Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) must be inspected at least once a month to comply with regulatory requirements and Postal Service™ policy outlined in Administrative Support Manual, Chapter 69, “Environmental Management and Compliance.” The monthly inspection requirement applies to ASTs of any size that contain hazardous materials, such as:
n New and used oil or heating oil.
n Gasoline or diesel fuel.
n New and used antifreeze.
n Windshield washer fluid.
n Diesel exhaust fluid.
These inspections help prevent the release of oil or other hazardous materials into the environment.
Under the policy, the site installation head or their designee must:
n Conduct and document a monthly visual inspection of each AST.
n Ensure each AST has a label that identifies the contents and volume.
n Address any issues identified during the inspection.
n Promptly address spills and take appropriate response actions.
Sites that store oil volume greater than 1,320 gallons have a dedicated Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. Sites with SPCC Plans must use the inspection log in the site-specific SPCC Plan.
Additionally, for all sites with ASTs, the installation head is responsible for:
n Obtaining access to the Environmental Tool Kit (ETK) or directing an EAS designee to gain access for the facility. Note: EAS employees may request access to ETK through eAccess for environmental information on their site.
n Uploading required environmental records to ETK (including the SPCC Plan with the current installation head signature pages) and maintaining a hard copy of the monthly SPCC inspection log provided in the plan in the on-site environmental files.
n Signing and certifying the SPCC Plan, if required for the site. The SPCC Plan signature/certification pages must contain the current installation head’s name and signature. In the event of a management change, the new installation head must take the SPCC Plan Training in HERO and update the signature/certification pages with their signature.
For more information, use the following resources:
n The ETK website at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/etk-information.htm provides detailed instructions on requesting access to ETK and uploading a document.
n The AST Management Environmental Compliance Bulletin at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/ecb-ast.pdf.
n The SPCC Plans Environmental Compliance Bulletin at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/ecb-spcc.pdf.
n The AST Inspection video (available for credit in HERO) provides basic instruction on how to inspect ASTs at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/videos/aboveground-storage-tank-inspections.htm.
n The “Environmental Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan” training course in HERO is required for the installation head and employees on-site with AST responsibilities.
n For questions, speak to your designated environmental contact at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/contact.htm.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 11-3-22
