Washington UST Class A B & C Operator Training

Washington Underground Storage Tank (UST) Class AB & C Certification

State Requirements
As required by the EPA, all UST operators must be trained by October 13, 2018. After this date, new Class A and B operators must be trained within 30 days of assuming duties. Class C operators must be trained before assuming duties.

Section 1524 of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 required that the state of Washington declare amendments to the state underground storage tank rules to require each underground storage tank facility have Class A, Class B, and Class C operators.  Class A or Class B operator candidates will need to pass a written exam in order to be certified. The exam assures that underground storage tank system operators possess the necessary knowledge regarding the proper operation of underground storage tank systems. A test is not required for the Class C operator, but those persons must be properly trained.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) revised the state UST rule (Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 173-360-700) to include the tank operator training requirements.

WAC 173-360-710 Designation of operators.
UST system owners and operators shall designate individuals as Class A, Class B, and Class C operators in accordance with the requirements of this section.

• (1) At least one Class A and one Class B operator must be designated for each UST system or group of systems at an UST facility.
• (2) Each individual who meets the definition of Class C operator at an UST facility must be designated as a Class C operator. Class C operators must be employees of the UST system owner or operator.
• (3) Separate individuals may be designated for each operator class or an individual may be designated to more than one operator class.

If operators are not certified, the owner and/or operator may be subject to penalties.  If your UST system is found to be out of compliance, the Class A/B operator may be required to retake the training and/or provide an Operation and Maintenance Plan for the UST facility.

A record of each operator’s training certificate must be kept onsite. The documentation and/or certificates must include the facility address, Tag number, name of individual, date assumed duties, and date completed training. During an inspection you will be asked to provide:

• Class A/B certificate (or if separate training, Class A and Class B certificates)
• Class C certificate or documentation (optional blank form to fill out Class C Operators Certificate)

Washington was granted state program approval (SPA) in 1993.

Retraining Requirements
WAC 173-360-740 Retraining requirements for Class A and Class B operators.
UST system owners and operators shall ensure that Class A and Class B operators are retrained, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of this section.

• (1) Applicability. If the department determines the owners and operators of an UST system are not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the department may require the Class A and Class B operators of that system to be retrained in accordance with subsection (2) of this section. However, this provision does not apply to Class A and Class B operators who are retrained annually using a training program or examination meeting the requirements in WAC 173-360-730(1).
• (2) Requirements. Within sixty days of receipt of the department’s determination of noncompliance, Class A and Class B operators requiring retraining must successfully complete a training program or comparable examination meeting the requirements in WAC 173-360-730(1) and submit a copy of the certificate of completion to the department. At a minimum, the retraining must cover the areas determined to be out of compliance.

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.

References:

• http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=173-360-740
• Washington Administrative Code – Chapter 173-360 WAC – Underground Storage Tank Regulations – Part VII – OPERATOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

UST Course Information

UST Class A/B Course Description
The UST Class A/B operator training course is presented in chapters. Each chapter utilizes multimedia to enrich the learning experience. Each chapter is followed by a quiz. If the student answers a quiz question incorrectly, the quiz feedback redirects the student to the correct course information.

In addition to the quizzes, the UST Class A/B operator training course includes a final exam of 100 questions, 80% of which must be answered correctly in order to print a certificate.

There is not any time restriction to access the course, so students can complete the entire course in a single session (approximately 4 hours plus exam time) or take the course in segments.

UST Class C Course Description
The UST Class C operator training course consists of seven chapters. Each chapter is followed by a short quiz. Once a student has completed all chapters and quizzes, the learner will be directed to print out a course checklist.

The course is instructed through a student orientation tour of a mock facility, where a manager (or Class B Operator) will identify and explain each topic and then mark them off a checklist when completed.  When the checklist has been completed, the student can then print the UST Class C operator certificate.

There is not any time restriction to access the course, so students may take as much time as needed to complete their training

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.

UST Operator Class C Course Outline
The following topics are covered in the UST A/B Operator course:

• Chapter 1:  Facility Overview
  This chapter provides a basic overview of the primary components of a typical UST facility. These components include the USTs, manways, spill buckets, fuel dispensers, and dispenser nozzles.
• Chapter 2:  Monitoring
  This chapter emphasizes the components used to monitor a UST facility. Students will learn what an Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG) is and does, how to interpret its alarms and warnings, and what to do in case of an alarm. The role of line leak detectors is also discussed.
• Chapter 3:  Environmental
  In this chapter, students learn about sensitive receptors, or places where a fuel spill may leave the facility and enter the environment. The chapter also introduces students to the spill kit and its contents, and how to use spill kit components to contain spills threatening sensitive receptors like curb breaks and drains.
• Chapter 4:  Fueling Rules
  The focus of this chapter is fuel delivery safety. Students will watch a short video on proper fueling procedures. Students also learn about hazards at the fueling point, including smoking, static electricity, leaving a vehicle unattended while fueling, and leaving a vehicle running while fueling.
• Chapter 5:  Delivery Procedures
  This chapter teaches the student how to supervise a fuel delivery and monitor for problems during a fuel delivery. Additional emphasis is placed on the ATG and on overfill prevention devices like overfill prevention valves and ball float valves. Delivery prohibitions are also addressed.
• Chapter 6:  Safety
  This chapter covers safety information every Class C Operator needs to respond to emergencies. Included here is a video explaining when and how to use a fire extinguisher. The Emergency Stop and All Stop buttons are identified and discussed.
• Chapter 7:  Emergency Situations
  This chapter discusses common emergency situations and proper responses to them, including what to do if a vehicle leaves the facility with the nozzle still in the vehicle’s fuel spout. Managing customer traffic in the event of a spill is also covered. Correct fire extinguisher operation is reviewed.
• Chapter 8:  Final Checklist
  Review and complete the checklist to complete your training

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.

State Contacts

Washington was granted state program approval (SPA) in 1993.

UST/LUST Program

Washington State Department of Ecology
Toxics Cleanup Program
Underground Storage Tank/Leaking Underground Storage Tank Section
P.O. Box 47655
Olympia, WA 98504-7655

Phone: 360-407-7170
Fax: 360-407-7154

UST/LUST Program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/ust-lust/tanks.html

Fund Program*

Washington State Pollution Liability Insurance Agency
1015 10th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 40930
Olympia, WA 98504-0930

Phone: 360-586-5997
Fax: 360-586-7187

Fund Program: http://www.plia.wa.gov/ust/index.htm

*This fund does not provide federally-required coverage to finance all UST cleanups and does not fulfill the federal financial responsibility requirement.

Federal Resources

EPA Booklet – Musts for USTS
http://www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/regs2015-musts.pdf

This booklet describes the 2015 revised federal UST regulation. Many states and territories (referred to as states in this booklet) have state program approval from EPA. In these states, the state’s UST regulation is used in lieu of the federal UST regulation. To find a list of states with state program approval, see http://www.epa.gov/oust/states/spamap.htm.