In 1989, the California Legislature found that in order to protect the State’s people and natural resources from aboveground petroleum storage tank spills, an inspection program was necessary. APSA became effective January 1, 1990.
In January 1, 2008, Assembly Bill 1130 transferred the responsibility for the implementation, inspection, enforcement, and administration from the State Water Resources Department to the CUPA. EMD is the CUPA for Sacramento County.
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What is "petroleum?"
“Petroleum” means crude oil, or a fraction thereof, that is liquid at 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperature and 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute pressure (i.e. normal atmospheric pressure).
Commonly stored petroleum products include gasoline, diesel, biodiesel mixtures, petroleum solvents, lubrication oils, heating oil, oil sludge, and waste oils. Petroleum
does not include 100% biodiesel and ethanol or propane.
What is an SPCC Plan?
An SPCC (Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure) Plan is a written document that describes procedures, methods, and equipment in place at the tank facility to prevent discharges of petroleum from reaching navigable waters.
If you are the owner of a tank facility meeting the storage capacity threshold of 1,320 gallons, you must take the following 6 actions:
- Complete and submit to EMD an initial
Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Facility Statement Form.
- Prepare and implement an SPCC Plan in accordance with U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 112 (40 CFR 112)
- Facilities with ≤10,000 aggregate storage capacity and with no tank >5,000 gallons (e.g. Tier I Facilities) may use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SPCC Plan template.
- Facilities with ≤10,000 aggregate storage capacity and with any individual tank >5,000 gallons (e.g. Tier II Facilities) may self-certify an SPCC Plan, but may
not use the EPA SPCC Plan template.
- Facilities with >10,000 gallons must have a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) review and certify the SPCC Plan.
- Conduct periodic inspections of your ASTs to ensure compliance with the 40 CFR 112.
- Submit an annual fee to EMD beginning in January 2010. This fee is established by the CUPA to recover the cost it will take to administer this program.
- Allow EMD to conduct periodic inspections.
- Immediately notify the California Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and EMD upon discovery of a spill or release of 42 gallons or more of petroleum.
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If your facility is subject to APSA, you must complete and submit to EMD an
Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tank Facility Statement (TFS) Form for any of the following:
If you have previously submitted a TFS Form and none of the above apply, a new TFS Form is not required.
To submit a completed TFS Form to EMD, email to
ECmain@saccounty.net or FAX to 916-875-8513.
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For all facilities
except farms:
Facilities Operating: |
Must: |
On or before 08/16/2002 | Maintain existing plan, amend & implement the plan by 11/10/2011. |
After 08/16/2002 through 11/10/2012 | Prepare and implement a plan by 11/10/2012. |
After 11/10/2012 | Prepare and implement plan before beginning operations. |
For all farm facilities:
Farms Operating: |
Must: |
On or before 08/16/2002 | Maintain existing plan, amend & implement the plan by 05/10/2013. |
After 08/16/2002 through 05/10/2013 | Prepare and implement a plan by 05/10/2013. |
After 05/10/2013 | Prepare and implement plan before beginning operations. |
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Farms, Nurseries, Logging and Construction Sites
Tank facilities located on
farms, nurseries, logging and constructions sites are
conditionally exempt from completing and implementing an SPCC Plan. However, these facilities are still subject to the other APSA provisions. In addition, these facilities remain fully subject to federal SPCC rules.
If you are a farm, nursery, logging or construction site and meet the storage capacity threshold (1,320 gallons), you must take the following 5 actions:
If you are a farm, nursery, logging or construction site and you have:
then, in addition to the previous 5 actions, you must also complete an SPCC Plan.
Tank in an Underground Area
On October 2, 2015, Senate Bill (SB) 612 amended the definition of a “tank in an underground area" (TIUGA). A tank regulated as an underground storage tank does not meet the definition of a TIUGA. Under APSA, aboveground storage tanks include TIUGAs if all the following apply:
- Contains petroleum and allows for direct viewing of the exterior of the tank except for the part of the tank in contact with the surface of the floor
- Located in a structure that is at least 10 percent below the ground surface, including, but not limited to, a basement, cellar, shaft, pit, or vault
- At a minimum, provides for secondary containment of the contents of the tank, piping, and ancillary equipment, until cleanup occurs.
Facilities with <1,320gallons of petroleum are also regulated under APSA if it has one or more TIUGAs, but only the TIUGAs are subject to APSA.
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Have Questions?
For more program information, please contact:
Sacramento County Environmental Management Department
Environmental Compliance Division
11080 White Rock Rd., Suite 200
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
916-875-8550
916-875-8513 (fax)
emdinfo@saccounty.net
