What You Need to Know about Above Ground Storage Tanks in Mississippi

If you’re planning to install above ground storage tanks on your property or if you’re managing a company that has AST’s, you need to be aware of the regulations that govern these storage tanks. This article will attempt to provide an overview of AST regulations for Mississippi, but it’s always a good idea to talk to local city and county governments about additional regulations.

How AST’s are Regulated in Mississippi

According to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, all above ground tanks in the state are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has an Aboveground Storage Tank Program, which is administered by the Region 4’s emergency response program.

For AST’s that are placed in state buildings or where the public assembles, the state follows the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) for fire prevention codes. If the tanks are oil storage facilities, it includes the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) Code 30 and 30A.

In most situations, the local government is responsible for regulating the tanks on public property. Most government authorities also use the SBCCI code because local laws must follow the state code at a minimum.

Requirements and Benefits of Regulation

A measure was introduced in 2013 by the Mississippi Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (MPMCSA). This measure attempted to regulate the AST’s which are used for commercial resale and hold petroleum products. The regulations would primarily affect those AST’s located at retail service stations which contain gasoline and diesel for sale to the general public. These regulations don’t impact storage tanks that are used for farming, agriculture or construction. It also wouldn’t govern those at hospitals, schools and county maintenance shops or fuel-containing tanks that don’t sell to the public.

AST regulation focuses on commercial re-sale AST’s because they pose the greatest risk to both the environment and the health of people. They are also found in use more often than other categories of AST’s while the owners haven’t been trained on how to operate them properly.

Regulations level the playing field for all owners of commercial resale AST’s. They also reduce the risk of spills and contamination to the environment. Owners of certain AST’s must meet federal criteria for threshold and implement plans to prevent spills. AST’s that contain hazardous wastes must follow a separate set of rules under the guidance of the EPA.