Storage Tank Systems: Technical Amendments

Summary#

These are final changes to the Regulations Amending the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations (Miscellaneous Program). The amendments mostly clarify wording, update references to technical standards so the latest version applies, and fix small typos. The amendments came into force on October 26, 2020.

What it does#

• Clarifies that releases of petroleum or allied petroleum products are prohibited, but allows releases that stay inside the system’s secondary containment or inside a transfer area built to the rules in the regulations.
• Changes many references to technical standards so they mean “the version in effect at the time the system or component is manufactured” (removes fixed years).
• Corrects a standard number in the English text to CAN/ULC-S603.1:2017 and fixes other typographical errors in standard names.
• Requires leak-detection and automatic gauging equipment to carry certification marks to specified current standards.
• Says inspections of vertical aboveground tanks must follow the version of API Standard 653 that is in effect at the time of inspection.
• Fixes small editing errors in Schedule 1 (e.g., changes “thinners” to “thinner” and adjusts punctuation in standard numbers).

Who's affected#

• Owners and operators of storage tank systems for petroleum products — for example, fuel retailers, fuel distributors, terminals, and any facility with aboveground or underground fuel tanks.
• Manufacturers and suppliers of tanks, piping, spill-containment devices, and leak-detection equipment (because the rules point to the current version of relevant standards).
• Inspectors and service companies that run tank inspections and must use API Standard 653 or certified leak-detection standards.
• The regulatory text says there will be no impact on compliance or administrative costs, so small businesses should not face new costs from these changes.

Why it matters#

• The changes reduce confusion by making the rules read more clearly and by pointing to the most recent technical standards instead of fixed older versions. That helps owners, operators and manufacturers know which technical rules to follow.
• Using the current version of standards makes it easier for industry to meet requirements without trying to match an outdated edition.
• These are mainly administrative clarifications and typo fixes rather than new safety or environmental obligations.