Aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are generally used in locations where installing underground tanks is not practical. They can be used for both residential and commercial purposes, and their capacities vary — the smaller ones accommodating as little as 50 gallons, and the larger ones carrying thousands of gallons.

In commercial settings, aboveground storage tanks are mainly applied in holding liquids such as oil, diesel, gasoline and other flammable substances. In residential areas with inherent water problems, these tanks provide solutions for large-scale water storage, thus ensuring uninterrupted water supply.

Despite their many uses, ASTs can prove to be a hazard if they are not installed and maintained as required. These tanks are prone to rusting, stress, corrosion and cracking, and if such deterioration is not dealt with, harmful spills and leakages may occur.

Construction flaws may also lead to the same problems. It is for such reasons that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put measures in place to control the usage of ASTs.

Certain fire codes apply to ASTs; therefore owners have to find out about the editions that are relevant to their state. In general, however, the minimum distance between a tank and a building should be 50 feet if the tank is positioned on a one acre space.

Nevertheless, tanks follow different regulations based on their planned usage. In this regard, businesses dealing with hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste and petroleum products have to observe the Clean Air Act, Oil Pollution Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Individuals or companies who violate the stipulated rules may be liable for fines that may run into tens of thousands of dollars per tank.

Regulations on ASTs in the U.S.

For the EPA, the key concern in connection with ASTs has always been to prevent the penetration of hazardous chemicals into underground water. Thus, to ensure compliance, the agency inspects tanks for cracks, overspills, secondary containment and availability of proper piping.

Also, in most instances, storage tanks can leak for a while before tank owners detect it, and this can injure both humans and the environment. To keep such issues in control, the regulatory authorities also inspect the areas around the tank to determine whether there has been any contamination. In this regard, property owners are required to notify authorities about their tank installations in advance to facilitate better management and control.

However, residential tanks and farm-fuel tanks with capacities below 1,100 gallons are not obliged to give notifications concerning the existence of those tanks. The same applies to storm-water collection tanks, ASTs with drinking water, or tanks with water intended for use in fire emergencies.

Prior to an inspection, tank owners can get things in order by displaying their operating permits, getting each AST registered with the relevant state agency, and labeling the containers appropriately. It's also important to conduct self inspections on a monthly or quarterly basis and to keep records of each of those inspections.

Obtaining ASTs for commercial use

ASTs obtained by businesses for fuel storage or otherwise have to be compliant with the stipulated regulations; their designs and materials have to be compatible with the temperature, pressure and general conditions of storage.

To ensure this, the tanks should be acquired from established manufacturers and they should also be properly installed so that their weight is fully supported. Correct installation eliminates the risk of the tank falling over during bad weather conditions.

While some underground tank owners believe that they can evade UST regulations by switching to ASTs, this is not the case. Despite the fact that there isn't a specific federal regulation that controls ASTs, these installations are managed at the state level. Besides, in many states, ASTs are already part of UST regulatory programs.