Section 175.710  Emergency Repairs

a)         An emergency consists of a defect in a UST that is causing or threatens to cause harm to human health or the environment, or presents a threat to fire safety, and contact of the regulated substance with the defect cannot be prevented. In the event of a release, release reporting, investigation and initial response shall be conducted pursuant to 41 Ill. Adm. Code 172, 174, 175 and 176.  All emergency repairs shall meet the requirements of Section 175.700 and require a permit applied for electronically after-the-fact on the next business day and require a final inspection scheduled pursuant to Section 175.320 within 10 days after issuance of the permit.  A UST contractor portal for the on-line submission of permit applications and the scheduling of permitted work can be found at https://webapps.sfm.illinois.gov/USTPortal/Home/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fUSTPortal.

b)         If minor or temporary repairs are required to correct the defect, only the defective area can be repaired.

c)         Economic loss or the threat of economic loss does not constitute an emergency.

d)         Minor or temporary repairs, as a result of an emergency, to tanks or piping may begin on weekends, holidays and after business hours, when the repairs would otherwise require a permit prior to being performed. Permit applications are required for this UST activity and shall be submitted to OSFM after-the-fact, on the next business day. All repairs shall be inspected and precision tested in accordance with Sections 175.630(b) and 175.640(a)(4) prior to the repaired UST being put back into operation and within 30 days following the completion of the repair, unless otherwise directed by OSFM.

e)         When the emergency prompting the need for repairs occurs on a business day, the contractor shall obtain authorization to proceed with the emergency repair by submitting an electronic Emergency Repair Request on-line or by calling OSFM. After obtaining authorization, the contractor shall apply for a permit on the next business day. A UST contractor portal for the on-line submission of an Emergency Repair Request and permit applications and other forms can be found at the website in subsection (a).

f)         Repairs completed in violation of 41 Ill. Adm. Code 172, 174, 175, 176 and 177 may be required to be removed, exposed or replaced at the discretion of OSFM.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6837, effective May 2, 2023)