SB 459

Under current law, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) promulgates

rules regulating the installation, abandonment, and maintenance of movable tanks

and tanks at fixed locations that contain flammable or combustible liquids or

federally regulated hazardous substances. Under current law, a "flammable liquid"

is defined as a liquid having a flash point below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and a

"combustible liquid" is defined as having a flash point at or above 100 degrees

Fahrenheit and below 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This bill eliminates the 200-degree

maximum so that any liquid with a flash point at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit

is defined to be a "combustible liquid." Under current law, aboveground tanks that

hold less than 5,000 gallons are exempt from these rules. The bill lowers the capacity

amount to 110 gallons.

Current law also requires Commerce to maintain an inventory of aboveground

and underground tanks at fixed locations that have a capacity in excess of 60 gallons.

This bill increases the 60-gallon requirement to 110 gallons for aboveground storage

tanks. Under current law, only fixed tanks containing petroleum products are

required to be inventoried. Under the bill, fixed tanks containing substances that

are covered under federal rules regulating underground storage tanks are also

subject to this inventory requirement.

Under current administrative rules, Commerce requires certification for

persons who work with tanks that hold flammable or combustible liquids or

hazardous substances. This bill authorizes Commerce to promulgate rules requiring

that persons who install, test, or maintain systems on these tanks to prevent

corrosion also be certified.

For further information, see the

Notes

provided by the Law Revision

Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.