Petroleum Storage Tanks

All Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) are required to be tested on a regular basis.  The regulations vary from facility to facility and Golars can provide comprehensive testing which include the following:

Line Tightness and Leak Detector

Line tightness and leak detector tests are required to be performed every year. There are two types of Leak Detectors.

Automatic Line Leak Detector (ALLD)

ALLD is an electronic/mechanical device designed to detect a catastrophic leak from pressurized piping. When a leak is detected, automatic LLDs must shut off the product flow, restrict the product flow, or trigger an audible or visual alarm

Mechanical Line Leak Detectors (MLLDs)

MLLDs are installed on submersible turbine pump (STP) head and has no wiring connections. The pump must start against a closed valve to allow pressure to build in the line sufficiently to allow the line leak detector to open and flow. If pressure does not build in the line properly (due to leaking product), then the mechanical line leak detector trips and restricts the pump flow Line Tightness Testing USTs with pressurized piping with MLLD installed must conduct the test at least annually USTs with non-safe – suction with foot valve/in-line check valve must conduct a line tightness test every three years (American Suction) If you have safe suction piping with a check valve immediately below the dispensing unit, no tightness testing is required (European Suction)

Interstitial Monitoring

Interstitial monitoring is a method of leak detection to check for the presence of liquid between the two walls of double walled tank or piping systems.

Tank Tightness

Tank tightness testing (also known as precision testing or integrity testing) is an analytical method that determines if a tank leaks in quantities at least as small as 0.1 gallons per hour (gph).

Generally, technicians come on-site to conduct this test with mobile equipment, although some automatic tank gauges have been certified to perform tightness tests.

Cathodic Protection

Cathodic Protection (CP) which is also known as corrosion protection applies to steel tank systems and steel piping. Without cathodic protection, underground metal tank/pipe systems will corrode (create small holes) and may allow the product to leak into the environment. Also, the UST components made from metal that are in contact with the ground (and routinely contain regulated substances) must have corrosion protection.

One way to protect underground storage tank system components from corrosion is to make them with non-metallic/non-corrodible materials such as USTs that are made of clad steel/jacketed steel/fiberglass reinforced plastic.

Tank Internal Lining

Internal Lining is a thick layer of non-corrodible material lined inside the tank for corrosion protection  and must have passed an internal lining inspection within 10 years of installation of the internal lining and every five years after that to make sure that the lining is sound.

Automatic Tank Gauge

An automatic tank gauge (ATG) system consists of a probe permanently installed in a tank and wired to a monitor to provide information on product level and temperature. ATG system automatically calculates the changes in product volume that can indicate a leaking tank. It also prints out the results of the test, usually “pass” or “fail”.

Owners/Operators are required to inspect and test the release detection system every year in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements. At a minimum, test the alarm, battery back-up, and verify the system configuration.

For probes and sensors, you must inspect for residual build-up, ensure floats move freely, ensure the shaft is not damaged, ensure accessible cables are free of kinks and breaks, and test alarm operability and communication with controller.

Spill Prevention Equipment

Spill Prevention devices are used at fill pipes to prevent small drips/spills from entering the environment. The most common spill prevention device is a spill bucket.

Spill Bucket/Catchment Basin is a liquid tight container that surrounds the fill pipes to prevent small drips/spills from delivery hose that may occur during a delivery. Any tank filled with 25 gallons or more at one time must have spill prevention.

Overfill Protection

Overfill protection are devices that either shut off product flow, restrict product flow or alert the delivery operator with an alarm when the tank is close to being full. These devices are installed inside the tank and activate if the product in the UST reaches a certain level in the tank

The three most common types of overfill protection devices are automatic shutoff devices,  overfill alarms, and Ball float valves/Float vent valve.  Ball float valves cannot be installed or replaced for use as overfill protection after September 1, 2017.

Containment Sumps

Containment sumps have sides and a bottom, are designed to be liquid tight, and may have a special cover designed to keep out water.

Submersible Turbine Sumps (STP) are designed to provide access to the turbine area above the tank. The turbine area may house the submersible turbine pump head, piping, line leak detectors, interstitial monitoring devices, wiring, and other equipment.

Under-Dispenser Containment Sumps (UDCs) are usually made of fiberglass, steel/HDPE (plastic). Dispenser sumps are designed to provide access to piping, flex connectors, shear valves, and other equipment located beneath the dispenser. They are found directly under dispensers and are designed to contain any leaks from the dispenser piping.

Golars offers Financial Responsibility/Pollution Liability Coverage for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs), customized for our client’s needs.

An owner or operator of 1 to 100 underground storage tanks (UST) must provide proof of financial responsibility.  Financial responsibility is the demonstrated capability to pay for remediating potential damage to the environment or compensating third parties for the costs of damages.

GolarsTank provides the best and most cost-effective financial responsibility coverage in the market. The policy was specifically designed for GolarsTank clients by focusing on increasing client’s eligibility when there is a release.

Golars offers operator training to all our clients.  We offer the following training services:

• Operator A

GA Class A operator is an owner or legal designee with primary responsibility to operate and maintain their UST system. As an UST owner or designated facility holder, it is your legal responsibility to comply with all federal and state requirements for proper UST management and cleanup.

• Operator B

GClass B operators are individuals who implement day-to-day aspects of operating, maintaining and record keeping for underground storage tanks (USTs) at one (1) or more facilities. The Class B Operator will monitor and maintain the UST system.

• Operator C

GThe UST system day to day responsibilities involves emergency response procedures, compliance reporting and record keeping.

Class C operators’ responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Procedures for spill and overfill protection during delivery of a regulated substance
• Operation and location of emergency shut-off systems and UST system circuit breakers
• Appropriate responses and documentation to all alarms
• General knowledge of reporting requirements of leaks, spills, and releases
• All site-specific emergency response and contingency plans (including situations posing an immediate danger or threat to the public or to the environment that requires immediate action)
• The names and contact information of emergency personnel General knowledge of corrosion protection and release detection, specific to your facility’s UST system
• Appropriate responses and documents of reports from the public of damaged equipment or unusual operating conditions

We just don’t give you software, we do all the paperwork for you too.

Golars uses State of Art compliance software built on Salesforce Platform to manage your compliance. You just give us site information, we will do all the paperwork for you.

Why is this important?

Regulations are cumbersome, paperwork is burdensome and often changes.  As property owner/operator, we want to make sure you have time to do things that are important to you.

Most of our clients prefer us to complete all paperwork and we implemented this throughout the company.  Especially, this is very useful for clients that have several facilities.

Dealing with Federal, State and local agencies is very hard, they have their own way of doing things.  Our experienced staff works with several agencies on a regular basis and we know what they look for and we provide the right information.

Effectively working with regulators is important for a regulated site.

Golars performs site inspections on a regular basis and can customize inspections based on project requirement.  Most site inspections are performed monthly.

Monthly inspections generally cover the following, customized to each site:

• Spill prevention equipment
• Fill pipes
• Interstitial monitoring
• Release detection equipment
• Owner/operator can monitor their release detection systems remotely
• Sire records

The inspection records are kept for at least one year.

It is important for you to have access to your facility records 24/7, we made that happen.  It is also important to know your fuel levels and when there is a leak in tanks.

Both via web at www.Golarstank.com and GolarsTank App (Apple Store/Google Store) you can check your site documents, fuel levels, checks tank status, check alarms right from the comfort of your phone.  Our software provides live site data by connecting to your tank monitor.

Golars is market leader in insurance recovery, we are in fact the best in the industry.

Digging up the details of historical insurance coverage is a critical first step in minimizing the company’s direct exposure and securing valuable coverage that may be far more than just a thing of the past.  Companies may be able to seek recovery from their historic insurance policies to help provide defense and indemnity coverage for claims they face.  These policies can be a significant contingent asset, but, if an appreciable amount of time has passed, a policyholder may lack sufficient information about the policies to make a valid claim.

Our experts conduct insurance archaeology research to identify and locate the policies or evidence of those policies.  Our approach begins with the most cost-effective tasks and, as necessary, proceeds to include additional effort.  Information sources include other policies, accounting and financial records, various archives, and employees. Our efforts often can locate policies or other evidence of coverage, which can place a policyholder in a stronger position to make use of the insurance asset.

Many companies and organizations face mass tort and complex liabilities that significantly affect their financial outlook.   Allegations surrounding these types of liabilities can span decades and include “long-tail” exposures.

Golars is a trusted adviser to help you reduce environmental risk and achieve your business goals

Potential environmental problems on collateral property represent one of a commercial lender’s largest risk exposures. The discovery of previously unknown contamination can cause a property’s value to plummet, while simultaneously entailing remediation costs far in excess of any remaining value derived from the property. These costs can quickly become the lender’s problem when the borrower defaults on the loan and the lender takes title to the property.

Golars Capital, LLC is a sophisticated lender with the ability to “box in” the potential environmental risks and close deals that other lenders would be unwilling to touch.

Golars Capital, LLC provides below-market low-interest loans of up to $100,000 to conduct preliminary environmental site assessments and up to $1.5 million for the cleanup or removal of hazardous substance or petroleum site where redevelopment likely to have a beneficial impact on the property values, economic viability and quality of life of a community.  Eligible borrowers include all potential responsible parties.

In some states, there are grants available for investigation and remediation of contaminated properties.  Some grants are specific to property types and some are brownfield grants.

• Risk-Based Corrective Action, Mitigation & Closure
• Contaminated Facility Closure and Decontamination
• Soil Management Plan Development and Oversight
• Waste Characterization, Profiling and Disposal
• NFA letters, Comfort letters, Environmental
• Restrictive Covenants (ERCs)