Georgia UST Compliance Guide
What every Georgia tank owner needs to know — from EPD inspections to the GUST Trust Fund
View Technical RequirementsWhy Georgia Compliance Matters
Georgia's diverse geology and heavy reliance on groundwater make UST compliance far more than a regulatory checkbox. A single release can contaminate drinking water supplies for thousands of residents.
Piedmont Geology Creates Unpredictable Contamination
Northern Georgia's crystalline bedrock — where Atlanta and much of the state's population resides — is riddled with fractures, joints, and geological contacts that create unpredictable contamination pathways. A release that might stay contained in uniform soil can travel miles through fractured rock.
Key Finding
USGS found inorganic contaminants exceeding health-based benchmarks in 33% of the Piedmont study area. These aquifers supply approximately 360 million gallons per day.
Coastal Plain & the Floridan Aquifer
Southern Georgia sits atop the Upper Floridan Aquifer — the primary water source for the region. The largest unconfined area of this aquifer underlies north Florida and southwest Georgia, making it particularly vulnerable to surface contamination from leaking underground storage tanks.
Why It Matters
Because the aquifer is unconfined in this region, there is no impermeable layer separating it from the surface. Petroleum releases can reach groundwater with little natural filtration.
Agricultural Fuel Storage
Many Georgia farms maintain diesel storage for equipment operations. What some owners don't realize is that connected tanks exceeding 1,100 gallons in total capacity are regulated — even if each individual tank is smaller than that threshold.
Common Mistake
Farm owners sometimes assume that multiple small tanks are exempt. If they share piping or a manifold and together exceed 1,100 gallons, the full suite of UST regulations applies.
Fuel Delivery Prohibition
Georgia EPD holds one of the most severe enforcement tools available to any state agency: the authority to order fuel suppliers to stop delivering fuel to a non-compliant facility. This effectively shuts down operations until violations are corrected.
Bottom Line
Non-compliance isn't just a fine — it can mean your facility cannot receive fuel until every issue is resolved and EPD lifts the prohibition order.
Most Common Violations
These are the violations Georgia EPD inspectors find most frequently. Addressing these proactively is the single best way to pass your next inspection.
30-Day Tank Monitoring Failures
The most common violation across Georgia facilities. Every UST must have release detection performed at least every 30 days using an approved method: automatic tank gauging (ATG), statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), interstitial monitoring (IM), or another EPD-approved approach.
How to Avoid
Set automated reminders for monitoring deadlines. Keep all records for a minimum of 3 years. If using ATG, ensure probes are calibrated and printouts are stored where inspectors can access them.
Annual Testing Gaps
Missing one or more of the required annual tests is extremely common. Facilities must complete interstitial monitoring device tests, line tightness tests, and line leak detector tests every year — and document the results.
How to Avoid
Schedule all annual tests at the same time each year. Work with a licensed contractor who can bundle these tests into a single visit and provide compliant documentation.
Cathodic Protection Testing
Steel USTs with cathodic protection must be tested every 3 years to verify the system is functioning. The two most recent test records must be available on-site or readily accessible. For impressed current systems, rectifier readings must be logged every 60 days.
How to Avoid
Mark your 3-year testing deadline on a calendar. For impressed current systems, assign a specific employee to check the rectifier every 60 days and log the reading. Keep all records organized in one binder or folder.
Spill Bucket & Sump Maintenance
Spill buckets and containment sumps must be clean and empty at all times — not just before an inspection. They must also be tested for liquid tightness every 3 years. Inspectors frequently find water, debris, or product in these containment areas.
How to Avoid
Implement a monthly visual inspection routine. After every delivery, check spill buckets and pump out any accumulated liquid. Schedule 3-year tightness tests alongside other periodic testing.
Registration Lapses
Annual UST registration is due between August 1 and December 31 each year, submitted through the GEOS (Georgia EPD Online System) portal. The current registration certificate must be posted visibly at the facility. Ownership changes require re-registration within 30 days.
How to Avoid
Set a recurring reminder for August 1 to begin the registration process. When buying or selling a facility, make registration transfer part of the closing checklist. Post the certificate in a visible, weatherproof location.
Release Reporting Failures
When a suspected release is discovered — whether through monitoring data, visible product, odors, or any other indication — it must be reported to EPD within 24 hours. A tightness test must then be performed within 7 days of the suspected release.
How to Avoid
Train all employees to recognize signs of a release and know the reporting procedure. Keep EPD's reporting hotline number posted visibly. Have a tightness testing contractor on speed dial.
Understanding the GUST Trust Fund
The Georgia Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund is the financial safety net that covers cleanup costs from petroleum releases. For most tank owners in Georgia, it is the primary mechanism for meeting federal financial responsibility requirements.
What It Is
The GUST Trust Fund provides financial coverage for corrective action (cleanup) costs and third-party liability resulting from petroleum releases from USTs. It is the most commonly used financial responsibility mechanism in Georgia.
How It's Funded
The Environmental Assurance Fee (EAF) is assessed on every gallon of petroleum products imported into Georgia. The current rate is 0.75 cents per gallon (in effect since July 2013). The maximum authorized rate is 1.0 cents per gallon.
Coverage Limits
Up to $1,000,000 per occurrence for owners with 1–100 tanks, or $2,000,000 for owners with 101 or more tanks. The tank owner is responsible for the first $10,000 deductible per occurrence.
New Owner Requirements
If you're acquiring a facility with USTs, you have specific obligations within your first year of ownership:
- 1.Pass a precision tightness test on all tanks and lines
- 2.Perform a site check to verify no existing contamination
- 3.Remit all Environmental Assurance Fees from the date of acquisition
Late Participation Fee
If a facility has been operating USTs without participating in the GUST Trust Fund, the owner must pay back-EAF retroactively — potentially all the way back to July 1, 1988.
For long-standing facilities that were never enrolled, this back-payment can be substantial. Getting enrolled promptly avoids this compounding liability.
Note: Tank replacement and retrofitting costs are not reimbursable through the GUST Trust Fund. The fund covers cleanup and corrective action only.
Understanding the $10,000 Deductible
The tank owner pays the first $10,000 of corrective action costs per occurrence. This covers initial response activities such as soil excavation, free product removal, and preliminary site assessment. Once the deductible is met, the GUST Trust Fund covers eligible costs up to the applicable coverage limit. Keeping detailed records of your initial response expenditures is critical for a smooth reimbursement process.
Preparing for an EPD Inspection
Georgia EPD conducts UST compliance inspections every 2–3 years. Inspectors typically provide 3–5 days advance notice. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.
Records Review
The inspector will ask to see the following documentation:
- Current registration certificate
- Operator training certificates
- Financial responsibility documentation
- 3 years of release detection records
- GUST Trust Fund fee invoices/receipts
Equipment Walk-Through
The inspector will physically examine your UST system components:
- Spill buckets (clean and empty)
- Overfill protection devices
- Dispensers and piping
- Vent lines and fittings
- Cathodic protection systems
- Containment sumps
Determination
After completing the inspection, EPD will issue one of two outcomes:
Notice of Compliance (NOC)
Your facility meets all applicable requirements. No further action needed until the next inspection cycle.
Notice of Violation (NOV)
One or more violations were found. You'll receive a written notice detailing each violation and the required corrective timeline.
Inspection Tips
- •Download EPD's "Most Common Violations" document and share it with all employees who interact with the UST system.
- •Conduct your own walkthrough using the same checklist EPD uses before every inspection.
- •All registration and compliance submittals go through GEOS (Georgia EPD Online System). Make sure your GEOS account is current and accessible.
Operator Training Requirements
Georgia requires designated operators at every UST facility. Training and certification requirements vary by class:
- •Class A/B Operators must recertify every 7 years through an EPD-approved training program.
- •Class C Operators must be physically on-site during all UST operations, including fuel deliveries. They must know how to respond to alarms and emergencies.
Looking for the full technical compliance requirements?
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