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Operator Training
Background And Requirements
Title XV, Section B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 amends Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the original legislation that created the underground storage tank (UST) program. The UST provisions of the Energy Policy Act focus on preventing releases and direct EPA to help states comply with new UST requirements.
Section 1524 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 states that EPA, in coordination with states, must develop training guidelines for three distinct classes of operators who operate and maintain federally regulated underground storage tank systems.
States receiving funding under Subtitle I shall develop state-specific training requirements consistent with EPA's guidelines. The state-specific training requirements must:
- Be developed in cooperation with tank owners and operators;
- Take into consideration training programs implemented by owners and operators; and
- Be appropriately communicated to tank owners and operators.
On August 8, 2007, EPA published final grant guidelines for operator training in the Federal Register. You can view the grant guidelines in PDF (PDF) (14 pp, 119K, About PDF) or view the grant guidelines in HTML.
Deadlines
August 8, 2009 - States receiving funding under Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act must develop state-specific training requirements consistent with EPA's guidelines.
August 8, 2012 - States ensure all three classes of operators are trained according to state-specific training requirements.
State Status
This map (PDF) (1 pg, 90K, About PDF) shows states’ status toward meeting EPA’s operator training grant guidelines. States with posted requirements do not necessarily meet all requirements of the operator training grant guidelines.
For More Information
The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management
Officials (ASTSWMO) UST Task Force developed the Operator Training Resource Guide (PDF) 
(83 pp, 1.9MB, About PDF) which provides information on how states are implementing their operator training program. ASTSWMO also developed a spreadsheet (PDF) (12 pp, 430K, About PDF) outlining key decisions states made in implementing their program.
Contact Tim Smith of EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks at smith.timr@epa.gov or (703) 603-7158.