California ICC UST Inspector Practice Exam

How long must cathodic protection maintenance records be kept?

1. 1 year

2. 5 years

3. 6.5 years

4. 7 years

The correct answer is: 6.5 years

The required duration for keeping cathodic protection maintenance records is 6.5 years. This timeframe aligns with the regulatory requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other relevant standards. Records must be maintained for this period to ensure compliance and facilitate inspections, as they provide a documented history of maintenance activities, assessments, and performance evaluations of the cathodic protection system. Keeping these records for 6.5 years allows for historical data review that can support ongoing maintenance planning, regulatory compliance, and potential investigations in the event of incidents related to underground storage tanks (USTs). Proper documentation is essential for proving the effectiveness of cathodic protection measures and for identifying any patterns or issues over time. In many cases, a shorter retention period may not suffice to capture the full lifecycle of the system and its maintenance needs, which is critical for ensuring environmental protection and public safety.