually inspected in accordance with the usual routine maintenance procedures of the owner or operator.

(5) A tank regulated as an underground storage tank under Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280) of this division and Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 2610) of Division 3 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations and that does not meet the definition of a tank in an underground area.

(6) A transportation-related tank facility, subject to the authority and control of the United States Department of Transportation, as defined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as set forth in Appendix A to Part 112 (commencing with Section 112.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(7) A tank or tank facility located on and operated by a farm that is exempt from the federal spill prevention, control, and countermeasure rule requirements pursuant to Part 112 (commencing with Section 112.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(8) A tank in an underground area that has the capacity to store less than 55 gallons of petroleum, has secondary containment, and is inspected monthly, if the owner or operator maintains a log of inspection records for review by the unified program agency upon request.

(b) “Board” means the State Water Resources Control Board.

(c) (1) “Certified unified program agency” or “CUPA” means the agency certified by the Secretary for Environmental Protection to implement the unified program specified in Chapter 6.11 (commencing with Section 25404) within a jurisdiction.

(2) “Participating agency” or “PA” means an agency that has a written agreement with the CUPA pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 25404.3, and is approved by the secretary, to implement and enforce the unified program element specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404, in accordance with Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2.

(3) (A) “Unified program agency” or “UPA” means the CUPA, or its participating agencies to the extent that each PA has been designated by the CUPA, pursuant to a written agreement, to implement and enforce the unified program element specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404. The UPAs have the responsibility and authority, to the extent provided by this chapter and Sections 25404.1 to 25404.2, inclusive, to implement and enforce the requirements of this chapter.

(B) After a CUPA has been certified by the secretary, the unified program agency shall be the only agency authorized to enforce the requirements of this chapter.

(C) This paragraph does not limit the authority or responsibility granted to the office, the board, and the regional boards by this chapter.

(d) “Office” means the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(e) “Operator” means the person responsible for the overall operation of a tank facility.

(f) “Owner” means the person who owns the tank facility or part of the tank facility.

(g) “Person” means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation, including a government corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or association. “Person” also includes any city, county, district, the University of California, the California State University, the state, any department or agency thereof, and the United States, to the extent authorized by federal law.

(h) “Petroleum” means crude oil, or a fraction thereof, that is liquid at 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperature and 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute pressure.

(i) “Regional board” means a California regional water quality control board.

(j) “Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, escaping, leaching, or disposing into the environment.

(k) “Secretary” means the Secretary for Environmental Protection.

(l) “Storage” or “store” means the containment, handling, or treatment of petroleum, for a period of time, including on a temporary basis.

(m) “Storage capacity” means the aggregate capacity of all aboveground storage tanks at a tank facility.

(n) “Tank facility” means one or more aboveground storage tanks, including any piping that is integral to the tanks, that contain petroleum and that are used by an owner or operator at a single location or site. For purposes of this chapter, a pipe is integrally related to an aboveground storage tank if the pipe is connected to the tank and meets any of the following:

(1) The pipe is within the dike or containment area.

(2) The pipe is between the containment area and the first flange or valve outside the containment area.

(3) The pipe is connected to the first flange or valve on the exterior of the tank, if state or federal law does not require a containment area.

(4) The pipe is connected to a tank in an underground area.

(o) (1) “Tank in an underground area” means a stationary storage tank to which all of the following apply:

(A) The storage tank is located in a structure that is at least 10 percent below the ground surface, including, but not limited to, a basement, cellar, shaft, pit, or vault.

(B) The structure in which the storage tank is located, at a minimum, provides for secondary containment of the contents of the tank, piping, and ancillary equipment, until cleanup occurs. A shop-fabricated double-walled storage tank with a mechanical or electronic device used to detect leaks in the interstitial space meets the requirement for secondary containment of the contents of the tank.

(C) The storage tank meets one or more of the following conditions:

(i) The storage tank contains petroleum to be used or previously used as a lubricant or coolant in a motor engine or transmission, oil-filled operational equipment, or oil-filled manufacturing equipment, is situated on or above the surface of the floor, and the structure in which the tank is located provides enough space for direct viewing of the exterior of the tank except for the part of the tank in contact with the surface of the floor.

(ii) The storage tank only contains petroleum that is determined to be a hazardous waste, complies with the hazardous waste tank standards pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 66265.190) of Chapter 15 of Division 4.5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations as it may be amended, and the tank facility has been issued a unified program facility permit pursuant to Section 25404.2 for generation, treatment, accumulation, or storage of hazardous waste.

(iii) The storage tank contains petroleum and is used solely in connection with a fire pump or an emergency system, legally required standby system, or optional standby system as defined in the most recent version of the California Electrical Code (Section 700.2 of Article 700, Section 701.2 of Article 701, and Section 702.2 of Article 702, of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), is situated on or above the surface of the floor, and the structure in which the tank is located provides enough space for direct viewing of the exterior of the tank except for the part of the tank in contact with the surface of the floor.

(iv) The storage tank does not meet the conditions in clause (i), (ii), or (iii), but meets all of the following conditions:

(I) It contains petroleum.

(II) It is situated on or above the surface of the floor.

(III) The structure in which the storage tank is located provides enough space for direct viewing of the exterior of the tank, except for the part of the tank in contact with the surface of the floor.

(IV) Except for an emergency vent that is solely designed to relieve excessive internal pressure, all piping connected to the tank, including any portion of a vent line, vapor recovery line, or fill pipe that is beneath the surface of the ground, and all ancillary equipment that is designed and constructed to contain petroleum, can either be visually inspected by direct viewing or has both secondary containment and leak detection that meet the requirements of the regulations adopted by the office pursuant to Section 25270.4.1.

(2) Direct viewing of the exterior of the tank is not required under paragraph (1) if inspections of the interstitial space or containment structure are performed or if the storage tank has a mechanical or electronic device that will detect leaks in the interstitial space or containment structure and alert the tank operator.

(3) (A) A storage tank in an underground area is not subject to Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280) if the storage tank meets the definition of a tank in an underground area, as provided in paragraph (1) and, except as specified in subparagraph (B), the regulations that apply to all new and existing tanks in underground areas and buried piping connected to tanks in underground areas have been adopted by the office pursuant to Section 25270.4.1.

(B) A storage tank meeting the description of clause (i) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) shall continue to be subject to this chapter, and excluded from the definition of an underground storage tank in Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280), before and after the date the regulations specific to tanks in underground areas have been adopted by the office.

(p) “Viewing” means visual inspection, and “direct viewing” means, in regard to a storage tank, direct visual inspection of the exterior of the tank, except for the part of the tank in contact with the surface of the floor, and, where applicable, the entire length of all piping and ancillary equipment, including all exterior surfaces, by a person or through the use of visual aids, including, but not limited to, mirrors, cameras, or video equipment.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 721, Sec. 1. (AB 2902) Effective January 1, 2019.)