On June 6, 2014, the West Virginia Aboveground Storage Tank Act becomes effective, triggering the requirement to register and inspect all qualified aboveground liquid storage tanks. The Act, which is Article 30 of West Virginia Senate Bill 373, requires registration of a tank, operational or nonoperational, if it meets the following criteria:

  • stores more than 1,320 gallons of liquid
  • stores liquid at standard temperature and pressure
  • is constructed of noncarbon materials (including wood, concrete, steel, plastic or fiberglass reinforced plastic)
  • has more than 90% of its storage capacity above ground surface
  • is not a process vessel
  • is a device that remains in one location continuously for more 60 or more days

The registration requirement does not apply to swimming pools and shipping containers, including railroad freight cars, barges, and boats that are subject to federal regulations for the transportation of hazardous materials.

The inventory form requires the following information to be identified for each tank:

  • ownership of the tank
  • tank location
  • date of installation
  • type of construction
  • storage tank capacity
  • tank age
  • type and volume of liquid stored
  • identity of and distance to the nearest groundwater public water supply intake or nearest surface water downstream public water supply intake
  • tank license or permit if regulated by state or federal regulatory program

Registration of an aboveground storage tank in West Virginia will be online and is anticipated to begin June 10, 2014. The State of West Virginia is encouraging storage tank owners affected by this law to obtain their login IDs now. Registration must be completed by October 1, 2014.

More information and details on obtaining a login ID can be found at the West Virginia website for Aboveground Storage Tanks: West Virginia Aboveground Storage Tank Registration Website.

The West Virginia Aboveground Storage Tank Act also requires affected tank owners to perform an annual inspection of the tank to verify “that each tank, associated equipment, leak detection system and secondary containment structure meets the minimum standards established by this article or by the secretary by rule.” The inspection must be performed by a qualified professional, including a certified API 653 inspector. The first inspection certification form must be submitted to the secretary by January 1, 2015.

This legislation is in response to the January 2014 chemical spill that contaminated the local Charleston, West Virginia area water supply with 10,000 gallons of an industrial chemical. A water-use ban was imposed in reaction to the spill.

If you need an API 653 certified inspector to complete this required inspection for a West Virginia aboveground storage tank, call Heartland Tank Services to schedule your inspection with one of our API 653 certified inspectors – 800-774-3230.

For more on Heartland Tank Services’s API 653 inspection services, visit our Storage Tank Inspection Page.