UST Test Questions And Answers (100% Correct
Answers) Updated 2026/2027 (VERIFIED)
1. An underground storage tank (UST) is defined as a tank that has at least what
percentage of its volume underground?
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 15%
D. 20%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An UST is defined as any tank that has at least 10% of its volume
underground, including piping connected to the tank.
2. What is the primary federal regulation governing underground storage tanks?
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. 49 CFR Part 171
D. 33 CFR Part 151
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 40 CFR Part 280 is the federal regulation that establishes technical standards
for USTs and regulates the release, detection, and cleanup of petroleum products from
USTs.
3. Which EPA office administers the UST program?
A. Office of Air and Radiation
B. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)
C. Office of Water
D. Office of Chemical Safety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) administers the
UST program.
,4. The EPA UST regulations apply to tanks that contain:
A. Petroleum products
B. Hazardous substances
C. Both A and B
D. Only petroleum products
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The UST regulations apply to tanks containing petroleum products and
hazardous substances.
5. Which of the following is EXEMPT from UST regulations?
A. Farm and residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less
B. Tanks storing heating oil for on-site use
C. Tanks on or above the floor of underground areas
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: All of these are exempt from UST regulations.
6. Farm and residential USTs are exempt if they have a capacity of:
A. 500 gallons or less
B. 1,000 gallons or less
C. 1,100 gallons or less
D. 2,000 gallons or less
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Farm and residential USTs of 1,100 gallons or less are exempt.
7. Heating oil tanks used for on-site consumption are:
A. Subject to all UST regulations
B. Exempt from UST regulations
C. Subject to leak detection only
D. Subject to corrosion protection only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heating oil tanks used for on-site consumption are exempt.
,8. USTs storing hazardous substances are regulated under:
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tanks storing hazardous substances are regulated under both Part 280 and
Part 261 (RCRA).
9. The EPA UST program was authorized under which act?
A. Clean Air Act
B. Clean Water Act
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The UST program was authorized under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA).
10. The 2015 EPA UST regulation revisions included requirements for:
A. Secondary containment
B. Operator training
C. Spill prevention
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The 2015 revisions included secondary containment, operator training, and
spill prevention.
11. The UST regulations apply to tanks with a capacity of:
A. 100 gallons or more
B. 500 gallons or more
C. 1,000 gallons or more
D. 5,000 gallons or more
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: UST regulations apply to tanks with a capacity of 100 gallons or more.
12. Tanks containing hazardous substances are regulated under:
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. 40 CFR Part 280 and Part 261
D. 40 CFR Part 265
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tanks storing hazardous substances are regulated under both Part 280 and
Part 261.
13. The UST regulations require owners and operators to:
A. Notify the implementing agency
B. Use leak detection
C. Maintain records
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Owners and operators must notify, use leak detection, and maintain records.
14. Which of the following is NOT an exempt UST?
A. Farm tank of 1,000 gallons
B. Heating oil tank of 2,000 gallons
C. Hazardous waste tank regulated under RCRA
D. Flow-through process tank
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heating oil tanks of 2,000 gallons may be subject to regulations depending
on jurisdiction.
15. The UST regulations require leak detection for:
A. All UST systems
B. UST systems over 10 years old
C. UST systems in sensitive areas
D. UST systems with hazardous substances
Answers) Updated 2026/2027 (VERIFIED)
1. An underground storage tank (UST) is defined as a tank that has at least what
percentage of its volume underground?
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 15%
D. 20%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An UST is defined as any tank that has at least 10% of its volume
underground, including piping connected to the tank.
2. What is the primary federal regulation governing underground storage tanks?
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. 49 CFR Part 171
D. 33 CFR Part 151
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 40 CFR Part 280 is the federal regulation that establishes technical standards
for USTs and regulates the release, detection, and cleanup of petroleum products from
USTs.
3. Which EPA office administers the UST program?
A. Office of Air and Radiation
B. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER)
C. Office of Water
D. Office of Chemical Safety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) administers the
UST program.
,4. The EPA UST regulations apply to tanks that contain:
A. Petroleum products
B. Hazardous substances
C. Both A and B
D. Only petroleum products
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The UST regulations apply to tanks containing petroleum products and
hazardous substances.
5. Which of the following is EXEMPT from UST regulations?
A. Farm and residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less
B. Tanks storing heating oil for on-site use
C. Tanks on or above the floor of underground areas
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: All of these are exempt from UST regulations.
6. Farm and residential USTs are exempt if they have a capacity of:
A. 500 gallons or less
B. 1,000 gallons or less
C. 1,100 gallons or less
D. 2,000 gallons or less
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Farm and residential USTs of 1,100 gallons or less are exempt.
7. Heating oil tanks used for on-site consumption are:
A. Subject to all UST regulations
B. Exempt from UST regulations
C. Subject to leak detection only
D. Subject to corrosion protection only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heating oil tanks used for on-site consumption are exempt.
,8. USTs storing hazardous substances are regulated under:
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tanks storing hazardous substances are regulated under both Part 280 and
Part 261 (RCRA).
9. The EPA UST program was authorized under which act?
A. Clean Air Act
B. Clean Water Act
C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
D. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The UST program was authorized under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA).
10. The 2015 EPA UST regulation revisions included requirements for:
A. Secondary containment
B. Operator training
C. Spill prevention
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The 2015 revisions included secondary containment, operator training, and
spill prevention.
11. The UST regulations apply to tanks with a capacity of:
A. 100 gallons or more
B. 500 gallons or more
C. 1,000 gallons or more
D. 5,000 gallons or more
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: UST regulations apply to tanks with a capacity of 100 gallons or more.
12. Tanks containing hazardous substances are regulated under:
A. 40 CFR Part 280
B. 40 CFR Part 261
C. 40 CFR Part 280 and Part 261
D. 40 CFR Part 265
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tanks storing hazardous substances are regulated under both Part 280 and
Part 261.
13. The UST regulations require owners and operators to:
A. Notify the implementing agency
B. Use leak detection
C. Maintain records
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Owners and operators must notify, use leak detection, and maintain records.
14. Which of the following is NOT an exempt UST?
A. Farm tank of 1,000 gallons
B. Heating oil tank of 2,000 gallons
C. Hazardous waste tank regulated under RCRA
D. Flow-through process tank
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heating oil tanks of 2,000 gallons may be subject to regulations depending
on jurisdiction.
15. The UST regulations require leak detection for:
A. All UST systems
B. UST systems over 10 years old
C. UST systems in sensitive areas
D. UST systems with hazardous substances
