Kennedy's Environmental Program

Petroleum Storage Tank Systems

At Kennedy Space Center (KSC), NASA and its contractors operate both underground storage tank (UST) and aboveground storage tank (AST) systems.

Federal requirements governing the design, construction, and maintenance of UST systems are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40 Part 280. There are currently no Federal regulations covering AST systems except for the oil pollution prevention requirements found in the CFR Title 40 Part 112 (commonly referred to as Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations).

State of Florida regulations for petroleum storage tank systems (both AST and UST systems) are located in the Florida Administrative Code (Chapters 62-761 and 62-762). The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has contracted with the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department (BCNRMD) to administer a storage tank compliance program in Brevard County. BCNRMD representatives oversee petroleum storage tank system activities (installation, repair, modification, and removal) at Kennedy and perform periodic compliance inspections.

NASA requirements for the management of petroleum storage tank systems at Kennedy are found in Chapter 17 of KNPR 8500.1 (KSC Environmental Requirements).

While no special contractor license is required to install, remove, or maintain AST systems, Kennedy operators shall maintain written records on-site of all work performed. The installation, repair, modification, or removal of UST systems must be completed by a Florida-certified Pollutant Storage System Specialty Contractor (PSSSC).

Each operator of a petroleum storage tank system on Kennedy property is required to maintain certain records for a minimum of two years (three years for storage tank systems subject to SPCC regulations). These records include periodic inspection reports, monitoring or release detection system test results, and maintenance/repair information. These records must be made available for inspection by NASA, the FDEP, or the BCNRMD.