Formal 30-day public comment period, October 1 through October 31, 2025
The Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) is proposing changes to R311, the Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) rules.
Background:
On February 27, 2025, Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox signed H.B. 18 Petroleum Storage Tank Amendments, which became effective on May 7, 2025. This bill marks the first changes to the Petroleum Storage Tank Act since the introduction of aboveground petroleum storage tank (APST) regulations in 2021.
Key changes enacted by H.B. 18 include:
- Notification Requirements for APST Owners/Operators: Owners and operators of APSTs are now required to notify the DERR of any change in ownership, new installations, or upgrades/repairs to their tanks.
- Revised Definition of PST Certifications: The definition of “Underground Storage Tank Removers, Testers and Installers” has been updated to the broader “Petroleum Storage Tank Removers, Testers and Installers” to reflect the inclusion of APSTs.
- Installation Permit and Fee Requirements: Petroleum storage tank installation companies must now obtain an install permit for all PST installations, including APSTs, at least 30 days before the installation begins. Associated fees must also be paid at least 30 days prior to the start of the installation.
- APST Loan Program Eligibility: Owners and operators of APSTs are now eligible to apply for loans from the Petroleum Storage Tank Fund Loan Program for the purpose of upgrading, replacing, or permanently closing an APST.
Additionally, other minor rule changes are proposed to clarify existing requirements for owners and operators of PSTs, without imposing any new obligations on these entities.
View the full text of the proposed changes (PDF). In the rule text document, wording to be added is underlined, and wording to be removed is struck out.
The rules to be amended are:
- R311-200. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Definitions.
- R311-201. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Certification Programs and UST Operator Training.
- R311-203. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Technical Standards.
- R311-204. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Closure and Remediation.
- R311-212. Administration of the Petroleum Storage Tank Fund Loan Program.
Nonsubstantive changes are being made to the following rules:
- R311-205. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Site Assessment Protocol and Release Reporting. (Nonsubstantive change)
- R311-206. Petroleum Storage Tanks: Certificate of Compliance and Financial Assurance Mechanisms. (Nonsubstantive change)
- R311-207. Accessing the Petroleum Storage Tank Fund for Leaking Petroleum Storage Tanks. (Nonsubstantive change)
Public comments concerning these proposed rule changes can be emailed to [email protected]
A Public Hearing will be held Wednesday October 15, 2025, 12 p.m. in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Board Room (Conference Room #1015), located in the Multi-Agency State Office Building, 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah.