Owners and operators must comply with the walkthrough inspection requirements of this section to ensure UST systems are properly operated and maintained.

(1) Inspections. Operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections must be performed in accordance with the following requirements or a code of practice that provides for comparable inspections. The following code of practice may be used to meet this requirement: Petroleum Equipment Institute, Recommended Practice 900, "Recommended Practices for the Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems."

(a) Thirty-day inspections. Spill prevention equipment and release detection equipment must be inspected at least every thirty days. However, for UST systems receiving deliveries of regulated substances less frequently than every thirty days, spill prevention equipment only needs to be inspected prior to each delivery.

(i) Spill prevention equipment. Inspections of spill prevention equipment must include:

(A) Visually checking the spill prevention equipment for damage;

(B) Removing any liquid or debris from the spill prevention equipment;

(C) Checking for and removing obstructions in the fill pipe;

(D) Checking the fill cap to make sure it is securely on the fill pipe; and

(E) For double-walled spill prevention equipment with interstitial monitoring, checking for a leak in the interstitial area.

(ii) Release detection equipment. Inspections of release detection equipment must include:

(A) Checking to make sure the release detection equipment is operating with no alarms or other unusual operating conditions present; and

(B) Ensuring records of release detection testing are reviewed and current and the results are conclusive.

(b) Annual inspections. Containment sumps and hand-held release detection equipment must be inspected at least annually.

(i) Containment sumps. Inspections of containment sumps must include:

(A) Visually checking the containment sumps for damage, leaks to the containment area, or releases to the environment;

(B) Removing any liquid or debris from the containment sumps; and

(C) For double-walled containment sumps with interstitial monitoring, checking for a leak in the interstitial area; and

(ii) Hand-held release detection equipment. Inspections of hand-held release detection equipment must confirm the operability and serviceability of devices such as tank gauge sticks and groundwater bailers.

(c) Additional inspections for airport hydrant systems. For airport hydrant systems, hydrant pits and hydrant piping vaults must also be inspected at least every thirty days, if confined spaced entry is not required under 29 C.F.R. Part 1910 according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or at least annually if confined spaced entry is required.

(i) Hydrant pits. Inspections of hydrant pits must include:

(A) Visually checking for any damage;

(B) Removing any liquid or debris; and

(C) Checking for any leaks.

(ii) Hydrant piping vaults. Inspections of hydrant piping vaults must include checking for any hydrant piping leaks.

(2) Repairs. Any UST system component that is not operating properly must be repaired in accordance with WAC 173-360A-0490 or replaced in accordance with WAC 173-360A-0300.

(3) Documentation. Operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections must be documented in a checklist provided by the department or the code of practice used to perform the inspection. The following information must be included in the checklist:

(a) A list of each UST system component inspected;

(b) For each component inspected, whether the component needed action taken to correct an issue; and

(c) For each component needing action taken to correct an issue, a description of the actions taken.

(4) Recordkeeping. Records of operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections must be maintained for at least three years. If spill prevention equipment is checked less frequently than every thirty days due to infrequent deliveries, delivery records must also be maintained in accordance with this requirement.

(5) Compliance dates. The operation and maintenance walkthrough inspections required in this section must begin by the following dates:

(a) For UST systems installed after October 1, 2018, upon installation; and

(b) For UST systems installed on or before October 1, 2018, by October 1, 2019.