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Aboveground Storage Tank Issuance or Reissuance Permit

Regulated Tanks

For each tank, there are numerous fields which need specific information. We suggest you go through this Help document to get your information organized for all tanks before entering the information.

Important Note: The data entered will not be saved until you enter all of the fields for a tank and click Continue to successfully move to the next page (with no error messages). After 30 minutes without a successful save, the next time you click Continue you will be logged out of e-Services. Any data entered since the previous successful save will be lost. You will not be warned when 30 minutes has expired. If your facility has many tanks, to avoid loss of data we recommend that you enter data for only 2 or 3 tanks at a time before saving by clicking Continue to move to the next page. (You may need to resolve error messages in order to continue.) Then click Aboveground Storage Tanks in the left menu to go back and enter additional tanks. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to make this part of the application more user friendly.

Field Heading

Guidance for Field

Tank #

Use the tank numbering system from the current permit, as registered by the company in the MPCA Tank Database. The tank number must match the applicable tank number in the Piping, Transfer Area, and Containment Area sections of the application, as well as the Facility Layout attachment and the label on the tank.

Substance Category

Select Petroleum if the substance is purely petroleum-derived, or a fuel blend of petroleum with ethanol or soy biodiesel (E95, B5, etc.).

Select Chemical if the substance is a pure or dilute chemical, or blend of chemicals.

Select Other for all other substances.

Substance Type

Select the most accurate Substance Type from the available menu of MPCA standard names of the most commonly stored regulated liquids. Use the MPCA standard name even if your company uses a different working name.  If your substance falls within a range or variety of substances identified by a single MPCA name, use the MPCA standard name.

Select Other only if no other Substance Type is applicable.  If you select Other, on the Attachments page you will be asked to attach a file that contains the name of the substance. Identify your stored liquid with as much chemical specificity as possible. If the substance is a mixture, solution, or has identifiable contaminants, list all components, with percentages.

For empty tanks which have not been closed in accordance with Minn. R. 7151.8200, identify the most recently stored substance.

Capacity (gallons)

Design capacity of the tank to overflow, in gallons.

Note: Commas will not be saved.

Fabrication Type

Method by which the tank was constructed, either shop-fabricated or field-erected.

Fabrication Standard

Industry standard to which tank was constructed, if known.  This is normally found on the tank nameplate. 

Initial Fill Date

Date that the tank was initially filled with a regulated substance, in mm/dd/yyyy format. If the exact date is unknown, provide an estimate, e.g. 01/01/1955.

Tank Material

Primary material from which the tank is constructed.

Wall Type

Whether the tank shell is single-walled or double-walled.

Foundation Design 

Select the design which most accurately describes what is directly below the active tank floor or what the tank is resting on.

For all tanks except elevated tanks, consult the original as-built design specifications to determine the foundation design. If the foundation design cannot be documented, select Ground.

A concrete base (pad, slab) must be known to extend underneath the entire tank floor. 

The coating of a coated concrete base must cover the entire base underneath the tank.

For concrete ring wall foundations and double bottom tanks, identify the liner material, if any, inside the ring underneath the tank floor or between the floors.  A “clay liner” must be engineered of imported bentonite, and does not include clayey native soils.  If a liner cannot be documented, select without liner.

Internal Floor Coating or Liner

Type of internal tank floor coating or liner, if any. A thin coating is less than or equal to 20 mils; a thick coating is greater than 20 mils. A coating or liner must be installed to the API 652 specification, otherwise select None.

Cathodic Protection System

Type of cathodic protection system for the underside of the tank floor, if any.

Cathodic Protection Date

If the tank has a cathodic protection system, give the date of the most recent certified third-party evaluation of the system, in mm/dd/yyyy format. If there is no system, leave the date blank.

Note: The following fields—Leak Testing Method, Leak Testing Date, Previous External Inspection Year, Next External Inspection Year, Previous Internal Inspection, and Next Internal Inspection—are not applicable to shop-fabricated tanks. If you are entering information about a shop-fabricated tank, proceed to the Piping Type field.

Leak Testing Method

(Field-erected tanks only) Method of periodic third-party tank leak testing, if any.  The method must be listed by the National Work Group on Leak Detection Evaluations, otherwise select None.

Leak Testing Date

(Field-erected tanks only)  If tank leak testing is performed, give the date of the most recent leak test, in mm/dd/yyyy format. If no leak testing is performed, leave the date blank.

Previous External Inspection Year

(Field-erected tanks only)  Give year of most recent API 653 external inspection, in yyyy format. Select No Inspection if tank is not in an API 653 inspection program, or if no external inspections have yet been conducted.

Next External Inspection Year

(Field-erected tanks only)  Give year of next scheduled API 653 external inspection, in yyyy format. Select No Inspection if tank is not in an API 653 inspection program.

Previous Internal Inspection

(Field-erected tanks only)  Give year of most recent API 653 internal inspection, in yyyy format. Select No Inspection if tank is not in an API 653 inspection program, or if no internal inspections have yet been conducted.

Next Internal Inspection

(Field-erected tanks only)  Give year of next scheduled API 653 internal inspection, in yyyy format. Select No Inspection if tank is not in an API 653 inspection program.

Piping Type

Regulated piping is any piping connecting to the tank of 2” or greater inside diameter through which regulated substances are transferred to or from the tank. 

If the tank has any piping segments which run below grade, select Underground-Buried if there is at least one piping segment which is not protected from contact with soil/sand/rock by means of a casing or chase.  This includes piping segments protected only by a coating or wrap, and buried double-walled piping.  Note:  For each buried underground piping segment, provide further information on the Buried Underground Piping Segments page.

If all below-grade piping is protected by means of a casing or chase, select Underground-Casing or Chase.

If there are no below-grade piping segments connecting to the tank, select Aboveground. (Note: If you select this option for all tanks, you will skip the Buried Underground Piping Segments page and go directly to the Transfer Areas page.)

Transfer into Tank

Identify all sources of the substance in the tank. To select more than one option, press the Control (Ctrl) key while selecting.

Note: For any truck or railcar transfers, provide further information on the Transfer Areas page.

Transfer out of Tank

Identify all destinations for the substance in the tank.  To select more than one option, press the Control (Ctrl) key while selecting.

Note: For any truck or railcar transfers, provide further information on the Transfer Areas page.

Overfill Prevention System

Type of overfill prevention system used by the tank, if any. Overfill prevention systems make use of dedicated equipment, such as alarms and shutoffs, which are over and beyond any routine pre-gauging, ullage calculation, and operator load/unload procedures. 

Level 1 means the tank has a high level alarm which is visible or audible to the person controlling the fill.

Level 2 means the tank has a Level 1 system, plus a backup high level alarm which is fully independent of the tank gauging system. 

Level 3 means the tank has a Level 1 system, plus an automatic fill shutoff which is fully independent of the tank gauging system.                                         

Remotely Controlled Transfers

Indicate whether transfers into the tank ever occur from an intrastate or interstate pipeline when no personnel are present at the facility.

Automated Transfers

Indicated whether transfers into the tank ever are initiated by an automated industrial process, rather than initiated manually.  Select Yes even if observers are monitoring the automated process.

Nonregulated and Closed Tanks

• Identify all other aboveground storage tanks at your facility of greater than 1100 gallons capacity which are not listed under Regulated Tanks.  Provide a unique tank number and the reason for exclusion from regulation for each of these nonregulated and closed tanks.
• Any closed tanks located at the facility should be listed here.  Any empty tank which once contained a regulated substance, but which has not been permanently closed in accordance with Minn. R. 7151.8200, is still considered active and should be listed under Regulated Tanks with all tank information provided. 
• Do not list tote tanks meeting the definition in Minn. R. 7151.1200, subp 36.
• Review your current Nonregulated and Closed Tanks information for accuracy.  Update, correct, and add missing information as needed. 
• To list an additional tank, click Add Row. 
• If a listed tank has changed status and is now active, click Select then Move to Regulated Tanks.
• Do not identify a reason for exclusion without reading the full text of the applicable exclusion, definition, and/or explanation below.

Tank #

If the tank has been registered by the company in the MPCA Tank Database, use that number.  Otherwise, provide a unique tank number.       

Reason for Exclusion

The tank must meet an exclusion defined in Minnesota or federal law, or be closed in accordance with applicable tank closure rules.

• Indoor tank.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1200, subp. 21 ]:  A tank located inside a building or other type of enclosed structure, resting on or elevated above an impermeable floor surface, from which a release would:

(a) be entirely contained within a secondary containment structure;

(b) not escape from the building through any doorways, floor drains, or other means; or

(c) be directed by any drainage system of the building either to a permitted onsite wastewater treatment facility or to a permitted municipal wastewater treatment facility.

• Hazardous waste tank.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1300, subp. 2.E. ]:  A tank containing hazardous wastes which are subject to a treatment or storage permit issued pursuant to [ Minn. R. chapter 7001 ]. 

• Agricultural chemical tank.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1300, subp. 2.F. ]:  A tank containing agricultural chemicals regulated under Minn. Stat. ch. 18B, 18C, or 18D. 

• Other regulated substance stored in a stainless steel tank.  “Other regulated substance” (ORS) means any substance which is not a petroleum substance or a hazardous material listed at [ 49 CFR § 172.101 ].  Not all stainless steel tanks are exempt, only those containing an ORS.  Examples of ORS include vegetable oils, paper pulp, beet extracts, ethanol fermenters and beerwells, and lower toxicity chemicals not found on the referenced CFR list.

• Water tank.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1300, subp. 2.J. ]:  A tank containing drinking water, filtered surface water, demineralized water, deionized water, noncontact cooling water, water stored for fire or emergency purposes, or other waters which meet the standards defined in Minn. R. chapter 7050 or 7052.

• Tank contains a solid or a gas.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1200, subp. 33 ]:  Only tanks containing liquid substances are regulated.  A liquid substance means any material which would be liquid at an ambient (outside the tank) pressure or temperature that may be present.  Viscous and pulpy liquids such as asphalt, asphalt cement, other asphaltic compounds, and paper pulp are regulated.  Compressed gases such as propane, carbon dioxide, and anhydrous ammonia are not regulated.

• Wastewater treatment equipment.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1300, subp. 2.A ]:  Wastewater treatment equipment includes wastewater clarifiers, wastewater treatment basins, and tanks regulated under NPDES, SDS, or other pretreatment permits.

• Equipment reservoir.  [ Minn. R. 7151.1300, subp. Subp. 2.B. ]:  Equipment or machinery containing substances for operational purposes such as integral hydraulic lift tanks, lubricating oil reservoirs for pumps and motors, electrical equipment such as transformers, and heating and cooling towers, are not considered regulated “tanks.”

• Breakout tank.  A tank located at an interstate or intrastate pipeline facility meeting the definition found at [ 49 CFR § 195.2 ] and regulated by the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety under the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act.

• Closed tank.  A tank which has been closed in place in accordance with [ Minn. R. 7151.8200 ].

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Guidance for Field

Segment #

Use the underground piping numbering system from the current permit. For additional segments, create a unique identifier (numbers, letters, or combinations) for each buried underground piping segment.

Endpoint A

Select the number of the regulated tank to which the piping segment is connected.

Endpoint B

Briefly identify the other endpoint of the segment.  For example, “Building 32,” “Transfer Area 3,” “Tank 17.”

Inside diameter

Inside diameter of the segment, in inches to the nearest half-inch.

Piping material

Primary material from which the piping is constructed.

Substance

Substance carried by the piping.  Substance will be auto-populated from the substance stored in the tank identified as Endpoint A.

Wall type

Whether the piping as manufactured is single-walled or double-walled.  Do not count a casing or chase as double-walled.

Cathodic protection system

Type of cathodic protection system for the piping segment, if any. 

Cathodic protection date

If the piping segment has a cathodic protection system, give the date of the most recent certified third-party evaluation of the system, in mm/dd/yyyy format. If there is no system, leave the date blank.

Leak testing method

Method of annual third-party piping leak testing, if any.  Method must be listed by the National Work Group on Leak Detection Evaluations, otherwise select None.

Leak testing date

If piping leak testing is conducted, give the date of the most recent leak test, in mm/dd/yyyy format. If no leak testing is conducted, leave the date blank.

Field Heading

Guidance for Field

Containment area #

Use the containment area numbering system from the current permit.  For additional areas, create a unique identifier (numbers, letters, or combinations) for each containment area.

Tank(s) located in area

Select the tank numbers of all regulated tanks located in the containment area.  All regulated tanks, except double-walled tanks, must be listed as located in a containment area. To select more than one option, press the Control (Ctrl) key while selecting.

Construction material

Primary material from which the containment area surrounding the tank or tanks (dike or berm walls and floor) is constructed.

Capacity

Available capacity of the area for containment of leaked or spilled substances, in gallons.

Most recent survey date

Date of the most recent containment capacity survey showing contour and elevation and calculating available containment volume, in mm/dd/yyyy format. A survey is not required for concrete and steel containment areas. If no survey has been conducted, leave the date blank.