Environmental Programs public counter located on the 3rd floor of the Annex building in Alhambra is open to the public. In order to maintain facility capacity we have implemented an online appointment system. Masks are highly recommended at all times for all visitors and staff. Click here to schedule an in person appointment or call (626) 458-3517 for questions or assistance.

For Underground Storage Tanks questions or submissions, email us at ust@pw.lacounty.gov. You can also mail submissions to:

Los Angeles County Public Works
Environmental Programs Division
900 S. Fremont Ave
Alhambra, CA 91803


If you have any questions, contact the Environmental Programs Public Counter at (626) 458-3517, Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm.

New Construction/Modification/Addendum/UST Addition To UST Unified Program Permit


Modifications and/or addendums to the underground storage tank system may be made only if permitted by the DPW Environmental Programs Division. A modification is any change to an existing USTs primary and/or secondary containment, including piping, under dispenser containment, fill and/or piping sumps, overfill protection or how the UST system is monitored. In the case where the modification involves removing and replacing piping and/or dispensers, a closure report (with soil sampling results) will be required. An addendum refers to a change to less integral part of the UST system, such as a change of sensor, and minor changes to the approved plans.

To make changes to a UST system component, such as removing piping and or dispensers, generally the requirements for new tank installation apply except that vent and vacuum recovery piping are not required to be double walled, enhanced leak detection is not required, and the Unified Program Facility form, Certification of Financial Responsibility, and the Hazardous Substances Underground Storage Permit application fee and the pro-rated Annual Maintenance fee in most cases do not need to be submitted.

New Construction/Modification/Addendum/ UST Addition Forms

  • Complete New Construction Plan Clearance/Addendum (PDF, 24 KB) application form;
  • Submit all fees payable to the Los Angeles County Public Works (for HSUSP, pro-rated Annual Permit Maintenance Fee, and new construction plan clearance fees);
  • Complete Unified Program Forms BUSINESS OWNER/OPERATOR IDENTIFICATION, BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, FACILITY INFORMATION, TANK INFORMATION and MONITORING PLAN must be submitted electronically to the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) Business Portal;
  • Complete Certification of Financial Responsibility form;
  • Submit work plan to perform enhanced leak detection or other approved method;
  • Submit Response Plan;
  • Permits/clearance for installations must also be obtained from the Los Angeles County Fire Department or local city fire department, the DPW Building and Safety Division or local city building and safety equivalent, either the South Coast or Antelope Valley Air Quality Management Districts (AQMD), and other contractor health and safety permits.
  • Contractors installing underground storage tanks (USTs), which includes piping, sumps, and under dispenser containment, must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board and possess the Hazardous Substance Removal Certification (HAZ). When installing underground storage tanks, piping, sumps, under dispenser containment, contractors and/or their employees performing the work (if the contractor is not present on-site) must possess certification in California by the International Code Council (ICC) for UST Installation/Retrofitting and possess a current certification by the manufacturer of the equipment to be installed. When installing, modifying, or testing ancillary UST related equipment, such as monitoring equipment, sensors, spill buckets, drop tubes, spill or overfill prevention devices, contractors and/or their employees performing the work (if the contractor is not present on-site) must possess certification by ICC as a California UST Service Technician and possess current certification by the manufacturer of equipment to be installed, modified or tested.
Plans

At least 4 sets of plans need to be submitted. Submitted plans should include the following:
  • Site plan to scale depicting the tank(s) and fill and piping sumps, type of hazardous substance to be stored, piping layout (product/waste, vapor recovery (gasoline), tank vent, remote fill) and dispensers (if any), location of monitoring system panel, audible/visual alarms (if any), building structures, streets (and cross street), utilities, and north arrow;
  • A detailed parts list which includes the manufacturer name, model number, and third party approval of equipment to be installed. The parts list should include (but not be limited to):
    • Double-walled tank, size and product to be stored;
    • Spill buckets; drop tube; overfill protection device(s) - Phase I Enhanced Vapor Recovery equipment (see Air Resources Board Executive Orders)
    • Sumps (fill and piping);
    • Double-walled piping (product, vent, vapor recovery, remote fill, flex) and sizes; Penetration/bulkhead fittings/test boots;
    • Turbine (for pressurized systems);
    • Automatic Line Leak Detector (for pressurized systems);
    • Under dispenser containment (UDC);
    • Monitoring panel and alarm;
    • Monitoring sensors for tank interstitial, automatic tank gage and/or high level alarm (if any), fill and piping sump sensors, UDC sensors and vacuum sensors.
  • Detail drawing of each: All primary and secondary containment equipment which is designed to hold hazardous substances (tanks, sumps, penetration fittings, piping, UDC) must be labeled as being product tight.
  • Tank details should show the parts listed above at a minimum.
All construction must conform to the requirements of the California Health & Safety Code (HSC) and California Code of Regulations (CCR) as well as local fire and building and safety codes.

When construction is completed

The CERTIFICATION OF INSTALLATION / MODIFICATION form must be submitted electronically to the CERS Business Portal before the UST system is put into service.

Tank tightness testing, line test results, results of enhanced leak detection or other approved method to satisfy requirements of the HSC/CCR, secondary containment testing results, monitoring system certification and line leak detector certification, must be submitted directly to DPW EPD before the UST system is put into service.
Managed by the Los Angeles County Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
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