(a) This part specifies the requirements that state programs must meet for approval by the Administrator under section 9004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and the procedures EPA will follow in approving, revising and withdrawing approval of state programs.

(b) State submissions for program approval must be in accordance with the procedures set out in this part.

(c) A state may apply for approval under this part at any time after the promulgation of release detection, prevention, and corrective action regulations under § 9003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

(d) Any state program approved by the Administrator under this part shall at all times be conducted in accordance with the requirements of this part.

(a) State program elements. The following substantive elements of a state program must be addressed in a state application for approval:

(1) Requirements for all existing and new underground storage tanks:

(i) New UST systems (design, construction, installation, and notification);

(ii) Upgrading of existing UST systems;

(iii) General operating requirements;

(iv) Release detection;

(v) Release reporting, investigation, and confirmation;

(vi) Out-of-service USTs and closure;

(vii) Release response and corrective action;

(viii) Financial responsibility for UST systems containing petroleum; and

(ix) Operator training.

(2) Provisions for adequate enforcement of compliance with the above program elements.

(b) Final approval. The state must demonstrate that its requirements under each state program element for existing and new UST systems are no less stringent than the corresponding federal requirements as set forth in subpart C of this part. The state must also demonstrate that it has a program that provides adequate enforcement of compliance with these requirements.

(c) States with programs approved under this part are authorized to administer the state program in lieu of the federal program and will have primary enforcement responsibility with respect to the requirements of the approved program. EPA retains authority to take enforcement action in approved states as necessary and will notify the designated lead state agency of any such intended action.

(a) Scope. (1) The Administrator may approve either partial or complete state programs. A “partial” state program regulates either solely UST systems containing petroleum or solely UST systems containing hazardous substances. If a “partial” state program is approved, EPA will administer the remaining part of the program. A “complete” state program regulates both petroleum and hazardous substance tanks.

(2) EPA will administer the UST program in Indian country, except where Congress has clearly expressed an intention to grant a state authority to regulate petroleum and hazardous substance USTs in Indian country. In either case, this decision will not impair a state's ability to obtain program approval for petroleum or hazardous substances in non-Indian country in accordance with this part.

(3) Nothing in this subpart precludes a state from:

(i) Adopting or enforcing requirements that are more stringent or more extensive than those required under this part; or

(ii) Operating a program with a greater scope of coverage than that required under this part. Where an approved state program has a greater scope of coverage than required by federal law, the additional coverage is not part of the federally-approved program.

(b) Definitions. (1) The definitions in 40 CFR part 280 apply to this entire part except as described below.

(i) States may use the definitions associated with tank and piping secondary containment as defined in section 9003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

(ii) States may use the definitions associated with operator training as described in § 9010 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.

(2) For the purposes of this part the term “final approval” means the approval received by a state program that meets the requirements in § 281.11(b).