(a) No person shall close an underground storage tank in place unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of this Division that to remove the underground storage tank would cause excessive structural damage to a structure or structures that are currently inhabitable, or would cause unreasonable risk to life, health, or property.
(1) A Registered Professional Engineer shall certify that the underground storage tank meets the above minimum requirements.
(b) Owners or operators of underground storage tanks subject to permanent closure in place shall comply with all applicable provisions of Code of Regulations §§ 2672 et seq., and with the following requirements:
(1) All liquids, solids or sludges shall be removed and handled as hazardous waste or recyclable materials in accordance with Health and Safety Code §§ 25100 et seq. and §§ 25280 et seq.
(2) If the underground storage tank contained a hazardous material or hazardous waste that could produce flammable vapors at standard temperature and pressure, it shall be inerted to levels that shall preclude explosion or to lower levels as may be required by the Division.
(3) All piping associated with the underground storage tank shall be removed and disposed of, unless removal might damage structures or other pipes that are being used and that are contained in a common trench, in which case the piping to be closed shall be emptied of all contents and capped.
(4) The underground storage tank, except for piping that is closed in accordance with Subdivision (3) above, shall be completely filled with an inert solid.
(Ord. 3846, passed - -2002)