Rules and Regulations for Underground Storage Facilities Used for Regulated Substances and Hazardous Materials (250-RICR-140-25-1)


250-RICR-140-25-1 ACTIVE RULE

My Page Title

1.1Purpose

1.2Authority

1.3Incorporated Materials

1.4Applicability

1.5Definitions

1.6Administrative Findings

1.7Facility Registration

1.8Financial Responsibility

1.9The Rhode Island UST Financial Responsibility Fund

1.10Minimum UST Operation and Maintenance Requirements

1.11New and Replacement UST System Requirements

1.12Facility Modifications or Repairs

1.13Maintaining Records

1.14Leak and Spill Response

1.15Closure

1.16Approval of Tank and/or Line Tightness Tests, Leak Detection Methods and Licensing Requirements

1.17Signatories to Registration and Closure Applications

1.18Transfer of Certificates of Registration and Closure

1.19Holding Tanks

1.20Variances

1.21Appeals

1.22Penalties


Title 250 Department of Environmental Management
Chapter 140 Waste and Materials Management
Subchapter 25 Oil & Underground Tanks
Part 1 Rules and Regulations for Underground Storage Facilities Used for Regulated Substances and Hazardous Materials (250-RICR-140-25-1)
Type of Filing Direct Final Amendment
Regulation Status Active
Effective 09/28/2025

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-17.1-2(30)
42-17.1-2(31)
R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-12
and in accordance with Chapter 42-35.

Purpose and Reason:

DEM has not historically offered lower deductible amounts for the Rhode Island Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Act (UST Fund). DEM proposes to remove regulatory language that may exclude certain underground storage tanks (USTs) from potentially qualifying for lower deductible amounts in the future. The current language excludes USTs from being eligible for a lower deductible amount due to compliance-related issues. However, this wording does not consider that USTs may have different owners over time. It is the owners who are responsible for the deductible if they need to access the UST Fund. This policy change would permit DEM to propose eligibility requirements for certain lower deductible amounts – without excluding owners who may be impacted by previous owners’ compliance issues. 

Rulemaking Documents are organized by document type and are part of this rule’s rulemaking record (R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2.3). If multiple documents of the same type are listed below, each is a unique document. If there are multiple Public Notice of Proposed Rulemaking documents, view each document to identify the most recently amended version, as it may be amended at any point during the Public Comment Period.