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Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024

Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee Law

Health and Safety Code

Division 20. Miscellaneous Health and Safety Provisions
Chapter 6.7. Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances

Section 25281.5


25281.5. "Pipe" defined; exclusions. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 25281, for purposes of this chapter, "pipe" means all parts of a pipeline, or system of pipelines, used in connection with the storage of hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, valves and other appurtenances connected to the pipe, pumping units, fabricated assemblies associated with pumping units, and metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein, but does not include any of the following:

(1) An interstate pipeline subject to Part 195 (commencing with Section 195.0) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Subtitle B of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) An intrastate pipeline subject to the Elder California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981 (Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 51010) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code).

(3) Unburied delivery hoses, vapor recovery hoses, and nozzles that are subject to unobstructed visual inspection for leakage.

(4) Vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are designed to prevent, and do not hold, standing fluid in the pipes or lines.

(b) In addition to the exclusions specified in subdivision (y) of Section 25281, "underground storage tank" does not include any of the following:

(1) Vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are designed to prevent, and do not hold, standing fluid in the pipes or lines.

(2) Unburied fuel delivery piping at marinas if the owner or operator conducts daily visual inspections of the piping and maintains a log of inspection results for review by the local agency. The exclusion provided by this paragraph does not apply if the board adopts regulations pursuant to Section 25299.3 that address the design, construction, upgrade, and monitoring of unburied fuel delivery piping at marinas.

(3) Unburied fuel piping connected to an emergency tank system, if the owner or operator conducts a visual inspection of the piping each time the tank system is operated, but no less than monthly, and maintains a log of inspection results for review by the local agency. The exclusion provided by this paragraph does not apply if the board adopts regulations pursuant to Section 25299.3 that address the design, construction, upgrade, and monitoring of unburied fuel supply and return piping connected to emergency tank systems.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, "emergency tank system" means an underground storage tank system that stores diesel fuel or kerosene solely for use by one or more of the following stationary emergency devices:

(1) An emergency generator that provides power supply in the event of a commercial power failure or disruption, a legally required standby system, or an optional standby system, as defined in Articles 700, 701, and 702 of the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

(2) A fire suppression system used to extinguish, control, or prevent spreading of fires, as defined in the California Fire Code and in NFPA 17A: Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems.

(3) A steam generation pressure tank, as defined in NFPA 85: Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code.