Department of Environmental Conservation

D E C banner

PBS Recordkeeping Guidance

Tank owners and operators must maintain records to be in compliance with DEC's Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) and USEPA's Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations.

Reference Documents to Download

DEC has prepared guidance documents on the three types of tank systems. Tank system owners and operators should determine which guidance applies to their facility to ensure that their records are complete, up to date, and kept for the correct time periods. The documents below address the records required for both tanks and piping.

  1. Subpart 2: UST systems that are regulated by both DEC and EPA - Recordkeeping Guidance (PDF) (117 KB)
    - a list of records that must be maintained for all underground tank systems (those tank systems that have 10 percent or more of the system volume underground) storing petroleum except for those that are subject to Subpart 3 (see below).
  2. Subpart 3: UST systems that are regulated only by DEC's PBS regulations - Recordkeeping Guidance (PDF) (106 KB)
    - a list of records that must be maintained for underground tank systems (those tank systems that have 10 percent or more of the system volume underground) storing petroleum that meet one of the following conditions:
    1. tank systems storing heating oil that is consumed on the premises where stored; or
    2. tank systems with a design capacity of 1,100 gallons or less that are used to store motor fuel for non-commercial purposes at a farm or residence; or
    3. tank systems that are part of an emergency generator system at nuclear power generation facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under 10 CFR Part 50; or
    4. tank systems consisting of a field-constructed tank.
  3. Subpart 4: AST systems that are regulated by DEC's PBS regulations - Recordkeeping Guidance (PDF) (98 KB)
    - a list of records that must be maintained for all aboveground tanks (those tank systems with at least 90 percent or more of the system volume aboveground) storing petroleum.

Record Location Requirements

Most records may be kept at a centralized location instead of at the facility; however, the last 30 days of leak detection records for tanks and piping must be maintained at the facility. If DEC conducts an announced inspection, then all records should be available for DEC review at the time of the inspection. If DEC conducts an unannounced inspection and the records are not available at the facility, then copies of the records must be made available to DEC within three business days.


  • PDF Help
  • For help with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-9543.
  • Contact for this Page
  • NYS DEC
    Environmental Remediation
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233-7020
    518-402-9543
    Send us an email
  • This Page Covers
  • Page applies to all NYS regions