1. (a) Designated underground storage tank operators must possess a current certificate issued by the International Code Council demonstrating that the individual has passed the California UST System Operator exam. The individual must renew the International Code Council certification by passing the California UST System Operator exam every 24 months.
2. (b) The designated underground storage tank operator for the facility must train each facility employee in the proper operation and maintenance of the underground storage tank system at least once every 12 months. Facility employee initial training must be conducted before an individual performs any duties of a facility employee.

3. (c) All facility employee training must be conducted through a site-specific practical demonstration that provides knowledge for responding to emergencies, release detection system alarms, spills, and overfills associated with operating the underground storage tank system. The facility employee training must include, at a minimum, all the following information and an evaluation of the retention of that information:

   1. (1) The operation of the underground storage tank system in a manner consistent with the facility's best management practices;
   2. (2) The facility employee's role regarding the release detection system(s) as specified in the facility's UST Monitoring Plan(s);
   3. (3) The facility employee's role regarding spills and overfills as specified in the facility's response plan; and
   4. (4) The name of the contact person(s) for emergencies and release detection system alarms.
4. (d) For facilities that are not staffed during all operating hours, the designated underground storage tank operator must implement a facility employee training program approved by the Unified Program Agency.
5. (e) Upon completion of facility employee training, the designated underground storage tank operator must provide to the owner or operator a signed “Facility Employee Training Certificate,” located in appendix 3, identifying the underground storage tank facility, the facility employees trained, and the date of training. The certificates must be maintained on site or off site at a readily accessible location, as approved by the Unified Program Agency, and provided to the Unified Program Agency, the Board, or an independent compliance inspector upon request.
6. (f) All underground storage tank systems must have a visual inspection performed by a designated underground storage tank operator at least once every 30 days.

7. (g) The designated underground storage tank operator visual inspection must identify compliance issues which cause the underground storage tank system to be out of compliance with chapter 6.7 of division 20 of the Health and Safety Code or this chapter and must include, at a minimum, all the following:

   1. (1) Review the previous “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form” to verify that each compliance issue identified by the designated underground storage tank operator during the previous visual inspection was responded to appropriately and documented;
   2. (2) Review the release detection alarm history since the previous visual inspection to verify that each alarm condition was documented and responded to appropriately;
   3. (3) Review the testing and maintenance records for the underground storage tank system to verify that all required testing and maintenance have been completed;
   4. (4) Review the facility employee training records to verify that all facility employees have been trained in accordance with section 2631(c);
   5. (5) Inspect spill containment to check for damage and for the presence of any hazardous substance, water, or debris;
   6. (6) Inspect fill pipes to check for obstructions and verify the fill caps are securely in place;
   7. (7) Inspect under-dispenser containment for damage and for the presence of any hazardous substance, water, or debris and verify that the release detection equipment in these areas is located in the proper position to detect a release at the earliest possible opportunity; and
   8. (8) Inspect containment sumps that have had an alarm since the previous visual inspection and for which there is no record of a service technician visit to check for damage and for the presence of any hazardous substance, water, or debris and verify that the release detection equipment in these containment sumps is located in the proper position to detect a release at the earliest possible opportunity.

8. (h) The results of the designated underground storage tank operator visual inspection must be recorded on the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form” located in appendix 4. The report must include, at a minimum, all the following:

   1. (1) A copy of documentation demonstrating each action taken in response to each compliance issue identified in the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form” documenting the previous visual inspection;
   2. (2) A list identifying each compliance issue identified by the designated underground storage tank operator during the previous visual inspection for which there is no record of any action to correct the issue;
   3. (3) A copy of the dated release detection alarm history generated by the release detection system since the previous visual inspection, or if the release detection system cannot generate such a report, a copy of the facility's alarm log;
   4. (4) A copy of documentation demonstrating action taken in response to each release detection alarm since the previous visual inspection;
   5. (5) A list identifying each release detection alarm since the previous visual inspection for which there is no documentation demonstrating any action taken in response;
   6. (6) A list identifying each area inspected and whether each area inspected meets the requirements of this chapter or needs follow-up action taken; and
   7. (7) A list identifying the next due date for each required test in accordance with section 2660(b).
9. (i) Within 48 hours of the completion of the designated underground storage tank operator visual inspection, the designated underground storage tank operator must sign and provide to the owner or operator a copy of the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form.”
10. (j) Within 72 hours of being provided a signed copy of the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form,” the owner or operator must sign and date the report, acknowledging the results of the inspection, and provide a description of each follow up action taken, or that will be taken, to correct each of the compliance issues identified in the report. The description must be provided on the copy of the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form” signed by the designated underground storage tank operator.
11. (k) Owners or operators must maintain a copy of the “Designated UST Operator Visual Inspection Report Form” and all attachments for 36 months in accordance with section 2613.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 25299.3 and 25299.7, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 25281, 25284.1 and 25404, Health and Safety Code; and 40 CFR Sections 280.20, 280.22, 280.34, 280.36, 280.40, 280.42, 280.240, 280.242, 280.243 and 280.245.

History

1. Amendment filed 8-9-91 as an emergency; operative 8-9-91. Text remains in effect uninterrupted pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25299.7 (Register 92, No. 14).

2. Editorial correction of printing errors in History 1 (Register 92, No. 43).

3. Amendment of section heading and text filed 4-5-94; operative 5-5-94 (Register 94, No. 14).

4. Amendment of subsection (a) and Note filed 5-14-2001; operative 5-14-2001 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2001, No. 20).

5. Amendment of subsection (b) and new subsections (j) and (k) filed 4-10-2012; operative 5-10-2012 (Register 2012, No. 15).

6. Amendment of subsections (a), (b), (b)(6), (d)(1)(B)-(d)(3), (e), (f), (h), (j) and (k), new subsections (l)-(l)(3) and amendment of Note filed 8-27-2018; operative 10-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 35).

7. New subsections (m)(1)-(m)(2)(B) filed 11-6-2019; operative 1-1-2020 (Register 2019, No. 45).

8. Repealer and new section heading and section filed 10-28-2025; operative 1-1-2026 (Register 2025, No. 44).