Md. Code Regs. 26.10.18.09

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 26.10.18.09 - Corrosion Protection

A. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST that has a capacity less than 10,000 gallons shall install an elevated AST so that the storage tank is not in direct contact with soil or another material that may allow moisture penetration or corrosion.

B. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST that has a capacity of 10,000 gallons or greater, is not an elevated AST, and in direct contact with soil or another material that may allow moisture penetration or corrosion shall:

(1) Provide one of the following cathodic protection systems:

(a) An impressed current system;

(b) A galvanic system; or

(c) Subject to the approval of the Department, an alternative method of corrosion protection that is:

(i) Designed to prevent a spill, release, or discharge of oil or a threatened spill, release, or discharge of oil in a manner determined by the Department to be not less protective of human health and the environment than the methods in §B(1)(a) and (b) of this regulation; and

(ii) Approved by a corrosion expert; and

(2) Provide a cathodic protection system that is:

(a) Designed by a corrosion expert;

(b) Designed and tested, at a minimum, in accordance with the following industry standards and recommended practices:

(i) NACE SP0169-2013 "Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems";

(ii) NACE SP0193-2016 "Application of Cathodic Protection to Control External Corrosion of Carbon Steel On-Grade Storage Tank Bottoms";

(iii) NACE TM0497-2018 "Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems"; and

(iv) API Recommended Practice 651 "Cathodic Protection of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks";

(c) Designed and installed to provide continuous corrosion protection to the external portion of the AST and other metal components of the AST system in contact with soil or other materials that may allow corrosion;

(d) Installed with easily identifiable test stations, access points, or other methods to monitor the operation and functionality of the cathodic protection system; and

(e) Continuously operated and maintained for the in-service and out-of-service life of the AST system.

C. Impressed Current System. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST protected by an impressed current system shall:

(1) Install, operate, maintain, inspect, and test the impressed current system in accordance with the requirements of this section;

(2) Ensure the impressed current source is not de-energized at any time except to perform service work on the AST system;

(3) Ensure the impressed current source is equipped with a continuously operating meter that displays the voltage, amperage, and operating (run) time;

(4) At least once every 60 days:

(a) Inspect the impressed current system to ensure the cathodic protection system is functioning properly by:

(i) Verifying the power to the impressed current system is on; and

(ii) Recording the voltage, amperage, and operating time; and

(b) Record and maintain the inspection results in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter;

(5) At least annually:

(a) Have a cathodic protection tester inspect and test:

(i) The impressed current system for electrical shorts, ground connections, meter accuracy, and circuit resistance; and

(ii) The condition of the impressed current system's isolating devices, continuity bonds, and insulators; and

(b) Record and maintain the results of the inspection and test in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter;

(6) Have a corrosion expert inspect the impressed current system in accordance with an industry standard or recommended practice listed in §B(2) of this regulation:

(a) When the impressed current system is 5 years of age; and

(b) Every 5 years thereafter;

(7) Provide a completed report for an inspection performed pursuant to §C(6) of this regulation to the Department and maintain a copy of the report in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter;

(8) Except as provided in §C(9) of this regulation, if the protection provided by an impressed current system is determined to be inadequate to properly protect the AST system:

(a) Employ a corrosion expert to determine the cause of the inadequacy within 30 days of the discovery; and

(b) Either:

(i) Complete repairs of the impressed current system within 60 days of the discovery or on a schedule approved by the Department; or

(ii) If repairs cannot return the impressed current system to adequate performance, replace the impressed current system within 120 days of the discovery or on a schedule approved by the Department; and

(9) If an impressed current system determined to be inadequate to provide proper protection to the AST system cannot be repaired or replaced in accordance with §C(8) of this regulation:

(a) Empty all oil in contact with the portion of the AST system inadequately protected by the impressed current system; and

(b) Place the AST system out-of-service in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter.

D. Galvanic System. An owner, an operator, and a person in charge of an AST system with a field-erected AST protected by a galvanic system shall:

(1) Install, operate, maintain, inspect, and test the galvanic system in accordance with the requirements of this section;

(2) Comply with the following inspection and test requirements:

(a) A cathodic protection tester shall inspect and test the galvanic system in accordance with an industry standard or recommended practice listed in §B(2) of this regulation:

(i) Within 6 months of installing the galvanic system; and

(ii) At least annually thereafter;

(b) A cathodic protection tester conducting an annual inspection shall make and record a sufficient number of AST-to-soil and underground piping-to-soil potential measurements to determine if the AST system is completely protected in accordance with an industry standard or recommended practice listed in §B(2) of this regulation; and

(c) Maintain records of the AST-to-soil and underground piping-to-soil potential measurements in accordance with Regulation .13 of this chapter;

(3) Except as provided under §D(4) of this regulation, if the protection provided by a galvanic system is determined to be inadequate to properly protect the AST system:

(a) Employ a corrosion expert to determine the cause of the inadequacy within 30 days of the discovery; and

(b) Either:

(i) Complete repairs of the galvanic system within 60 days of the discovery or on a schedule approved by the Department; or

(ii) If repairs cannot return the galvanic system to adequate performance, replace the galvanic system within 120 days of the discovery or on a schedule approved by the Department; and

(4) If a galvanic system determined to be inadequate to provide proper protection to the AST system cannot be repaired or replaced in accordance with §D(3) of this regulation:

(a) Empty all oil in contact with the portion of the AST system inadequately protected by the galvanic system; and

(b) Place the AST system out-of-service in accordance with Regulation .12 of this chapter.

Md. Code Regs. 26.10.18.09

Regulation .09 adopted effective 49:12 Md. R. 642, eff. 6/13/2022