These A and B roles are often combined and may be contracted to a third party provider.  The Class C Operator is usually a daily, on-site employee responsible for responding to alarms and emergencies.  All UST facilities must have a certified class A, B and C operator.

Class A Operator

This is the person who has primary responsibility to operate and maintain the underground storage tank system.  For a typical gas station, it is the owner of the station or his designee. For large corporations, this is the manager or designee responsible for tank operations.  The class A operator can also be designated as a Class B operator as long as he/she has passed the Class B operator exam.

Class B Operator

This designation is for the individual or individuals who implement day-to-day aspects of operating, maintaining, and record keeping for underground storage tank systems at one or more facilities. For a typical gas station, it is the owner or the person/company contracted by the owner to maintain the tanks.  For large corporations, it is the employee, or person/company contracted by the corporation to maintain the tanks. A broad knowledge base is required for a Class A operator, but the Class B operator must have in-depth knowledge of tank system operation and maintenance.

Class C Operator

This is an individual who is responsible for responding to alarms or other indications of emergencies caused by spills, releases, or overfills associated with an underground storage tank system.  For a typical gas station, this is the cashier.  Though an exam is not required, this person must be trained in responding to releases, alarms, and emergency conditions.  Training can be performed by the Class A operators, Class B operators, or third-party vendors.  Class C operator training is required to be documented.

The EPA has established minimum training requirements for designated Class A, Class B, and Class C operators. All UST Operators must be trained by October 13, 2018. After this date, new Class A and Class B UST operators must be trained within 30 days of assuming duties. Class C operators must be trained before assuming duties.

Class C operators – Each designated Class C operator must either: be trained by a Class A or Class B operator; complete a training program; or pass a comparable examination. The training option chosen must teach or evaluate the Class C operator’s knowledge to take appropriate actions (including notifying appropriate authorities) in response to emergencies or alarms caused by spills or releases resulting from the operation of the UST system.

UST Operator Class C Course Outline

UST Course Completion Certificate
Print a copy of your completion certificate for your employer and records. You may also login and reprint your certificate at any time.

The EPA has established minimum training requirements for designated Class A, Class B, and Class C operators. All UST Operators must be trained by October 13, 2018. After this date, new Class A and Class B UST operators must be trained within 30 days of assuming duties. Class C operators must be trained before assuming duties.

Class B operators – Each designated Class B operator must either be trained or pass an examination about the regulatory requirements and typical equipment used at UST facilities; or site-specific requirements which address only the regulatory requirements and equipment specific to the facility.

At a minimum, the training program must evaluate Class B operators to determine if they have the knowledge and skills to implement applicable UST regulatory requirements on the components of either: typical UST systems or site-specific equipment used at their UST facility.

UST Operator A/B Course Outline

The following topics are covered in the UST A/B Operator course:

• Chapter 1:  Operator Overview
  This chapter describes the primary responsibilities of the Class A, Class B, and Class C operator. It also includes the training requirements for each class of operator.
• Chapter 2:  System and Components
  This chapter seeks to raise environmental awareness as well as clearly communicate a fundamental comprehension of UST systems. Components covered include secondary containment, emergency shut-off valves, vapor recovery, tank materials, and piping materials. A download of UST terminology is available here.
• Chapter 3:  Release Detection
  This chapter emphasizes release detection methods. Equipment testing, the analysis of test results, as well as monitoring of the UST system are addressed in this chapter. Release detection methods covered include automatic tank gauging (ATG), inventory control, secondary containment with interstitial monitoring, statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), manual tank gauging, vacuum monitoring, soil vapor monitoring, groundwater monitoring, and tank tightness testing. Release detection methods for piping, such as electronic and manual line leak detectors, are also discussed.
• Chapter 4:  Release Prevention
  This chapter prompts the trainee to be proactive in preventing spills and releases. It covers the system components that are designed to prevent corrosion, spills, and overfills. These include spill buckets and sumps as well as sacrificial anode and impressed current cathodic systems, overfill protection valves, overfill alarms, and ball float valves. Secondary containment as well as alarms and warnings are covered in this chapter. An EPA Correct Filling Checklist is available for download.
• Chapter 5:  Planning and Response
  The focus of this chapter is preparation for a release and initial response actions. Topics include recognizing warning signs of a leak, maintaining spill kits, knowing the location of the Emergency Stop button, and posting emergency contact information. Critical attention is given to clean-up and release reporting requirements, including sensitive receptor protection and state notification requirements.
• Chapter 6:  Financial Responsibility/Financial Documents
  Owners and operators of petroleum USTs must demonstrate financial responsibility for bodily injury and property damage caused by spill and releases. This chapter covers financial responsibility statutes and financial assurance mechanisms as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
• Chapter 7:  Registration and Installation
  This chapter discusses required documentation and reporting. Topics include tank permits, registration and administrative documents, and UST installation requirements.
• Chapter 8:  Inspection and Closure
  UST testing and inspection requirements are covered in this chapter. Delivery prohibition and temporary and permanent tank closures are also addressed.

Class A operators – Each designated Class A operator must either be trained or pass a comparable examination that provides general knowledge of the following requirements.

At a minimum, the training program must evaluate Class A operators to determine if they have the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions regarding compliance and determine whether appropriate individuals are fulfilling the operation, maintenance, and recordkeeping requirements for UST systems.

UST Operator A/B Course Outline

The following topics are covered in the UST A/B Operator course:

• Chapter 1:  Operator Overview
  This chapter describes the primary responsibilities of the Class A, Class B, and Class C operator. It also includes the training requirements for each class of operator.
• Chapter 2:  System and Components
  This chapter seeks to raise environmental awareness as well as clearly communicate a fundamental comprehension of UST systems. Components covered include secondary containment, emergency shut-off valves, vapor recovery, tank materials, and piping materials. A download of UST terminology is available here.
• Chapter 3:  Release Detection
  This chapter emphasizes release detection methods. Equipment testing, the analysis of test results, as well as monitoring of the UST system are addressed in this chapter. Release detection methods covered include automatic tank gauging (ATG), inventory control, secondary containment with interstitial monitoring, statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), manual tank gauging, vacuum monitoring, soil vapor monitoring, groundwater monitoring, and tank tightness testing. Release detection methods for piping, such as electronic and manual line leak detectors, are also discussed.
• Chapter 4:  Release Prevention
  This chapter prompts the trainee to be proactive in preventing spills and releases. It covers the system components that are designed to prevent corrosion, spills, and overfills. These include spill buckets and sumps as well as sacrificial anode and impressed current cathodic systems, overfill protection valves, overfill alarms, and ball float valves. Secondary containment as well as alarms and warnings are covered in this chapter. An EPA Correct Filling Checklist is available for download.
• Chapter 5:  Planning and Response
  The focus of this chapter is preparation for a release and initial response actions. Topics include recognizing warning signs of a leak, maintaining spill kits, knowing the location of the Emergency Stop button, and posting emergency contact information. Critical attention is given to clean-up and release reporting requirements, including sensitive receptor protection and state notification requirements.
• Chapter 6:  Financial Responsibility/Financial Documents
  Owners and operators of petroleum USTs must demonstrate financial responsibility for bodily injury and property damage caused by spill and releases. This chapter covers financial responsibility statutes and financial assurance mechanisms as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
• Chapter 7:  Registration and Installation
  This chapter discusses required documentation and reporting. Topics include tank permits, registration and administrative documents, and UST installation requirements.
• Chapter 8:  Inspection and Closure
  UST testing and inspection requirements are covered in this chapter. Delivery prohibition and temporary and permanent tank closures are also addressed.

]]> http://ustoperatorclassabctraining.com/ust-class-abc-training/how-do-states-receive-ust-program-approval/ Fri, 04 Jan 2019 02:29:30 +0000 http://ustoperatorclassabctraining.com/?p=6150 Read More »]]> EPA recognizes that, because of the size and diversity of the regulated community, state and local governments are in the best position to oversee USTs:

• State and local authorities are closer to the situation in their domain and are in the best position to set priorities.
• Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act allows state UST programs approved by EPA to operate in lieu of the federal program.
• The state program approval (SPA) regulations set criteria for states to obtain the authority to operate in lieu of the federal program. State programs must be at least as stringent as EPA’s.

EPA’s regional offices coordinate the state program approval process for states and territories under their jurisdiction. EPA regional officials work closely with state officials while state programs are under development.

Once state legislatures enact statutes and state agencies develop regulations in accord with EPA requirements and put other necessary components of a program in place, states may apply for formal approval. EPA must respond to applications within 180 days.

A state program is approved if it is judged to meet three criteria:

1. It sets standards for eight performance criteria that are no less stringent than federal standards.
2. It contains provisions for adequate enforcement.
3. It regulates at least the same USTs as are regulated under federal standards.

Which states have approved programs?

As of April 2015, 38 states and the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have approved state programs. The states with approved programs are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

What are the benefits of state program approval?

Owners and operators in states that have an approved UST program do not have to deal with two sets of statutes and regulations (state and federal) that may be conflicting. States take pride in obtaining federal approval of their programs.

Once their programs are approved, states have the lead role in UST program enforcement. In states without an approved program, EPA will work with state officials in coordinating UST enforcement actions.

All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, have a comprehensive set of UST leak prevention and release detection regulations and a program to implement those regulations. Additionally, all states have cleanup programs. Even for states without SPA, EPA enters into grant/cooperative agreements with state programs, and the state program is designated as the primary implementing agency. While both federal and state regulations apply in states without SPA, the state regulations are generally just as stringent as, and oftentimes significantly more stringent than, EPA’s regulations.

Need more information about a particular state’s program?

To assist you in understanding SPA, OUST provides the following links to additional information:

• List of States with Approved UST Programs and links to the respective Federal Register Notices
• A map showing the States with approved programs

If need further assistance, contact the EPA regional office or the UST/LUST program in your state or territory. The program office is usually located in the state environmental agency. Program staff will provide information or referrals.

Class A and Class B operators must complete a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved operator training course or process. Approved TCEQ Class A and Class B Training Provider – 360Training.com Reseller.

Texas UST Operator Training (Class A/B & C) - 10% OFF SALE

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• UST Operator Training is required by federal law and is to ensure that owners and operators of underground storage tanks understand how to operate and maintain UST systems properly.
• As mandated by the EPA, all UST operators must be trained by October 13, 2018.
• Approved Texas TCEQ Class A and Class B Training Provider
• Class A/B - 4hr: $150
• Class C - 1hr only $10! (Class C available in Spanish also)
• 10% OFF SALE: Enter Code "TRAIN10OFF" at Checkout

Texas UST Retraining Requirements

Chapter 334, Subchapter N – Operator Training – Rule §334.605
Certified Class A and Class B Operators must be re-trained within three years of their last training date. Certified Class C operators must be re-trained within three years of their last training date.

If an underground storage tank (UST) facility receives a notice of violation and the agency determines that the UST facility is in significant noncompliance, the designated Class B operators for that UST facility, must attend either a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved compliance class that addresses the noted noncompliant areas or an acceptable operator training course as specified in §334.603 of this title, within the time frame specified by the TCEQ for that violation.

As a result of the retraining of Class A operators or Class B operators, subsequent re-training of the Class C operators shall also occur.

Voluntary refresher training is encouraged to ensure operator is up-to-date with current regulations and procedures.

Reference: Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 334, Subchapter N – Operator Training – Rule §334.605 – Operator Training Frequency

2015 Final Regulations For Underground Storage Tanks

Documents

• Revising Underground Storage Tank Regulations – Revisions to Existing Requirements and New Requirements for Secondary Containment and Operator Training final rule published in the Federal Register (PDF) (119 pp, 1.5MB, About PDF) on July 15, 2015.
• Regulatory impact analysis (PDF) (167 pp, 2.5MB, About PDF)
• Response to comments document (PDF) (181 pp, 1.2MB, About PDF)

The 2015 regulation changes certain portions of the 1988 underground storage tank technical regulation in 40 CFR part 280. The changes establish federal requirements that are similar to key portions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In addition, EPA added new operation and maintenance requirements and addressed UST systems deferred in the 1988 UST regulation. The changes include:

• Adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced tanks and piping
• Adding operator training requirements
• Adding periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST systems
• Adding requirements to ensure UST system compatibility before storing certain biofuel blends
• Removing past deferrals for emergency generator tanks, airport hydrant systems, and field-constructed tanks
• Updating codes of practice
• Making editorial and technical corrections

The 2015 state program approval (SPA) regulation also updates SPA requirements in 40 CFR part 281 and incorporates the changes to the UST technical regulation listed above.

• 38 SPA states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico currently have SPA and have three years to reapply in order to retain their SPA status. Owners and operators in these states must continue to follow their state requirements until the state changes its requirements or until the state’s SPA status changes.
• Owners and operators in 16 non-SPA states and territories must meet the federal requirements according to the schedule in the 2015 UST regulation. In addition, owners and operators will need to follow their state requirements.
• Indian country UST owners and operators must meet the federal requirements according to the schedule in the 2015 UST regulation.

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/revregs.html