More and more lift distributors across the
country have been commenting about the growing concerns about in-ground
lifts by their customers. This question is coming up more frequently
because end-users are considering converting their shops back to
reliable in-ground lift systems and they want to know the facts before
making any decision.
In-ground lifts simply are not illegal and this
knowledge can be found in public records. The most important of which is
the Federal Register. The Federal Register is where the laws of our
nations regulating bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) can be found.
You will find explicit information on pages
37101 and 37108 of Federal Register, Vol. 53, No. 185 dated
Friday, September 23,1988 concerning regulatory exclusions on four
classes of tanks. You can click on the provided link to download your
own information from the National Archives and Records Administration:
The final rule contains much information.
Therefore, we have picked out information most pertinent to the lift
industry.
Regulatory Exclusions
b. Equipment and machinery that contain regulated substances for
operational purposes, such as HYDRAULIC LIFT TANKS and electrical
equipment are excluded from today's regulations.
Because these tanks contain regulated substances solely for operational
purposes, the commenters argued that the loss of regulated substances
would be accompanied by faulty operation of the equipment or machinery
and thus the equipment is "self monitoring". Second, the
threat to human health and the environment was judged to be minimal
because the tanks contain small amounts of the regulated substances.
Regulation of these types of tanks would unnecessarily divert
implementing agency resources from other, more serious health threats.
Therefore, today's final rule excludes such tanks.
d. De Minimis Exclusions. Today's final rule has been modified to
exclude the following tanks: (1) Those that have a capacity of less than
110 gallons and (2) those holding a very low concentration of regulated
substances.
The State of California - Long known as the leader on environmental
issues, is in-ground lift friendly.
In fact, Governor Pete Wilson signed SB 1191 on October 5, 1995
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to permanently exempt, under state law, HYDRAULIC LIFT TANKS. This
decision was based on an in depth study by the (SWRCB) State Water
Resources Control Board "Report on Hydraulic Lift Tanks"
February 1995
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. You can write to the State Water Resources Control Board at PO
Box 944212 Sacramento, CA 94244-2120
So don't pull that lift and send it to the morgue. Contact the
Doctor at Hoistdoctors.com and get the proper prescription for keeping
that lift healthy.