California ICC UST Inspector Practice Exam

How is a new underground storage tank defined?

1. An underground storage tank that was installed after December 22, 1998

2. An underground storage tank that was installed after 1987

3. An underground storage tank that is not an existing underground storage

4. An underground storage tank that was installed after July 1, 2003

The correct answer is: An underground storage tank that is not an existing underground storage

A new underground storage tank (UST) is defined as one that is not classified as an existing UST. This definition is fundamental in regulatory discussions and compliance requirements because it helps differentiate between tanks that are already in use and those that are newly installed. The classification of USTs affects various aspects of oversight, including regulatory standards, inspection requirements, and safety protocols. For clarity, an existing UST refers to tanks that were already installed before specific regulatory cut-off dates, which helps ensure that operators and owners are aware of the distinctions in requirements based on the tank's installation date. The other options present specific dates, but they do not capture the concept of “new” in a regulatory context, as new tanks can be defined based on their status rather than a fixed installation date.