ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SERIES ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Agriculture & Natural Resources
EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AL 36849-5647

Farmers need not be concerned if their underground storage tank(s) is located on the farm and is used to store fuel for farm equipment, for heating oil to be used on the premises, and has a capacity of 1,100 gallons or less. However, if a tank is in excess of 1100 gallons, owners are subject to the regulations governing underground storage tanks.

Owners are required by law to register all of their underground storage tanks in excess of 1100 gallons with the Ground Water Division of ADEM. The Ground Water Division of ADEM has divided the state into 5 areas with a compliance officer assigned to each area (see attached list). Owners must register their tank(s) with the compliance officer in charge of the area in which their county is located.

There are two fees that must be paid. There is a registration fee of $15.00/tank/year and a fee that goes into a trust fund. The trust fund acts as an insurance. Should there be environmental damage from leakage, etc, from the tanks, the trust fund will be used for the clean-up. This fee is $100.00/tank/year. Since these regulations have been in existence since April 5, 1989, those just now registering their tanks will be subject to back fees. Additional information can be obtained from the compliance officer.

Anyone who does not register his/her underground storage tank(s) with a capacity in excess of 1,100 gallons will be in violation of a state law. Should an environmentally damaging accident occur with an unregistered tank(s), the owner will not have the availability of the trust fund to pay for clean up and may be subject to any penalties resulting from the violation of a state law.