Any storage facility in existence as of July 7, 1983, or any storage facility for which a building permit was issued prior to July 7, 1983, which does not meet the standards of Section 17.12.020 may be permitted pursuant to this title as long as it is providing suitable storage for hazardous materials as determined by the fire chief. Underground storage tanks installed prior to January 1, 1984, must also meet the provisions of Section 17.10.120. Suitable storage for hazardous materials and liquids in storage facilities located aboveground shall include secondary containment which meets the requirements provided in Section 17.12.020(c). In addition, storage facilities which contain hazardous materials which are liquids or solids at standard temperature and pressure (STP) must be monitored in accordance with a plan approved by the fire chief as set forth herein:
(a) A monitoring plan for each such storage facility containing hazardous materials which are liquids or solids at STP, shall be submitted to city as part of the hazardous materials management plan.
(b) Monitoring under such plan shall include visual inspection of the primary containment wherever practical; however, if the visual inspection is not practical, an alternative method of monitoring each storage facility on a semiannual or more frequent basis may be approved by city. Monitoring for underground storage tanks shall also be in accordance with Chapter 17.10.
(c) The fire chief may require that an independent expert third party submit all testing data and certify that the monitoring system is operable and meets the monitoring plan.
(d) Such monitoring devices and methods as approved by city shall be installed and operating within six months of the issuance of a provisional permit in accordance with Section 17.32.050 and Section 17.56.010(b)(1). The fire chief may grant an extension of this compliance date; however, such extension shall not exceed one additional year. The full-term permit may be issued when compliance with this subsection has been achieved.
(e) The continued use of, and permit approval for, existing storage facilities is subject to review and modification or termination by city whenever there has been any unauthorized discharge or when the monitoring plan has not been followed or implemented. The storage facility shall also be reviewed by the fire chief each time the permit is renewed. In determining whether continued storage in such storage facility is suitable, the fire chief shall consider the age of the storage facility, the methods of containment, the methods of monitoring, the effectiveness of monitoring, the feasibility of the required retrofit, the concentration of the hazardous materials contained, the severity of potential unauthorized discharge, and the suitability of other long-term preventive measures which meet the intent of this title.
(f) Existing storage facilities which are not approved in accordance with this section must be upgraded to comply with this title or be closed in accordance with Section 17.12.040 within one year of a decision not to issue a full-term permit. An extension of time for compliance with this subsection, not to exceed one additional year, may be granted by the fire chief.
(Ord. 4002 § 1 (part), 1990: Ord. 3496 §§ 7, 8, 1993: Ord. 3435 § 1 (part), 1983)