storage tank
management Program

Program Manager Contact Information:
Storage Tank Management Program Manager  |  252-466-3631

The intent of the Storage Tank Management Program is to prevent pollution from aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and underground storage tanks (USTs) that are used to store petroleum products and other regulated substances aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point. The program works closely with the Emergency Planning and Response Program and Petroleum Release Program to ensure that releases from petroleum storage tanks are managed to minimize the adverse impacts to human health and the environment.

Marine Corps policy requires that all Marine Corps installations and activities comply with all applicable environmental requirements, which may include Federal, state, local, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Navy (DON), Marine Corps, and MCAS Cherry Point rules, regulations, and requirements. Legal and other environmental requirements related to the Storage Tank Management Program are maintained on the EM Portal.

A complete description of the responsibilities of the Storage Tank Management Program is available on the EM Portal. Major components of the Storage Tank Management Program include coordination of:

• Storage tank installation
• Tank registration and permitting
• The Storage Tank Management Plan
• Tank inspection and maintenance (discussed under the Audit and Evaluation of Compliance section, also a component of the Emergency Planning and Response Program)
• Fuel product transfer
• Spill and release response and prevention
• UST removal and closure

Storage Tank Installation and Upgrade

It is Air Station policy to install ASTs in lieu of USTs and to replace existing USTs with ASTs where possible. It is the responsibility of the Storage Tank Management Program to ensure that this policy is implemented throughout the Air Station and outlying fields.

Tank Registration and Permitting

North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) require the registration of ASTs associated with Oil Terminal Facilities. The Storage Tank Management Program Manager must register the Air Station as an Oil Terminal Facility with the UST Section of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Waste Management.

Storage Tank Management Plan

Marine Corps Order (MCO) 5090.2 requires that the Air Station has a Storage Tank Management Plan as a means of developing a long-term approach to reducing compliance liability and costs associated with ASTs and USTs. The Storage Tank Management Program Manager must ensure that the plan includes a strategy to achieve and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

Fuel Product Transfer

Fuels Management, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) units, and Air Station tenants are all responsible for fuel transfer activities. The Storage Tank Management Program Manager must coordinate with these entities to ensure that proper supervision, recordkeeping, and inventory control is conducted during fuel transfers.

Spill and Release Response

Fuels Management, 2d MAW units, and Air Station tenants are all required to report spills and overfills associated with AST and UST fuel transfer operations to the Storage Tank Management Program Manager and the MCAS Cherry Point Fire Department. It is the responsibility of the Storage Tank Management Program Manager to coordinate with the Emergency Planning and Response Program Manager on responding to fuel tank spills and ensuring that spills are prevented in the future.

UST Removal and Closure

According to MCO 5090.2, proper documentation of UST removal and/or in-place closure is important to ensure compliance, reduce liability, avoid duplicate effort, and show progress and due diligence. Prior to and following UST closure or change-in-service, the Storage Tank Management Program Manager must ensure that the NCDEQ Division of Waste Management is notified of the closure using the appropriate forms.

The Storage Tank Management Program Manager ensures that storage tank management training content is provided to the Comprehensive Environmental Training and Education Program (CETEP) Coordinator for incorporation into unit training.

The risk of negative environmental impacts from MCAS Cherry Point operations may be assessed by analyzing the practices that occur at the facility. Aspects are the characteristics of these practices that can cause an impact to the environment or other resources. It is Marine Corps policy that all Marine Corps installations identify and assess the environmental risk of the practices and aspects associated with each environmental program. Significant practices and/or aspects associated with this program include:

• Fueling and fuel management/storage/Spill
• Fueling and fuel management/storage/Fuel use
• Storage tank management/Fuel use

When necessary, objectives and targets (O&T) are developed in order to minimize the environmental risks posed by the facility’s practices and to track progress towards achieving environmental goals. Any O&Ts related to the Storage Tank Management Program and their associated actions to improve performance are maintained on the EM Portal. Currently, one O&T has been developed:

Objective: Spill minimization, education, and reporting campaign.

Target:  Conduct at least two annual spill drills with a randomly selected unit/department. Each scenario is to include the Fire Department, Safety Office, EAD, unit/department, etc.

The Storage Tank Management Program is evaluated under each annual internal Environmental Compliance Evaluation (ECE) and each triennial Benchmark ECE. Findings and corrective actions from these audits are maintained on the EM Portal.