Section 170.580  Release Investigation Reporting, Site Assessment, Initial Response

a)         Investigation Due to Off-Site Impact.  When required in writing by OSFM, owners or operators of UST systems shall determine if the UST system is the source of off-site impacts.  These impacts include the discovery of regulated substances, such as the presence of free product or vapors in soils, basements, sewer or utility lines or nearby surface or drinking water that have been observed by the OSFM or brought to its attention by another party.

b)         Release Investigations and Confirmation Steps.  Unless corrective action is initiated, owners or operators shall investigate and confirm all suspected releases of regulated substances requiring reporting within 14 days, using the following procedures:

1)         Owners or operators shall repair, replace or upgrade the UST system and begin corrective action, if the test results for the system, tank or delivery piping indicate that a leak exists;

2)         Further investigation is not required if the test results for the tank system and delivery piping do not indicate that a leak exists and if environmental contamination is not the basis for suspecting a release; and

3)         Owners or operators shall conduct a site assessment if the test results for the system, tank and delivery piping do not indicate that a leak exists but environmental contamination is the basis for suspecting a release.

c)         Site Assessment.  Owners or operators shall measure for the presence of a release where contamination is most likely to be present at the UST site.  In selecting sample types, locations and measurement methods, owners or operators shall consider the nature of the stored substance, the type of initial alarm or cause for suspicion, the types of backfill, the depth of groundwater and other factors appropriate for identifying the presence and source of the release.

1)         If the test results for the excavation zone or the UST site indicate that a release has occurred, owners or operators shall begin initial response and initial abatement procedures.

2)         If the test results for the excavation zone or the UST site do not indicate that a release has occurred, further investigation is not required.

d)         Initial Response.  Upon confirmation of a release or after a release from the UST system or hazardous substance is identified in any other manner, owners or operators shall perform the following initial response actions immediately:

1)         Report the release to Illinois Emergency Management Agency, by way of telephone or electronic mail, within 24 hours;

2)         Take immediate action to prevent any further release of the regulated substance into the environment; and

3)         Identify and mitigate fire, explosion and vapor hazards.

e)         Notification of Suspected Release.  The owner, operator or designated representative of the UST must notify the Illinois Emergency Management Agency of a suspected release, when directed to do so by the OSFM STSS.  This is to be done at the time of discovery and the incident number shall be given to the STSS prior to his/her leaving the site.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 8164, effective May 1, 2003)