For OCPS purposes, a “tank” is a 55-gallon or larger container that is filled to store hazardous materials, which will be dispensed at a later time. Examples of hazardous materials include fuels, flammable liquids, mixed pesticides, solvents or other cleaning chemicals. The following are not considered to be OCPS “tanks:” original shipping container; flammable storage cans, such as, 5-gallon gas can; and, hazardous waste storage drums. (The hazardous waste storage drums are inspected under a different program. Also, the waste is not dispensed, only stored.)

OCPS uses tanks to store fuels for vehicles, lawn mowers, tractors, etc. OCPS also has heating oil tanks at some schools. At this time the Environmental Compliance Department (ECD) is not aware of any hazardous material storage tanks (such as, chemicals, solvents, etc.).

1. Any tank, regardless of size, that will hold petroleum products or hazardous materials must be justified and approved by ECD. New tanks must be approved before they are installed. ECD will work with the users of the tanks to accomplish this.

2. Environmental Compliance is responsible for ensuring all storage tanks meet the following OCPS criteria. ECD will determine the best way to bring all existing tanks up to these standards, if needed.

1. Regulated tanks must meet all environmental laws and regulations. The basic regulation is Florida Administrative Code 62-762. Regulated tanks include 

   1. (1) Underground storage tanks that are greater than 110 gallons.

   2. (2) Aboveground storage tanks that are greater than 550 gallons.

2. All new non-regulated tanks must be aboveground and placed on impervious surfaces with an air gap between the tank and the surface. (We have decided that berming is not necessary. Properly checking and disposing of rainwater collected inside berms would be another problem.)