To ensure you’re receiving the most up-to-date and accurate information, please choose the correct agency from the homepage. The DHEC website is no longer being updated and will be permanently unavailable Dec. 31, 2024.
New Owners
**If you are only leasing the tanks and do not actually own them, please see the Leasee section below. **
- Fill out a Transfer of Ownership form. This form must include the previous owner's signature as well as a notary signature. Send to the Division immediately. The tank owner name must match the name that will be used to provide financial responsibility.
- If you are unable to obtain the previous owner's signature, provide a Bill of Sale, Deed showing ownership of the USTs, or Legal document showing ownership (power of attorney) of the USTs.
- Visit the Financial Responsibility (FR) page to familiarize yourself with the requirements. Once the transfer documents are received, you will receive a letter requesting that you provide an acceptable FR mechanism within 15 days.
- Any past due fees must be paid in order to receive a registration certificate, which is needed to receive fuel deliveries.
- Every facility must have at least one individual trained as a Class A/B operator. Once the transfer documents are received, you will receive a letter requesting that you provide proof of a trained A/B operator within 30 days.
- If you still have contact with the previous owner, obtain any available compliance records (monthly monitoring records, previous testing records, current registration certificate, etc.).
- If you do not have any previous monitoring/testing records, perform tightness testing on the tanks, lines, and leak detectors (if present). Then begin monthly monitoring of tanks and lines using a valid release detection method. (See Guidance Documents for more information on release detection.)
- If the system is protected by a cathodic protection system, have that system tested as well. You can find a list of testing vendors here.
Potential Buyer
**If you are only leasing the tanks and do not actually own them, please see the Leasee section below. **
- If the tank system is out of use, contact the Division to make sure that the tanks will be allowed to be placed back into service.
- Contact the Division to determine if there are any past due tank fees that are owed on the facility. They will become your responsibility once you purchase the facility.
- Take a Transfer of Ownership (pdf) form with you to the closing so that you may obtain the previous owner's signature on the form.
- Request that all previous tank records be provided to you at the time of closing. These should include all monthly monitoring records, previous testing records, previous repair records, and the current registration certificate.
Leasee
- Tank owner transfers only occur when the tanks themselves have actually been sold. If you purchased the business but are only leasing the tanks, DO NOT fill out a Transfer of Ownership form.
- Mail and other forms of communication from the Division will be sent to the tank owner.
- If you would like to notify us that you are now the leasee of the tanks, fax or email us your contact information.
Banks (Foreclosure/Lender Liability):
- Forward foreclosure documents or send in a Transfer of Ownership form. The tanks will be under Lender Liability of the bank
- If the tanks are to be operated:
- Provide financial responsibility
- Pay any past due tank fees
- Maintain monthly monitoring and annual testing
- Maintain cathodic protection if applicable
- Operator training will need to be completed by the operator
- If tanks are not being operated
- Pay tank fees
- Maintain tanks in Extended-Out-Of-Use status
- Maintain cathodic protection if applicable
Realtors
- If you need information about a current UST property, you may request a letter of concern. Please allow at least 3 business days for the request.
- If you have a client that found a UST on their property:
- Determine if a tank is already registered with our Division, by using the UST Registry.
- If the tank is not registered, determine if the tank is a home heating oil tank.
- If the tank is not registered and should be, please fill out a UST No Longer in Use form (pdf) . Please be aware that back fees may be owed on the tank(s).
- Refer to Potential Buyer section to obtain further information prior to the sell.
Contact
Eric Cathcart, Manager, 803-898-0633