Hawaii UST Regulations 2026: DOH UST Section Guide
Island-focused compliance insights for consultants, utilities, defense contractors, and property owners managing tanks across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii Island.
Program Overview & Authority
The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) UST Section administers HAR 11-280.1 and the state implementation plan for 40 CFR 280. All active tanks must hold an operating permit, submit annual compliance forms, and keep designated Class A, B, and C operators current on DOH-approved training. Before launching capital projects, cross-check DOH registration lists with UST Map's Hawaii facility inventory to verify tank IDs, well setbacks, and historical releases.
Compliance Requirements & Inspections
DOH emphasizes corrosion protection records, monthly walkthrough logs, and spill bucket testing. Deliver inspection packets that include cathodic protection surveys, overfill device inspections, and leak detection reports for the previous 12 months. Installers must notify DOH 30 days before significant modifications, and decommissioning projects require closure assessment reports within 30 days of completing soil confirmation sampling.
Leak Detection in Volcanic & Coastal Settings
Basaltic soils, fractured lava, and high groundwater tables complicate containment. DOH encourages double-walled tanks with continuous interstitial monitoring, sump sensors tied into automatic tank gauges, and SCADA alerts routed to operators on neighboring islands. Facilities near sensitive wetlands or wellhead protection areas should add groundwater monitoring wells and document quarterly sampling to establish background trends for DOH reviewers and insurance adjusters.
Financial Responsibility & Cleanup Support
Most marketers must prove $1 million per occurrence and $1 million annual aggregate coverage, while large throughput terminals may need $2 million aggregate limits. Acceptable mechanisms include insurance, surety bonds, or fully funded trust accounts. Owners who demonstrate compliance qualify for reimbursements from the Environmental Response Revolving Fund or can partner with defense fuel facilities pursuing cooperative agreements under the Red Hill Consent Order.
Recent Regulatory Focus
DOH inspection summaries from 2024–2025 highlight recurring violations: untested spill buckets, deferred cathodic protection checks, and incomplete operator logs for remote telecom sites. Expect increased enforcement at coastal marinas and county baseyards storing diesel for emergency generators. DOH is also piloting remote data submission, so be prepared to upload monitoring files in CSV or XML formats that align with federal reporting schemas.
Actionable Tips for Island Operators
- Stage parts early: Freight lead times to outer islands can stretch 8–10 weeks; order spill buckets, sensors, and anodes before hurricane season.
- Pair emergency power with telemetry: Solar-backed UPS systems keep ATGs online during storm outages and maintain leak detection continuity.
- Bundle site visits: Combine DOH inspections with Phase I ESA updates to reduce mobilization costs.
- Track release metrics: Log cleanup milestones in UST Map's project tracker so teams on different islands share the latest data.
Need a quick refresher on reporting releases? Review our reporting guide and cross-reference facility-specific coordinates in the Hawaii state page before calling DOH's 24-hour line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which agency regulates UST systems in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch runs the Underground Storage Tank Section. The team enforces HAR 11-280.1, issues permits, oversees inspections on every island, and coordinates corrective action with the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office.
What leak detection methods does DOH prefer?
DOH expects interstitial monitoring on double-walled tanks or continuous automatic tank gauging paired with statistical inventory reconciliation. Sites near coastal aquifers should add groundwater monitoring wells and monthly walk-throughs to document sump integrity and dispenser line tightness.
How do Hawaii cleanup funds work?
The Environmental Response Revolving Fund (ERRF) reimburses eligible investigation and cleanup work when owners demonstrate financial responsibility and follow DOH-approved corrective action plans. Projects that protect sole-source aquifers or drinking water intakes typically rise to the top of the reimbursement queue.