---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6991i"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6991i"
heading: "Operator training"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6991i"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter IX — Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks"
---

# §6991i. Operator training

- (a) **Guidelines—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, in consultation and cooperation with [States](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) and after public notice and opportunity for comment, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall publish guidelines that specify training requirements for—
    - (A) [persons](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) having primary responsibility for on-site operation and maintenance of [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) systems;
    - (B) [persons](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) having daily on-site responsibility for the operation and maintenance of [underground storage tanks](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) systems; and
    - (C) daily, on-site employees having primary responsibility for addressing emergencies presented by a spill or [release](/usc/42/6991.md?p=8) from an [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) system.
  - (2) **Considerations—** The guidelines described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall take into account—
    - (A) [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) training programs in existence as of the date of publication of the guidelines;
    - (B) training programs that are being employed by tank [owners](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) and tank [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) as of August 8, 2005;
    - (C) the high turnover rate of tank [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) and other personnel;
    - (D) the frequency of improvement in [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) equipment technology;
    - (E) the nature of the businesses in which the tank [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) are engaged;
    - (F) the substantial differences in the scope and length of training needed for the different classes of [persons](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) described in subparagraphs [(A)](#a-1-A), [(B)](#a-1-B), and [(C)](#a-1-C) of paragraph (1); and
    - (G) such other factors as the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) determines to be necessary to carry out this section.
- (b) **State programs—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 2 years after the date on which the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) publishes the guidelines under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1), each [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) that receives funding under this subchapter shall develop [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31)-specific training requirements that are consistent with the guidelines developed under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1).
  - (2) **Requirements—** [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) requirements described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall—
    - (A) be consistent with [subsection (a)](#a);
    - (B) be developed in cooperation with tank [owners](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) and tank [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3);
    - (C) take into consideration training programs implemented by tank [owners](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) and tank [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) as of August 8, 2005; and
    - (D) be appropriately communicated to tank [owners](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) and [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3).
  - (3) **Financial incentive—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may award to a [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) that develops and implements requirements described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), in addition to any funds that the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) is entitled to receive under this subchapter, not more than $200,000, to be used to carry out the requirements.
- (c) **Training—** All [persons](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) that are subject to the [operator](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) training requirements of [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) meet the training requirements developed under [subsection (b)](#b); and
  - (2) repeat the applicable requirements developed under [subsection (b)](#b), if the tank for which they have primary daily on-site management responsibilities is determined to be out of compliance with—
    - (A) a requirement or standard promulgated by the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) under [section 6991b of this title](/usc/42/6991b.md); or
    - (B) a requirement or standard of a [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) program approved under [section 6991c of this title](/usc/42/6991c.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 9010, as added Pub. L. 98–616, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3287; amended Pub. L. 109–58, title XV, § 1524(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1095.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

August 8, 2005, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(C), was in the original “the date of enactment of this section”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 109–58, which amended this section generally, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Amendments

2005—Pub. L. 109–58 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For authorization of appropriations to carry out this subchapter, see section 6916(g) of this title.”