SECTION 334.53. Reuse of Used Tanks

(a) General requirements.

(1) A used tank may be installed or reinstalled and may be returned to service in accordance with the provisions of this section, provided that the tank is designed and constructed in a manner that will prevent releases of regulated substances due to structural failure or corrosion for the remaining operational life of the tank.

(2) Any required repairs or relining of a used tank shall be in accordance with the provisions of §334.52 of this title (relating to UST System Repairs and Relining).

(3) The tank material, and any interior or exterior lining material, shall be compatible with the stored regulated substance.

(4) The installation or reinstallation of a used tank shall be in accordance with all requirements applicable to a tank installation in a new UST system, as provided in the following subparagraphs.

(A) The installation shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of §334.46 of this title (relating to Installation Standards for New UST Systems).

(B) The tank shall be equipped with appropriate spill and overfill prevention equipment, in accordance with §334.51 of this title (relating to Spill and Overfill Prevention and Control).

(C) A used steel tank (including steel tanks with an exterior fiberglass-reinforced plastic cladding or laminate) shall be equipped with a factory-installed or field-installed cathodic protection system in accordance with §334.49(c) of this title (relating to Corrosion Protection).

(D) The tank shall be equipped with appropriate release detection equipment in accordance with §334.50 of this title (relating to Release Detection).

(E) The tank shall also be equipped with other tank components which shall be constructed in accordance with §334.45(b)(4) of this title (relating to Technical Standards for New UST Systems).

(b) Exterior fiberglass-reinforced plastic coatings. The retrofitting of a used steel tank with an exterior coating, cladding, or laminate consisting of fiberglass-reinforced plastic shall be conducted in accordance with a code of practice or standard developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory and, at a minimum, shall meet the following additional conditions.

(1) The steel tank shall be sandblasted or otherwise cleaned to bare white metal, and all residual corrosion, oxidation, and coating materials shall be thoroughly removed.

(2) The cleaned tank shall be protected from further corrosion or other damage during the period between the tank cleaning and the application of the exterior coating.

(3) The bonding materials used to bond the fiberglass materials to the tank wall shall be compatible with the stored substance and shall be designed to remain bonded for the operational life of the tank. The fiberglass-reinforced plastic coating shall be applied to a minimum thickness of 100 mils, and shall be thoroughly tested by appropriate means to confirm compliance with such thickness requirements.

(4) The tank shall be retrofitted with a cathodic protection system in accordance with the provisions of §334.49(c) of this title (relating to Corrosion Protection).

(c) Recordkeeping. Detailed records of the used tank installation shall be maintained in accordance with §334.10 of this title (relating to Reporting and Recordkeeping). Such records shall include the date the used tank was placed in service; the name, address, and telephone number of the persons who installed and tested the tank; and the results of all inspection and tank tightness tests required by this section. Such records shall be maintained for as long as the tank remains in operation.

Source Note: The provisions of this §334.53 adopted to be effective September 29, 1989, 14 TexReg 4714.