As part of a recent training class for Class A/B UST operators, we visited a nearby convenience store and did a physical inspection of all the tank openings. The very first fill opening we inspected looked pretty good until I looked closer and noticed that — deep down — there was a stick lodged against the overfill device.
If you are new to UST systems: When you have an automatic shut off device and a level gauge stick jammed inside it, the overfill device will not shut off the flow fuel at 95% full. You have no protection from a potential catastrophic overfill.
Which is why during a mandatory 30-day compliance inspection you must inspect all the fill openings for obstructions. In other words, look for sticks lodged in the fill openings.
Quite frankly I was surprised. This sort of thing used to happen a lot and I thought this practice had mostly gone away. To get a pulse on things, on a social media group site I asked our national network of UST service providers if this still happened. Here’s the replies I got, almost instantaneously:
- What ya mean still? Never stopped lol.
- I’ve pulled out three in the last month alone.
- I pulled out seven sticks at one site one for each tank it was insane
- I pulled one out yesterday
- Yes I pulled one out yesterday
- Pulled two out of the same site yesterday
- I take them home and collect them I got a pretty good collection going
- It’s more of the common carriers doing this versus the truck owned by the station
Yikes!
A word to the wise. Consider the following action items:
- If you get daily deliveries, check each tank every day for obstructions in the fill opening.
- When doing your 30-day walk through inspections, be extra careful when inspecting the fill openings and don’t just pencil whip that line on the form that says “any obstructions in the fill opening?”.
- Contact your delivery driver right away if you find a stick inside. It’s probably their fault.
Another solution? Let us know at [email protected].