Design standards and monitoring systems for new facilities.
Sacramento City Code § 8.92.050
in effect8.92.050 Design standards and monitoring systems for new facilities.
No underground storage tank or facility shall be installed after January 1, 1984, unless a permit to operate is first obtained from the permitting authority.
A permit to operate shall not be issued for any underground storage tank or facility installed after January 1, 1984, unless the underground storage tank or facility meets the following requirements:
A. Be designated and constructed to provide primary and secondary levels of containment of the hazardous substances stored in it in accordance with the following performance standards:
1. Primary containment shall be product-tight.
2. Secondary containment shall be constructed of materials of sufficient thickness, density and composition to prevent structural weakening as a result of contact with any released hazardous substances, and shall be capable of containing any unauthorized release of the hazardous substance stored within the primary container(s) for at least the maximum anticipated period sufficient to allow detection and removal of the unauthorized release.
3. In the case of an installation with one primary container, the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain at least one hundred (100) percent of the volume of the primary tank.
4. In the case of multiple primary tanks, the secondary container shall be large enough to contain one hundred fifty (150) percent of the volume of the largest primary tank placed in it, or ten (10) percent of the aggregate internal volume of all primary tanks, whichever is greater.
5. If the secondary container is open to rainfall, then it shall be able to additionally accommodate the volume of precipitation which could enter the secondary container during a twenty-four (24) hour one hundred (100) year storm.
6. The volumetric requirements for pore space of a granular material placed in the secondary container as backfill for the primary container shall be equal to or greater than that required in subsection (A)(2) of this section. The available pore space in the secondary container backfill shall be determined using appropriate engineering methods and safety factors and shall consider the specific retention and specific yield of the backfill material, the location of the primary container within the secondary container, and the proposed method of operation for the secondary container.
7. The secondary container shall be equipped with a collection system to accumulate, temporarily store, and permit removal of any precipitation, subsurface infiltration, or hazardous substance released from the primary container.
8. Single-walled containers do not fulfill the requirement of an underground storage tank providing both a primary and a secondary containment. However, an underground storage tank with a primary container constructed with a double complete shell shall be deemed to have met the requirements for primary and secondary containment set forth in this section if the outer shell is constructed primarily of non-earthen materials, including, but not limited to, concrete, steel, and plastic, which provide structural support and a continuous leak detection system with alarm is located in the space between the shells; the system is capable of detecting the entry of hazardous substances from the inner container into the space; and the system is capable of detecting water intrusion into the space from the outer shell.
9. The design and construction of underground storage tanks for motor vehicle fuels storage need not meet the requirements of subsections (A)(1) to (5), and (8), inclusive, if:
a. The primary containment construction is of glass fiber reinforced plastic, cathodically protected, or steel clad with glass fiber reinforced plastic;
b. Any alternative primary containment is installed in conjunction with a system that will intercept and direct a leak from any part of the tank to a monitoring well to detect any release of motor vehicle fuels stored in the tank;
c. The system is designed to provide early leak detection and response, and to protect the groundwater from releases;
d. The monitoring is in accordance with the alternative method identified in Section 8.92.060(B)(3) of this chapter; and
e. Pressurized piping systems connected to underground storage tanks used for the storage of motor vehicle fuels and monitored in accordance with Section 8.92.060(B)(3) of this chapter shall also be deemed to meet the requirements of this subdivision.
B. Be designed and constructed with a monitoring system capable of detecting the entry of the hazardous material stored in the primary containment into the secondary containment. If water could intrude into the secondary containment, a means of monitoring for water intrusion and for safely removing the water shall also be provided.
C. When required by the permitting authority, the underground storage tank shall have a means of overfill protection for any primary tank, including an overfill prevention device or an attention-getting high level alarm, or both. Primary tank filling operations of underground storage tanks containing motor vehicle fuels which are visually monitored and controlled by a facility operator satisfy the requirements of this paragraph.
D. Different substances that in combination may cause a fire or explosion, or the production of flammable, toxic, or poisonous gas, or the deterioration of a primary and secondary container, shall be separated in both primary and secondary containment so as to avoid potential intermixing.
E. If water could enter into the secondary containment by precipitation or infiltration, the facility shall contain a means of removing the water by the owner or operator. This removal system shall also prevent uncontrolled removal of this water and provide for a means of analyzing the removed water for hazardous substance contamination and a means of disposing of the water, if so contaminated, at an authorized disposal facility.
F. Before the underground storage tank is covered, enclosed, or placed in use, the standard installation testing for requirements for underground storage systems specified in Section 2-7 of the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, adopted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 30), as amended and published in the Uniform Fire Code, as adopted by the appropriate authority, shall be followed.
G. If the underground storage tank is designed to maintain a water level in the secondary containment, the tank shall be equipped with a safe method of removing any excess water to a holding facility and the owner or operator shall inspect the holding facility monthly for the presence of excess water overflow. If excess water is present in the holding facility, the permit holder shall provide a means to analyze the water for hazardous substance contamination and a means to dispose of the water, if so contaminated, at an authorized disposal facility. (Prior code § 16.01.030)
Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-18306Fetched: 10/24/2026