Section 175.820  Change-in-Service of USTs

a)         From a Regulated Substance to a Non-Regulated Substance. Continued use of a UST to store a non-regulated substance (so that it is no longer classified as a UST) is considered a change-in-service. Before a change-in-service, owners or operators shall empty and clean the tank by removing all liquid and accumulated sludge and conduct a site assessment. The minimum requirements for the site assessment will be the procedures and requirements of 41 Ill. Adm. Code 176.330. However, a change-in-service may only occur during the first 2 years, commencing with the date of installation of the tank. A tank system classified as a UST may not be re-classified as being a non-UST unless there has been a change-in-service as provided in this Section.

b)         From a Regulated Substance to a Regulated Substance. A change-in-service also consists of a conversion of a petroleum UST to a non-compatible petroleum UST or a hazardous substance UST to a non-compatible hazardous substance UST or a petroleum UST to a hazardous substance UST and vice versa. Before a change‑in‑service, owners or operators shall empty and clean the tank by removing all liquid and accumulated sludge in accordance with the requirements of Sections 175.500(a) and (c) and 175.830(a), including API 2015, incorporated by reference in 41 Ill. Adm. Code 174.210. The owner or operator shall verify that the UST meets the requirements of a hazardous material system if being changed over to a hazardous material substance, including requirements for secondary containment with interstitial monitoring after December 22, 1998.  (See Section 175.415 regarding when an existing UST is converted to a blended or alternative fuel.)

c)         From a Non-Regulated Substance to a Regulated Substance. A non-UST, which is used to store a non-regulated substance, may not be converted to a UST unless the tank has been re-certified and is in compliance with all applicable upgrade requirements for newly installed USTs. A used oil tank that is supplying fuel to a used oil furnace and is taken out of service shall be no longer classified as a heating oil tank. If the tank does not meet all upgrade requirements for release detection, spill, overfill and corrosion protection, the tank shall be removed.

d)         For all activity related to a change-in-service, the equipment must be compatible with the product being stored and notification of change-in-service must be submitted on the Notification for Underground Storage Tanks form (available at http://sfm.illinois.gov/about/divisions/petroleum-chemical-safety/applications-and-forms.html) to OSFM not less than 30 days prior to the change-in-service.

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