Editor’s Note: A previous article, “Texas Storage Tank Owners: Are You Prepared for SB 900?” was published in the September/October 2022 issue of Inspectioneering Journal and discussed the requirements of this new regulation and what it means for storage tank owner-operators in Texas. This article is a follow-up to provide some additional information and identify the implications of several recent updates.
Introduction
As a result of numerous tank incidents in Texas over the last several years, SB 900 was passed during the 2021 legislative session. During the 2023 legislative session, more details were added. The new law went into effect on September 1, 2023, with a September 1, 2027 deadline for implementation by tank owner-operators.
As a result, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) established the “Aboveground Storage Vessel Safety (ASVS) Program to provide for the protection of groundwater and surface water resources in the event of an accident or natural disaster.” “The ASVS Program is applicable to aboveground storage vessels located at petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, or bulk storage terminals that are constructed with non-earthen materials, have a storage capacity of 21,000 gallons (500 barrels) or more, and store a regulated substance as defined by TWC.” TCEQ estimates there are approximately 36,000 tanks in Texas that will fall under this new program [1].
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