California ICC UST Inspector Practice Exam

Which of the following defines a new underground storage tank?

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

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

3. An underground storage tank that was installed after 1987

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 is defined as one that is not categorized as an existing tank. The distinction lies in the timeline of installation and the classification of storage tanks for regulatory compliance with environmental standards. Understanding this definition is crucial because it affects the regulations and standards that new tanks must comply with compared to those that were installed previously. The other options focus on specific dates of installation, which can vary based on regulatory contexts, but these dates do not universally define what constitutes a "new" tank. The term “existing underground storage tank” refers to those tanks that were in place before specific regulatory measures were enacted, so identifying a tank simply as “not existing” cleanly separates new installations from those that have already been subject to compliance inspections and standards prior to that time. This distinction is fundamental for inspectors and regulators in assessing compliance with safety and environmental regulations.