Bare Steel Underground Oil Storage Tanks

Maine law prohibits the storage of oil in nonconforming (bare steel or asphalt coated steel) underground tanks and piping because they corrode and leak. These tanks pose a threat to the environment and have caused hundreds of incidents of groundwater contamination in Maine in recent years. Since October 1, 1998, it has been a violation of state law to store oil in a bare steel or asphalt coated steel underground tank. Maine law also requires that bare steel or asphalt coated steel underground oil storage tanks and piping be removed. As of May 1, 2002, oil suppliers are prohibited from delivering oil to bare steel/ asphalt coated steel tanks.

This law is cited below.

Title 38 M.R.S.A. § 563-A

1. Compliance schedule. Except as provided in subsections 1-A and 1-B, a person may not operate, maintain or store oil in a registered underground oil storage facility or tank that is not constructed of fiberglass, cathodically protected steel or other noncorrosive material approved by the department after: ...... D. October 1, 1997.

1-A. Compliance schedule for municipalities and school administrative units. A municipality or school administrative unit may not operate, maintain or store oil in a registered underground oil storage facility or tank that is not constructed of fiberglass, cathodically protected steel or other noncorrosive material approved by the department after: ...... C. October 1, 1998.

1-D. Prohibition on delivery. Effective May 1, 2002, a person may not deliver oil to an underground oil storage tank identified by the department as in violation of subsection 1 or 1-A through the publication of a list of such nonconforming tanks. The department may revise the list as new information becomes available and shall take reasonable steps, such as targeted mailings and posting of information on the Internet, to disseminate the list of nonconforming tanks to persons in the oil delivery business.

Title 38 M.R.S.A. § 566-A(1)

All abandoned facilities and tanks shall be removed,

To date, over 35,000 tanks have been removed to comply with this prohibition.

Non Conforming Tanks Report - The Department’s records indicate there are 127 owners of registered tanks who have failed to comply the tank removal law. A list of those currently in violation follows (updated monthly).

Delivery Prohibition Letter to Bare Steel UST Owners (2001)

Removal of Underground Oil Storage Tanks