The Aboveground Storage Tank Program is designed to prevent releases of oil from Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks (ASTs) in New Hampshire. Petroleum ASTs are regulated by both the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office. DES established rules for petroleum ASTs in April 1997. The rules entitled Control of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Facilities (Env-Wm 1402) with revision effective May 28, 2005 can be downloaded below. These rules apply to:

• facilities with a single AST system having a capacity greater than 660 gallons, or
• facilities with two or more ASTs that have a total storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons

All regulated ASTs in New Hampshire shall be registered with DES.  A registration form can be downloaded from the document listing.  You may complete the form and mail it to DES at the address at the top of the form.  There is no registration fee. 

All new regulated ASTs having a capacity greater than 660 gallons must be approved by DES before they can be installed.  Approval is obtained by submitting the following:

• an engineered site plan showing where the proposed tank will be located
• a completed application form
• cut sheets containing information on the tank, high level alarms, gauges, pumps, and any other appurtenance that will be installed on the tank system

All regulated AST facilities shall have the following:

• overfill protection in the form of a gauge and an independent audible and visible high level alarm (go to fact sheet REM-1 for more information)
• tank markings (go to fact sheet REM-2 for more information)
• a Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure Plan (SPCC)

 An SPCC Plan is a well-thought-out written document that describes the facility, its oil storage, the procedures for handling oil, the features used to control spillage, and the countermeasures that would be employed should a spill occur.  Additional guidance can be obtained from the USEPA.