Program Areas - Storage Tank Management


Program Manager: Harry Stein (301) 286-9233 

Background

Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), and specified partners, own and operate 44 ASTs and 7 USTs of various sizes located throughout the facility. Due to the size of the facility and constant change in operations, the total gallons of oil storage capacity can change.

The Environmental Office (EO) should be contacted prior to the installation, upgrade or removal of any fuel storage tank. This will allow the Environmental Office ample time to provide notification to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and offer guidance to the contractor regarding procedures for properly closing the ASTs or USTs as well as proper disposal procedures.

An annual Integrated Contingency Plan-Storm Water Pollution Prevention Training program is offered by the EO each year. Please contact Marianne Simko at (757) 824-2127 or by e-mail, Marianne.F.Simko@nasa.gov, to schedule your attendance. If you cannot attend, please review the most recent ICP Training Presentation.

Contractors are required to notify WFF of ASTs brought to the facility with a capacity greater than 55 gallons (208 liters). Tanks of 660 gallons (2,500 liters) or greater must have Facilities Management Branch (FMB) approval and include a storm water pollution prevention plan or other approved spill response plan. If a tank (sized 660 gallons (2,500 liters) or greater) will be in use on WFF for more than 120 days, the contractor must provide proof that the tank is registered with the DEQ. Possible releases from these tanks must be addressed in the contractor's Hazardous Materials Spill Plan or other approved spill response plan. WFF requires that contractors provide 110 percent capacity by volume with impermeable secondary containment for all ASTs brought onto the facility by the contractor, regardless of size.

 

AST or UST Guidelines

Some general AST and UST guidelines are listed below:

You can download a copy of the ICP from the 'Documents' tab on this webpage.

 

  1. Integrated Contingency Plan (ICP) - The ICP has been created for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). The purpose of the ICP is to describe measures implemented by NASA to prevent oil spills from occurring and to prepare NASA to respond in a safe, effective, and timely manner to mitigate the impacts of a discharge. The purpose also serves to minimize hazards to human health and the environment from any accidental release of oil or hazardous substance to the air, soil, surface water, or sanitary sewer system at WFF. Please note: If you see fuel spilling from the tank vent on a warm summer day or smell a strong petroleum odor, or see petroleum product or a sheen in the secondary containment of an AST, please call the WFF Fire Department at Extension 911.
  2. Tank Inspections - The FMB conducts routine weekly, monthly and annual inspections of all facility ASTs (including secondary containments) and USTs to ensure that they are in good condition and operating properly, and to prevent or contain releases. Inspection sheets are included in the ICP (Appendix K) and can be viewed under the ICP link located on the 'Documents' tab on this webpage.
  3. Labels - Each AST or UST must be labeled with the facility identification number, name of the petroleum product stored, maximum capacity in gallons, working capacity (90 percent of maximum quantity) , and the appropriate National Fire Prevention Association Diamond. The labels should be clearly visible from several hundred feet away and from at least two different sides.

 

Points of Contact

 

  1. Emergencies: Wallops Fire Department at extension 911 on a facility phone or 757-824-1333 on a cell phone.
  2. AST or UST removal or disposal procedures or any other AST or UST issues: harry.m.stein@nasa.gov, or marianne.f.simko@nasa.gov at extension 2127.