Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
MDEQ ⟩ Water ⟩ Groundwater Assessment and Remediation ⟩ Underground Storage Tanks ⟩ Operator Training

Operator Training

UST Compliance Managers and UST Operation Clerks

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Mississippi Underground Storage Tank Regulations (11 Miss. Admin. Code, Pt. 5, Ch. 2 effective August 25, 2011), require that every UST facility shall have a designated and trained UST Compliance Manager and that every manned UST facility shall have a designated and trained UST Operations Clerk on duty at any time petroleum fuel is dispensed.  These regulations were enacted to prevent releases and ensure effective responses occur. All facilities must have trained UST Compliance Managers and UST Operation Clerks.

MDEQ Sponsored Workshops

The upcoming UST Compliance Workshops dates are listed below.  The workshop will be held at the Department’s offices in Jackson, Mississippi, located at 515 East Amite Street.  The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m.  We request participants arrive by 8:45 a.m. for registration purposes.  No pre-registration is required.

  • November 7, 2024
  • January 9, 2025
  • March 6, 2025
  • May 8, 2025
  • July 10, 2025
  • September 4, 2025
  • November 6, 2025

Please note:  The person attending the workshop must be in a responsible management position.

Training Options for UST Compliance Managers

UST Compliance Managers must successfully complete any one of the MDEQ approved training programs.  Approved training includes:

Training Options for UST Operations Clerks

UST Operations Clerks (Class C Operator) must receive training by the designated UST Compliance Manager or a MDEQ approved training course.  The training must provide instruction to properly respond to emergencies involving the operation of the UST system that pose an immediate danger or threat to the public or the environment and properly respond to alarms caused by spills, leaks, or releases from a UST system.

Training Completion

Each facility must have at least one trained UST Compliance Manager.  The UST Compliance Manager is not required to be onsite, but the designated Manager should be the person responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility.

Each manned facility must have at least one trained UST Operations Clerk onsite whenever the UST system is operating.

For new facilities and new UST Compliance Managers and Operation Clerks:

  • Any new designated UST Compliance Manager must be trained within 30 days of assuming UST system compliance responsibilities.
  • Any new UST Operations Clerk must be trained before assuming UST clerk responsibilities such as operation of the dispensers.
Documentation
Compliance Manager (Class A./B Operator) RegistrationClerk (Class C) Log (must be maintained at the UST facility)Emergency Contact ListEmergency Response ProceduresUST Compliance Manager Presentation
Retraining

MDEQ does not require retraining or continuing education for UST Compliance Managers or UST Operation Clerks unless a facility does not meet significant operational compliance requirements.*  If a facility does not meet significant operational requirements, the tank owner will be required to ensure the UST Compliance Manager is retrained within six months or a new UST Compliance Manager must be selected for the facility.

*NOTE:  Significant Operational Compliance has been defined by EPA to include the following:

  • Release detection method is present
  • Release detection system is operating properly (can detect a release)
  • Release detection method meets performance standards
  • MDEQ has been notified of a suspected release
  • Eight out of 12 months of release detection records are available for the most recent 12 months
  • Spill prevention is present and functional
  • Overfill prevention device is present and operational
  • Repaired tanks and piping were tightness tested within 30 days of repair completion
  • Corrosion protection systems were tested within six months of repair
  • Corrosion protection system is properly operated and maintained
  • Impressed current systems are inspected every 60 days
  • All necessary components are equipped with corrosion protection
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