Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations

22 (1) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the owner or operator of a storage tank system installed before June 12, 2008 that has vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment must, within two years after June 12, 2008, inspect those tanks or the floor of those tanks, and after that inspection they must

• (a) immediately

  • (i) use continuous in-tank leak detection in accordance with section 20, or

  • (ii) use continuous external vertical aboveground tank leak monitoring for each of those tanks; or

• (b) once every ten years, inspect those tanks or the floor of those tanks.

(2) The inspection of the vertical aboveground tanks must be performed in accordance with the version of API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction that exists at the time of the inspection.

(3) The inspection of the floor of the vertical aboveground tank must be performed

• (a) using one of the following testing methods, namely, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, videographic or vacuum; and

• (b) using a documented and validated method by an individual trained in the maintenance and use of the test equipment.

(4) The continuous external vertical aboveground tank leak monitoring must

• (a) be a sensor cable system designed for installation beneath the floor plate of the vertical aboveground tank in order to detect any leak into the soil beneath the tank floor and immediately surrounding the tank’s perimeter;

• (b) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within 30 days after the onset of the leak at the lowest expected soil temperature at the site where the sensor cable system is installed;

• (c) be capable of locating the leak with an accuracy of ± 1 m;

• (d) be capable of continuously monitoring sensor cable system integrity; and

• (e) have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen.

(5) If, within eight years before June 12, 2008, the owner or operator has inspected the vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment in accordance with the version of API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction that existed at the time of the inspection, they must perform a new inspection in accordance with subsection (2) at least every ten years after the day on which that inspection was performed.

(6) If, within eight years before June 12, 2008, the owner or operator has inspected the floor of the vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment as set out in subsection (3), they must perform a new inspection in accordance with that subsection at least every ten years after the day on which that inspection was performed.