DOEE Reproposes Changes To Underground Storage Tank Regulations For Aged Tanks

Highlights

• The District of Columbia's Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) issued a Second Proposed Rulemaking on aged underground storage tanks (USTs), shifting from a system that would have required automatic removal of tanks that were more than 30 years old toward a testing-based compliance system.
• As reproposed, owners and operators of USTs that are more than 30 years old would be able to continue operating those tanks if they perform tank tightness tests every three years, submit results to DOEE and permanently close any UST that fails testing within one year of the test failure.
• The reproposed rule is open for public comment through July 26, 2026, providing owners, operators, purchasers, sellers and lenders an opportunity to address key implementation questions, including testing frequency, closure deadlines and applicability to inactive or abandoned tanks.