Hazardous Materials Specialists working in the UST program:

• Conduct state-mandated annual inspections of all UST systems
• Review and approve all permit applications for UST installations, repairs, upgrades and modifications
• Conduct installation, repair and removal inspections
• Conduct plan checks for all new installation proposals
• Ensure that business operating underground storage tanks are properly permitted and meet the monitoring requirements specified in state and federal laws and regulations
• Oversee site clean-up and remediation of UST sites identified as contaminated

When an underground storage tank application is submitted, the permit review process will not begin until a contractor has been specified on the application. Contractors installing underground storage tank systems must submit documentation confirming their status as an ICC Certified UST Installer. Please note that this certification must be renewed every 24 months. For more information on the certification process please refer to the International Code Council homepage or to the State Water Resources Control Board Training Certification page.

The plan check process will begin once all required documentation has been submitted. Plan checks take an average of two (2) weeks. Re-submittals will be handled on a case-by-case basis and billed an hourly rate for the additional review time.

Final approval will be granted via an ‘Authority to Construct’ letter issued by the Yolo County Environmental Health Department. Copies of this letter will be sent to both the property owner and the contractor performing the work. It will list site-specific construction requirements and inspection scheduling requirements. No UST construction activities can proceed prior to the issuance of this letter. Upon receipt of your approval letter, work can begin. Additional permits may be required from other agencies including the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District , the local planning/building agency and/or the local fire district. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have received all permits necessary before beginning work. Once work commences, you must keep a copy of your ‘Authority to Construct’ letter on site at all times. Several inspections will be required during the installation or repair process. These inspections must be scheduled with a Yolo County Hazardous Materials Specialist at least 48 hours in advance. Inspections may be scheduled by calling (530) 666-8646.

UST Installation Application packets can be downloaded here. For fee requirements please refer to the Yolo County Fee Schedule

For work not requiring a permit, contractors should contact the Yolo County Environmental Health UST inspector assigned to the facility where work is to be completed to determine if an inspection is necessary. Although some repairs do not require a permit, Yolo County requests that after completing the work a “Description of Repair Work Completed”form is submitted to our office within 5 business days. Please note that any contractor performing work on an underground storage tank system must be prepared to submit documentation verifying their certification as an ICC Certified UST Service Technician. For more information on the certification process please refer to the International Code Council homepage or to the State Water Resources Control Board Training Certification page

It is the policy of the Yolo County Environmental Health Department to have all tanks permanently removed, rather than abandoned in place, whenever possible. To download an application for a UST Removal please click here Applications requesting to abandon an underground storage tank in place will be thoroughly reviewed and will only be approved in cases where removal of the tank will cause damage to an existing building or structure. Yolo County also does endorse the onsite cutting and cleaning of an underground storage tank due to the inherent danger of the operation. To download an application packet to abandon an underground storage tank in place please click here. For fee requirements for both permanent removals and tank abandonment in place please refer to the Yolo County Fee Schedule

Yolo County also allows the temporary abandonment of an underground storage tank system for a period not to exceed one year. Temporary abandonment extensions for a period of one additional year will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While temporarily abandoned, the UST system must be disconnected from the power source and may not receive fuel deliveries. To download an application packet to temporarily abandon an underground storage tank system please click here. For fee requirements for both permanent removals and tank abandonment in place, please refer to the Yolo County Fee Schedule. A representative of the Yolo County Environmental Health Division must witness all UST removals and temporary abandonment. These inspections must be scheduled a minimum of 48 hours in advance. To schedule an inspection please call us at (530) 666-8646.

State law mandates that all underground storage tank systems be inspected on an annual basis. The Yolo County Environmental Health Division generally conducts these inspections during annual testing required by the state. Facilities should make all attempts to have a site representative available during these times to meet with the inspector. For guidance on how to prepare for a UST inspection please refer to the “UST Self-Audit Checklist”

We maintain an electronic list of known leaky sites and have files with detailed information about most of these sites in Yolo County. Our files are open for a free public review on Wednesday mornings and by appointment at other times for a small fee. By calling ahead and letting us know which facility files you would like to review, we can serve you better by having the files ready and space reserved when you arrive. For further information on public files reviews including information about setting up an appointment please click here.

The designated operator must:

• Posses a current “California UST System Operator” certification issued by the International Code Council (ICC). 
• Provide on-the-job training for facility employee(s). Initial training was required by July 1, 2005. Facility employees hired on or after July 1, 2005 must complete initial training within 30 days from their date of hire.
• Perform monthly visual inspections and record results on an inspection report, which must be provided to the owner/operator.

The training provided by the Designated UST Operator to the facility employees must be conducted within 30 days of hire and every 12 months thereafter and must include at minimum:

• The operation of the UST system in a manner consistent with the facility’s best management practices.
• The facility employee’s role with regard to the monitoring equipment as specified in the facility’s monitoring plan.
• The facility employee’s role with regard to spills and overfills as specified in the facility’s response plan.
• The name of the contact person(s) for emergencies and monitoring equipment alarms.

Facility operators should maintain on site the following:

• UST Designated Operator Statement showing the contact information and ICC Certification number of the person serving as the facility’s designated operator
• Copies of the monthly inspection reports completed by the designated operator for the previous twelve (12) months
• Training logs showing that all employees have received initial training from the designated operator and refresher training every 12 months thereafter

• California State Water resources Control Board
• Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
• California State Underground Storage Tank Clean-up Fund
• U.S. EPA Underground Storage Tanks
• International Code Council homepage