Hazardous Waste Program

Tanks Compliance and Enforcement Unit

The Tanks Compliance and Enforcement Unit is responsible for compliance evaluations, regulatory determination and reviews of new technology.  The Tanks Compliance and Enforcement Unit also provides technical assistance to members of the regulated community, Underground Storage Tank, or UST, manufacturers and equipment providers, environmental consultants, and any other parties that have questions concerning underground storage tank laws and regulations. This unit also oversees the Inspection Program and reviews documentation to determine facility compliance with the laws and regulations, and, if necessary assists facilities in their efforts to return to compliance.

Operational Compliance
The statute that provides underground storage tank regulatory authority is the Missouri Petroleum and Underground Storage Tank Law, Chapter 319, Section 127, Revised Statutes of Missouri. The regulations applicable to underground storage tanks in Missouri can be found at Underground Storage Tank Regulations.  For questions concerning regulatory interpretation or technical assistance, please contact the department's Tanks Compliance and Enforcement Unit at 573-522-5665 or by email at tanks-compliance@dnr.mo.gov.

If you would like information and updates on compliance issues visit the Tanks Operational Assistance Bulletin to sign up for the electronic newsletter.  This email service will provide you with clarification of regulatory requirements, information about upcoming changes, commonly cited violations and other technical assistance.  Newsletter archives are available at Operational Tanks Assistance Listserv Archive.

Release Detection
All regulated tanks and piping must have release detection so that leaks are discovered quickly before contamination spreads from the underground storage tank site. You must provide your underground storage tank system with release detection (often also called "leak" detection) that allows you to meet three basic requirements:

  1. You can detect a leak from any portion of the tank or its piping that routinely contains petroleum.
  2. Your leak detection is installed, calibrated, operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
  3. Your leak detection meets the performance requirements described in the state and federal regulations.

In addition to the state regulations, EPA provides guidance documents about release detection, both general criteria and the basics of approved methods, and specific guidance documents on properly conducting each method of release detection, from inventory control to automatic tank gauging. Visit EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tank's leak detection page for additional information.

Corrosion Protection
Unprotected underground metal components of the underground storage tank system can corrode and release product through corrosion holes. In addition to tanks and piping, metal components can include flexible connectors, swing joints and turbines. All metal underground storage tank system components that are in contact with the ground, soil or water and routinely contain product must be protected from corrosion.

For additional guidance on meeting the corrosion protection requirements, please visit EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tank's corrosion protection.

Spill and Overfill Prevention
Many releases at underground storage tank sites come from spills made during delivery. Spills usually result from human error and can be avoided if everyone involved in the fuel delivery follows industry standard practices for tank filling. Underground storage tanks must have a spill bucket sealed around the fill pipe to contain small spills.

If a tank is accidentally overfilled, large volumes of product can be released. Your underground storage tank must have overfill protection equipment, unless deliveries are less than 25 gallons. The three main types of overfill protection devices are:

  1. Automatic shutoff devices.
  2. Overfill alarms.
  3. Ball float valves.

For additional guidance about the spill and overfill prevention requirements, EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tank's spill and overfill prevention.

The department requires all regulated underground storage tank owners and operators to maintain compliance with the laws and regulations concerning underground storage tanks. The Tank Section works closely with the Tanks Compliance and Enforcement Unit and encourages compliance through conference, conciliation and persuasion. For further information on compliance issues, please visit the department's Hazardous Waste Compliance and Enforcement Section or call 573-751-7560.

Fact sheets and guidance documents for owners and operator of petroleum and underground storage tank systems are available online including:

For Information about Stage I and Stage II vapor recovery please contact the department's Air Pollution Control Program.