Canadian UST Deadline Approaching
Removal of Underground Fuel Tanks
Ontario Regulation 213/01
(The Fuel Oil Regulation) calls for the removal or upgrade of all single
wall steel underground fuel storage tanks. The deadline for
removal or upgrade depends on the age of the tank (see chart below for reference).
Owners may choose to have a Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA)-registered contractor remove the tank
or upgrade the system to include overfill protection, spill containment
and leak detection.
| Age of Tank (years) | Deadline for Upgrade |
| 25 or more | Already Passed |
| 20-24 | Already Passed |
| 10-19 | Oct. 1, 2008 |
| 0-9 | Oct. 1, 2009 |
Option A: removal
If a tank is not already cathodically protected, only a TSSA-registered
fuel oil contractor may remove it. Upon removal of the tank, the owner
must have an environmental assessment report completed which delineates
the full extent of any fuel oil product that has escaped into the
environment. The assessment must be conducted or supervised by one of
the following:
• Professional Engineer;
• Professional Geoscientist;
• Professional Agrologist; or
• Chartered Chemist.
TSSA must be notified once the tank has been removed.
Option B: upgrade
Tank systems that are not removed must be upgraded with:
• overfill protection;
• spill containment; and
• leak detection.
Prior to upgrading, the underground tank is subjected to a precision
leak test.
