Tank Construction Requirements

• Spill and overfill prevention equipment is mandatory.
• Starting January 1, 2026, all new steel piping must meet ASTM A53 standard

Installation Process

• New tanks must go through UCLA Plan Check, with reviews conducted by:
  • UCLA Fire Department (UCFD)
  • Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S)
• A soil site assessment is required before installation begins.

Permitting Requirements

• The contractor must submit a permit application to CUPA for installation. See section on "Permit Requirements"
• Pre- and post-installation inspections are required by CUPA.
• Testing and inspection requirements vary based on the tank’s design and configuration.
• EH&S must be included in all communications with CUPA throughout the process.

Certification Requirements

• Only contractors certified by the International Code Council (ICC) are authorized to certify and test USTs.
• CUPA must approve the installation before the system becomes operational.

Fees and Maintenance

• Annual CUPA fees apply.
• Ongoing testing and preventive maintenance are required.
• Tanks with capacities over 10,000 gallons must be included in the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan.

Permits

An approved stamped permit must be obtained before modifying, installing, removing, or abandoning-in-place your underground storage tank (UST) system. EH&S must be notified when submitting a UST permit to aid in guiding you through the process, coordinating with regulatory agencies, and help identify testing and reporting requirements.

Notify EH&S envcompliance@ehs.ucla.edu 

LAFD CUPA Project Permits

For information on CUPA Project Permits visit: https://lafd.org/fire-prevention/cupa-permits-project

LAFD CUPA Project Permit Application

Request a CUPA Inspection 

• LAFD CUPA Inspection Notification Form

Fees

• CUPA Project Permit Fees

A repair is defined as restoring any UST component to proper operating condition. Permits are required for most repair activities including:

• Tank sump or under-dispenser containment (UDC) repairs
• Piping upgrades or relocations
• Monitoring system panel repairs involving reprogramming
• Like-for-like replacements (e.g., sensors, drop tubes) if not done during scheduled inspections.

What to do when a repair is needed?

• Step 1: Notify EH&S throughout this process - email: envcompliance@ehs.ucla.edu
• Step 2: Submit a Permit - Submit a repair permit application to your local CUPA with:
  • Plan set and manufacturer specifications
  • ICC and manufacturer certifications
  • Site plan showing tank location, piping, utilities, and structures
  • Contractor’s license (A, B, C-36, or D-40)
  • Workers’ Compensation documentation (Contractor)
  • CUPA Project Permit Fees
• Step 3: Testing & Inspection After Repair - Testing and inspection must be completed within 30 days of any repair
  • Notify CUPA at least 48 hours before conducting post-repair testing. Maintain all testing records on-site for 36 months
  • Required inspections include:
    • Spill container testing
    • Overfill prevention equipment inspection
    • Secondary containment testing
    • Corrosion protection system testing (within 6 months of repair)
    • Pressure line integrity test
  • Step 4: Reporting: Notify EH&S - of repair completion so that we can update CERS with:
    • Revised UST submittal
    • Updated facility and hazardous materials inventory information

Removing a UST is a regulated process that must comply with California Health & Safety Code, Title 23 CCR, and local CUPA guidelines. Here's what you need to know:

• Step 1: Notify EH&S throughout this process - email: envcompliance@ehs.ucla.edu,
• Step 2: Submit a Permit - Contractor submits a permit application to your local CUPA prior to work with:
  • Site plan showing tank location, piping, utilities, and structures
  • Contractor’s license (A, B, C-36, or D-40)
  • Hazardous Substance Removal Certification
  • Workers’ Compensation documentation (Contractor)
  • Statement of tank disposition (e.g., recycle, disposal)
  • CUPA Project Permit Fees
  • Notify CUPA and other agencies (e.g., Fire Department, Building Division) at least 48 hours before removal
• Step 3: Tank Cleaning and Inerting
  • Triple-rinse tanks and piping; rinsate is hazardous waste and must be properly disposed of.
  • Inerting is required for flammable tanks
• Step 4: Removal and Transport
  • Tanks over 550 gallons require a crane for lifting
  • Tanks must be transported to a licensed Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) with a hazardous waste manifest.
    • Contact: hazardousmaterials@ehs.ucla.edu for assistance with hazardous waste manifest.
  • Clean and inerted tanks if approved by UCLA Fire may be disposed of as scrape metal.

Testing: 

EH&S coordinates and reviews all USTs testing, including:

• Monthly, Annual, and Triannual Testing required based on system design.
• Secondary containment testing every 36 months for systems installed before 2001
• Leak detection systems must be inspected monthly and calibrated annually.

Maintenance

Facilities Management ensure the following components are regularly maintained and operational:

• Leak Detection Equipment
• Spill Containment System
• Overfill Prevention Equipment
• Secondary Containment Systems
• Monitoring System Panels