Colorado § 8-20.5-208 - Reporting of releases - investigation.

§ 8-20.5-208. Reporting of releases - investigation.

(1) If a release is detected or suspected, the owner or operator shall immediately take all actions necessary to mitigate or stop the release and shall mitigate fire and safety hazards.

(2) Upon detection of any release of reportable quantities of a regulated substance from an underground storage tank, the owner or operator shall report such release to the director of the division of oil and public safety within twenty-four hours of its detection. However, the local fire authority shall be notified immediately if such release exceeds reportable quantities. If the director of the division of oil and public safety determines that the release of such reportable quantity will affect subsurface soils, groundwater, or surface water, the department may require the owner or operator to take corrective action in accordance with section 8-20.5-209.

(3) If the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee finds that a release has occurred, and the owner or the operator cannot be identified, or is unwilling to mitigate or stop the release or mitigate fire and safety hazards, the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee may initiate free product removal and whatever other actions are necessary to mitigate fire and safety hazards.

(4) For the purpose of enforcing this section, if a release poses an imminent and substantial threat to human health and the environment, the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee is authorized to take such action as is necessary under the circumstances, including but not limited to:

(a) Entering any property, premises, or place where an underground storage tank is located;

(b) Monitoring or testing or requiring the owner or the operator to monitor or test any underground storage tank or any surrounding soils, groundwater, or surface water. A duplicate sample taken for testing shall be provided to any person, at such person's request, who the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee reasonably believes may be responsible for the release. A duplicate copy of the analytical report pertaining to the samples taken pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be provided as soon as practicable to any person who the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee reasonably believes may be responsible for the release. When such tests are performed, the director of the division of oil and public safety shall notify, when possible, any person reasonably believed to be an owner or operator.

(c) Entering any site or premises in which records relevant to the operation of an underground storage tank are maintained and to inspect and copy such records.

(5) If such entry or inspection is denied or not consented to, the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee shall obtain, from the district or county court for the judicial district or county in which such property, premises, or place is located, a warrant to enter and inspect any such property, premises, or place prior to entry and inspection. The district and county courts of the state of Colorado are authorized to issue such warrants upon proper showing of the need for such entry and inspection.

(6) If requested by the director of the division of oil and public safety or a designee, the owner or the operator of an underground storage tank shall provide any information in such owner's or operator's possession regarding the tank.

Source: L. 95: Entire article added, p. 406, § 1, effective July 1. L. 96: (2) amended, p. 712, § 6, effective May 15. L. 2001: (2), (3), IP(4), (4)(b), (5), and (6) amended, p. 1129, § 51, effective June 5.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 8-20-507 as it existed prior to 1995.