Menu Close

Preventing and Addressing Leaks and Spills (What Every Tank Owner/Operator/Tester/Installer Should Know)

Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau Home

Corrective Action Fund

The Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau, through state and federal law, requires owners and operators of above- and below-ground petroleum storage tanks to take steps to prevent releases of petroleum to the environment through:

  • Registration of tanks
  • Operator training
  • Certification of tank installers and junior installers
  • Design, construction, and installation requirements
  • Operating requirements
  • Release detection
  • Requirements for temporary and permanent tank closure
  • Financial responsibility
  • Responding to and cleaning up releases

The regulations governing owners and operators of petroleum storage tanks are located in 20.5.101 – 20.5.125 of the New Mexico Administrative Code.

Tank Registration

Owners and operators must register tanks with PSTB and notify PSTB whenever ownership changes by following the instructions and filling out forms below:

Petroleum Storage Tank Registration Form
Petroleum Storage Tank Registration Instructions
Change in Ownership Form

Complying with Requirements for Tank Systems and Testers

Owners and operators must have equipment checked to ensure it is working as intended to prevent releases of petroleum to the environment.

Owners and operators must also demonstrate that individuals who test spill and overfill prevention equipment, containment sumps, interstitial and sump sensors, automatic line leak detectors, cathodic protection systems, and who conduct precision tank and line tightness testing on any above ground or underground storage tank systems in New Mexico have the necessary training, testing equipment manufacturer’s certifications, and experience to perform that work.

Testers may submit this information using this form to the Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau prior to conducting any testing, or owners and operators must ensure qualifications are submitted for each test conducted. Whether or not a tester is on this list, it is the owner’s and operator’s responsibility to ensure that testers they use have the necessary training, testing equipment manufacturers’ certifications, and experience to perform the tests they are performing, and that they meet any calibration and maintenance requirements of the testing equipment manufacturer. The Bureau maintains a list of testers and their qualifications.

Owners, operators, and testers, send test reports to: PSTB.Compliance@env.nm.gov with a copy to your PSTB inspector (Find your inspector here.)

New storage tank system testing and reporting requirements went into effect on July 24, 2018. A qualified tester was required to perform the first test of your spill and overfill prevention equipment and interstitial monitoring containment sumps by July 24, 2021. Many types of testing must be done every year. Some must be done every three years.

This table should help you comply with the testing and reporting regulations.

Los nuevos requisitos de pruebas e informes del sistema de tanques de almacenamiento entraron en vigor el 24 de julio de 2018. Un probador cualificado debe realizar la primera prueba de su equipo de prevención de derrames y sobrellenado y sumideros de contención de monitoreo intersticial a más tardar hasta el 24 de julio de 2021. Muchos tipos de pruebas deben realizarse anualmente. Algunas deben realizarse cada tres años.

¿Cómo puedo cumplir con las Regulaciones de Pruebas e Informes de Sistemas de Tanques de Almacenamiento de Petróleo de Nuevo México en 20.5 NMAC?

Forms for required notifications and testing – please contact the inspector in your territory to submit:

These forms are also located on the NMED Forms page.

Tank Operation Forms

Please email Joe Godwin, Prevention and Inspection Program Manager, call him at 505-699-4006 to find out how to submit, or mail to the address on the form:

Please email Micaela Fierro of the Tank Fees and Certification section or call her at 505-570-7475 to find out how to submit, or mail to the address on the form or to PSTB.Inbox@env.nm.gov:

Please contact Joe Godwin, (505) 699-4006, to find out how to submit, or mail to the address on the form:

Certified Installers and Junior Installers

Under the laws and regulations of New Mexico, any individual who installs, replaces, repairs, or modifies above ground or underground storage tank systems in the state must be certified by the New Mexico Environment Department Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau to perform that work. Those certified as Junior Installers may install, replace, repair, or modify spill prevention equipment and overfill prevention equipment. . An individual who has been certified by NMED PSTB as an AST Junior Installer who is also licensed by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division as a journeyman pipe fitter, MM-4, or MM-98, may also repair and replace entirely above ground piping on ASTs.

This brochure outlines the requirements for tank installer and junior installer certification.
Este folleto describe los requisitos para la certificación de instalador de tanques y de instalador junior.

The Bureau maintains a list of Certified Tank Installers.

Find application forms to become a certified tank installer and junior installer on the NMED Forms page under Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau.

Operator Training

Operators of petroleum storage tanks are required by law to be trained (Operator Training Rules, Operator Training Brochure, Folleto de Capacitación para Operadores). If you wish to be a trainer, you must fill out this application and submit it during the months of January or October. Your training materials must be approved by NMED’s Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau. Operator Training Application and Matrix

Class A/B operator training approved by PSTB is available at:

Delivery prohibition

The Bureau maintains a list of facilities that are currently designated as ineligible for delivery, deposit, or acceptance of fuel here.

Report a Leak or Spill

Tank owners and operators: report a leak or spill from a petroleum storage tank within 24 hours here. This includes for suspected leaks and spills.

For emergencies during non-business hours, call 505-827-9329.
Please fill out this form using these instructions.

Contact us

Ph: 505-476-4397
Fax: 505-476-4374

Find a list of Bureau staff contacts here.

Send test reports to PSTB.Compliance@env.nm.gov.
Send all other correspondence to PSTB.Inbox@env.nm.gov.

2905 Rodeo Park Dr. East, Bldg 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Back to Top