(a) General requirements.   (1) Owners and operators of new and existing underground storage tank (UST) systems shall provide a method, or combination of methods, of release detection which shall be:     (A) capable of detecting a release from any portion of the UST system which contains regulated substances including the tanks, piping, and other underground ancillary equipment;     (B) installed, calibrated, operated, maintained, utilized, and interpreted (as applicable) in accordance with the manufacturer's and/or methodology provider's specifications and instructions consistent with the other requirements of this section, and by personnel possessing the necessary experience, training, and competence to accomplish such requirements; and     (C) capable of meeting the particular performance requirements of such method (or methods) as specifically prescribed in this section, based on the performance claims by the equipment manufacturer or methodology provider/vendor, as verified by third-party evaluation conducted by a qualified independent testing organization, using applicable United States Environmental Protection Agency protocol, provided that the following additional requirements shall also be met.       (i) Any performance claims, together with their bases or methods of determination including the summary portion of the independent third-party evaluation, shall be obtained by the owner and/or operator from the equipment manufacturer, methodology provider, or installer and shall be in writing.       (ii) When any of the following release detection methods are used on or after December 22, 1990 (except for methods permanently installed and in operation prior to that date), such method shall be capable of detecting the particular release rate or quantity specified for that method such that the probability of detection shall be at least 95% and the probability of false alarm shall be no greater than 5.0%:         (I) tank tightness testing, as prescribed in subsection (d)(1)(A) of this section;         (II) automatic tank gauging, as prescribed in subsection (d)(4) of this section;         (III) automatic line leak detectors for piping, as prescribed in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i) of this section;         (IV) piping tightness testing, as prescribed in subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of this section;         (V) electronic leak monitoring systems for piping, as prescribed in subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii)(III) of this section; and         (VI) statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), as prescribed in subsection (d)(9) of this section.   (2) When a release detection method operated in accordance with the particular performance standards for that method indicates that a release either has or may have occurred, the owners and operators shall comply with the applicable release reporting, investigation, and corrective action requirements in Subchapter D of this chapter (relating to Release Reporting and Corrective Action).   (3) Owners and operators of all UST systems shall comply with the release detection requirements of this section in accordance with the applicable schedules in §334.44 of this title (relating to Implementation Schedules).   (4) As prescribed in §334.47(a)(2) of this title (relating to Technical Standards for Existing Underground Storage Tank Systems), any existing UST system that cannot be equipped or monitored with a method of release detection that meets the requirements of this section shall be permanently removed from service in accordance with the applicable procedures in §334.55 of this title (relating to Permanent Removal from Service) no later than 60 days after the implementation date for release detection as prescribed by the applicable schedules in §334.44 of this title.   (5) Any owner or operator who plans to install a release detection method for a UST system shall comply with the applicable construction notification requirements in §334.6 of this title (relating to Construction Notification for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems), and upon completion of the installation of such method shall also comply with the applicable registration and certification requirements of §334.7 of this title (relating to Registration for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems) and §334.8 of this title (relating to Certification for Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and UST Systems).   (6) Any equipment installed or used for conducting release detection for a UST system shall be listed, approved, designed, and operated in accordance with standards developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory (e.g., UL) for such installation or use, as specified in §334.42(d) of this title (relating to General Standards).   (7) For a UST system to be placed temporarily out-of-service, the owner or operator must comply with the requirements of §334.54(c) of this title (relating to Temporary Removal from Service). (b) Release detection requirements for all UST systems. Owners and operators of all UST systems shall ensure that release detection equipment or procedures are provided in accordance with the following requirements.   (1) Release detection requirements for tanks.     (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph and in subsection (d)(9) of this section, all tanks shall be monitored in a manner which will detect a release at a frequency of at least once every month (not to exceed 35 days between each monitoring) by using one or more of the release detection methods described in subsection (d)(4) - (10) of this section).     (B) A combination of tank tightness testing and inventory control in accordance with subsection (d)(1) of this section may be used as an acceptable release detection method for tanks only until December 22, 1998, and the required frequency of the tank tightness test shall be based on the following criteria.       (i) A tank tightness test shall be conducted at least once each year for any tank in an existing UST system which is not being operated in violation of the upgrading or replacement schedule in §334.44(b) of this title, but has not yet been either:         (I) replaced with a UST system meeting the applicable technical and installation standards in §334.45 of this title (relating to Technical Standards for New Underground Storage Tank Systems) and §334.46 of this title (relating to Installation Standards for New Underground Storage Tank Systems); or         (II) retrofitted or equipped in accordance with the minimum upgrading requirements applicable to existing UST systems in §334.47 of this title.       (ii) A tank tightness test shall be conducted at least once every five years for any tank in a UST system which has been either:         (I) installed in accordance with the applicable technical standards for new UST systems in §334.45 and §334.46 of this title; or         (II) retrofitted or equipped in accordance with the minimum upgrading requirements applicable to existing UST systems in §334.47 of this title.     (C) The manual tank gauging method of release detection, as prescribed in subsection (d)(2) of this section, may be used as the sole release detection system only for a petroleum substance tank with a nominal capacity of 1,000 gallons or less. The monthly tank gauging method of release detection, as prescribed in subsection (d)(3) of this section, may be used as the sole release detection system only for emergency generator tanks.     (D) In addition to the requirements in subparagraphs (A) - (C) of this paragraph, any tank in a hazardous substance UST system shall also be equipped with a secondary containment system and related release detection equipment, as prescribed in subsection (c) of this section.   (2) Release detection for piping. Piping in a UST system shall be monitored in a manner which will detect a release from any portion of the piping system, in accordance with the following requirements.     (A) Requirements for pressurized piping. UST system piping that conveys regulated substances under pressure shall be in compliance with the following requirements.       (i) Each separate pressurized line (except for lines utilized in airport hydrant systems) shall be equipped with an automatic line leak detector meeting the following requirements.         (I) The line leak detector shall be capable of detecting any release from the piping system of three gallons per hour when the piping pressure is at ten pounds per square inch.         (II) The line leak detector shall be capable of alerting the UST system operator of any release within one hour of occurrence either by shutting off the flow of regulated substances, or by substantially restricting the flow of regulated substances.         (III) The line leak detector shall be tested at least once per year for performance and operational reliability and shall be properly calibrated and maintained, in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and recommended procedures.       (ii) In addition to the required line leak detector prescribed in clause (i) of this subparagraph, each pressurized line shall also be tested or monitored for releases in accordance with at least one of the following methods.         (I) The piping may be tested at least once per year by means of a piping tightness test conducted in accordance with a code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory. Any such piping tightness test shall be capable of detecting any release from the piping system of 0.1 gallons per hour when the piping pressure is at 150% of normal operating pressure.         (II) Except as provided in subsection (d)(9) of this section, the piping may be monitored for releases at least once every month (not to exceed 35 days between each monitoring) by using one or more of the release detection methods prescribed in subsection (d)(5) - (10) of this section.         (III) The piping may be monitored for releases at least once every month (not to exceed 35 days between each monitoring) by means of an electronic leak monitoring system capable of detecting any release from the piping system of 0.2 gallons per hour at normal operating pressure.     (B) Requirements for suction piping and gravity flow piping.       (i) Except as provided in clause (ii) of this subparagraph, each separate line in a UST piping system that conveys regulated substances either under suction or by gravity flow shall meet at least one of the following requirements.         (I) Each separate line may be tested at least once every three years by means of a positive or negative pressure tightness test applicable to underground product piping and conducted in accordance with a code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory. Any such piping test shall be capable of detecting any release from the piping system of 0.1 gallons per hour.         (II) Each line may be monitored for releases at least once every month (not to exceed 35 days between each monitoring) by using one or more of the release detection methods prescribed in subsection (d)(5) - (10) of this section.       (ii) No release detection methods are required to be installed or applied for any piping system that conveys regulated substances under suction when such suction piping system is designed and constructed in accordance with the following standards:         (I) the below-grade piping operates at less than atmospheric pressure;         (II) the below-grade piping is sloped so that all the contents of the pipe will drain back into the storage tank if the suction is released;         (III) only one check valve is included in each suction line;         (IV) the check valve is located aboveground, directly below and as close as practical to the suction pump; and         (V) verification that the requirements under subclauses (I) - (IV) of this clause have been met can be provided in the form of:           (-a-) signed as-built drawings or plans provided by the installer or by a professional engineer who is duly licensed to practice in Texas; or           (-b-) signed written documentation provided by a UST contractor who is properly registered with the agency, by a UST installer who is properly licensed with the agency, or by a professional engineer who is duly licensed to practice in Texas.     (C) Monitoring secondary containment. In addition to the requirements in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, all piping in a hazardous substance UST system shall also be equipped with a secondary containment system and related release detection equipment, as prescribed in subsection (c) of this section. (c) Additional release detection requirements for hazardous substance UST systems. In addition to the release detection requirements for all UST systems prescribed in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, owners and operators of all hazardous substance UST systems shall also assure compliance with the following additional requirements.   (1) All new hazardous substance UST systems shall be in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection for the entire operational life of the system.   (2) All existing hazardous substance UST systems shall be brought into compliance with the requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection no later than December 22, 1998.   (3) Secondary containment and monitoring. Cont'd...