Underground Storage Tank Red Tag Requirements and Guidance

Red Tag Code and Regulations

The California Health and Safety Code, chapter 6.7, section 25292.3 permits the local implementing agencies and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to affix red tags to any hazardous substance underground storage tank (UST) system. This law also permits the State Water Board or local implementing agency to issue a written directive to empty the noncompliant UST system as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after receiving the directive. An action taken by the State Water Board will be taken in consultation with the local implementing agency.

In addition, existing laws prohibits deposit of petroleum into a red tagged UST system. Delivery, deposit, and input of hazardous substances into and withdrawn of stored substance from a red tagged UST system is prohibited, except to empty the UST system at the direction of the State Water Board or local implementing agency.

USTs determined to have a significant violation that poses an imminent threat to health, safety of the environment may have a red tag affix preventing that UST system from either accepting fuel deliveries or dispensing fuel.

There are three categories of significant violation, as defined California Code of Regulations, title 23, division 3, chapter 16, section 2717:

  • A violation causing or threatening to cause a release to the environment
  • A violation that impairs the leak detection system
  • A chronic violation committed by a recalcitrant violator

The State Water Board has provided instructions for affixing and removing red tags, with photographs of fill riser bag and red tag installation.  The State Water Board provided guidance on the changes to the red tag code in a letter to stakeholders.

Red Tag Data

The State Water Board has provided graphic summaries of the total number of red tags affixed by year and a breakdown of the significant violation types. Red tag information is prepared biannually by local implementing agencies and reported to the State Water Board each March and September.

Red Tags Affixed by Year (2011-2024)

Year Jan - Jun Jul - Dec Annual Total
2011 78 50 128
2012 103 67 170
2013 89 34 123
2014 57 61 118
2015 68 82 150
2016 127 125 252
2017 102 96 198
2018 105 114 219
2019 54 65 119
2020 21 45 66
2021 77 67 144
2022 57 56 113
2023 78 83 161
2024 76   76
Bar graph of red tags affixed from 2011-2024

Significant Violations by Type (2011-2024)

Year Liquid Release* Impaired Leak Detection Chronic or Recalcitrant
2011 14 54 65
2012 21 37 111
2013 2 32 90
2014 7 33 78
2015 28 48 74
2016 21 57 174
2017 40 42 116
2018 25 37 157
2019 16 42 73
2020 16 18 32
2021 20 45 84
2022 25 44 56
2023 32 45 86
2024 27 21 30
Bar graph of significant violations by type between 2011-2024

*Liquid release means a loss detected by the release detection system and/or captured by the secondary containment

For information about this page, please contact Tom Henderson or (916) 319-9128.