How to Fill Out Texas TCEQ Aboveground Storage Tank Notification + FAQs

The Texas TCEQ Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Notification is filed using TCEQ Form 00724, the Petroleum Storage Tank Registration and Self-Certification Form, which every owner or operator of a regulated AST in Texas must submit to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality within 30 days of installation, change of service, or change in ownership. The form notifies the agency that a regulated tank exists, identifies who is responsible for it, and triggers the annual $25-per-tank fee that funds the state’s Petroleum Storage Tank program under 30 TAC Chapter 334 Subchapter F.

Texas regulates roughly 160,000 storage tanks across more than 30,000 facilities, and the agency rejects or returns thousands of registration packets each year for missing Customer Numbers, wrong Regulated Entity Numbers, or unsigned self-certifications, according to the TCEQ PST program overview. Filing wrong, late, or not at all can trigger administrative penalties up to $25,000 per day per violation under Texas Water Code §7.102.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

📋 Exactly which ASTs are regulated and which are exempt under Texas law
🧾 Every document, ID number, and signature you must gather before opening Form 00724
🖊️ Line-by-line instructions for every box, code, and signature block on the form
💻 How to file through the STEERS online portal, by mail, or in person, with fees and proof-of-filing
⚠️ The 10 most common filing mistakes and the exact penalties they trigger

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

TCEQ Form 00724 (revision date printed on the bottom-left corner of the current edition) is the single registration document the agency uses to track every regulated petroleum storage tank in Texas, including ASTs of 1,100 gallons or more that store a regulated substance. The form is required by 30 TAC §334.127, which orders owners to register tanks within 30 days of bringing them into use or taking ownership. The same form covers underground storage tanks (USTs), so AST filers must mark the tank type clearly to avoid being misclassified.

The plain-English purpose of the rule is to give the state a live inventory of every regulated tank so it can track spills, fee compliance, and financial assurance. The consequence of ignoring §334.127 is steep: TCEQ may issue a Notice of Violation, refer the file to enforcement, and assess penalties up to $25,000 per day until the registration is corrected. A real-world example is Hill Country Fuel Co., which bought a small fueling yard in Fredericksburg, missed the 30-day window by four months, and paid an agreed order penalty plus back fees before the agency would issue a delivery certificate. A common misconception is that “small” 1,500-gallon farm-style tanks at commercial sites are exempt — they are not, unless they meet a narrow farm/residential carve-out under 30 TAC §334.123.

You must file Form 00724 if you are the owner or operator of an AST that:

Has a capacity of 1,100 gallons or more and stores petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, used oil, or aviation fuel
Stores a CERCLA hazardous substance (any size threshold listed in 30 TAC Chapter 334 Subchapter G)
Has changed ownership, service (e.g., diesel to gasoline), or status (in-use to temporarily out of service) in the last 30 days

Tanks used solely for heating oil consumed on the premises, farm or residential motor-fuel tanks of 1,100 gallons or less used for non-commercial purposes, and emergency power generator tanks meeting §334.123 exemptions are excluded. Owners of exempt tanks should still keep written proof of the exemption on file because the agency can demand it during a field inspection.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gathering paperwork before opening Form 00724 saves hours of back-and-forth. The form pulls data from your business records, your tank installer’s documents, and your TCEQ Central Registry account, so missing any one item can stall the entire packet. Build a folder — physical or digital — and load every item below before you start typing.

Use this pre-filing checklist:

Customer Number (CN) issued by TCEQ Central Registry, because every filing must tie to a CN; without it the form is rejected and you lose the 30-day window. Look it up using the Central Registry Query.
Regulated Entity Number (RN) for the physical site, because the AST is registered to a location, not a company; an unmatched RN routes your fee to the wrong account.
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number, because TCEQ cross-checks ownership against IRS data and a mismatch triggers a hold.
Tank installer’s certification documents and as-built drawings, because boxes asking for capacity, construction, and corrosion protection must match the installer’s records exactly.
Tightness test results if the AST has underground piping, because 30 TAC §334.48 requires proof before the agency issues a delivery certificate.
Financial assurance documentation under 30 TAC §334.171, because the self-certification block asks you to swear you carry coverage; lying is a criminal offense under Texas Water Code §7.187.
Professional Engineer seal for tanks subject to API 650 or API 653 design review, because some construction codes require a P.E. attestation on the design page.
Driver’s license or government photo ID for the signer, because the agency may verify identity during enforcement matters.
Site map or plat showing tank location, secondary containment, and dispensers, because Section IV asks for the geographic location and dike capacity, and a hand-sketched diagram speeds review.
Date of installation, date placed in service, and (if applicable) date of permanent closure, because the form keys every regulatory deadline off these dates.

Missing any one of these items does not just slow you down — it can convert a routine notification into an enforcement file. Maria Gonzalez, who bought a Lubbock fueling yard, learned this when she filed without the prior owner’s tightness test and lost six weeks waiting for a re-test before TCEQ would let her sell fuel.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The current Form 00724 is hosted on the TCEQ website and is the only version the agency accepts. Download the official PDF from the TCEQ PST forms page and confirm the revision date printed in the bottom-left footer matches what TCEQ lists as current. Older versions still circulate on third-party sites and tank-installer portals, but submitting an outdated revision is grounds for rejection because field numbering and statutory citations change between editions.

The form is available in three formats. The fillable PDF can be typed in Adobe Reader, saved, printed, and signed in ink or with a Texas-recognized digital signature under the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. The printable PDF is identical except the fields are flat; you must hand-print every entry in black ink. The STEERS online module replicates the same fields inside the State of Texas Environmental Electronic Reporting System, which auto-validates Customer Numbers and Regulated Entity Numbers as you type.

Owners who do not yet have a STEERS account must first register at the STEERS account creation page and link the account to their CN and RN. The agency mails a paper authorization code to the address of record, which can take 7–10 business days, so do not start STEERS registration on day 28 of your 30-day window. If you prefer paper, request a hard copy by calling the TCEQ PST Registration Section at (512) 239-2160, and the agency will mail Form 00724 with a return envelope at no charge.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form 00724 Line by Line

The form is organized into seven major parts: I. Reason for Submission; II. Owner Information; III. Operator Information; IV. Facility/Site Information; V. Tank-Specific Data; VI. Financial Assurance and Self-Certification; and VII. Signature. Walk through it in order — the form is structured so each part feeds the next, and skipping ahead causes the cross-references to break.

Part I, Box 1: Reason for Submission

This box asks why you are filing today: new registration, amendment, change of ownership, change of service, or closure. Mark exactly one primary reason with an “X”; if more than one applies, file separate forms in the order events occurred.

To answer it, read each option carefully and choose the one that matches the trigger event from your records. Carlos Rivera, who just bought an existing diesel AST in Beaumont, marks X in the Change of Ownership box and writes the closing date 04/15/2026 on the line beside it. The nuance: if you are both a new owner and changing service from gasoline to diesel, file the change-of-ownership form first, wait for the agency’s confirmation letter, then file the change-of-service form, because TCEQ posts updates sequentially.

A common mistake is marking Amendment when ownership has actually changed; the consequence is that the prior owner stays on the hook for fees and any spill that occurs during the gap. The misconception filers carry into this box is that “amendment” is a catch-all — it is not. Amendments are limited to corrections of existing data such as a misspelled street name, never to ownership transfers or new tanks.

Part II, Box 2: Owner Legal Name

This box asks for the exact legal name of the entity or person that owns the tank. Enter it as it appears on your Texas Secretary of State filing or your driver’s license; do not use a “doing business as” name here.

Type or print the full legal name in all capital letters across the line, with no abbreviations beyond standard INC, LLC, or LP. Hill Country Fuel Co., LLC writes HILL COUNTRY FUEL CO LLC — periods and commas are dropped because TCEQ’s database strips punctuation during ingestion. The nuance: if the tank is owned by a trust, list the trustee’s name followed by TTEE and the trust name on the next line.

A common mistake is writing the DBA (e.g., Hill Country Express) here; the consequence is a name mismatch with the Comptroller’s franchise tax records, which freezes the registration. The misconception is that small sole proprietors should write the business name — Texas treats a sole proprietor’s legal name as the individual’s name, so write MARIA GONZALEZ DBA LUBBOCK FUEL instead.

Part II, Box 3: Owner Customer Number (CN)

This field asks for the 11-character Customer Number TCEQ assigned to the owner entity. The CN starts with CN followed by nine digits and is the agency’s master ID for everything you ever file with TCEQ.

Look up the CN at the Central Registry Query by searching the legal name; if no CN exists, apply through the Core Data Form 10400 before submitting Form 00724. Maria Gonzalez enters CN602938471 in the boxes. The nuance: a CN belongs to an entity, not a site, so a single owner with five fueling yards uses the same CN on every Form 00724.

A common mistake is leaving the CN blank because the owner “is new”; the consequence is that the form is returned and the 30-day clock keeps running. The misconception is that the CN is the same as the FEIN — they are unrelated, and TCEQ will not accept an FEIN in this box.

Part II, Box 4: Owner Mailing Address, Phone, and Email

This block asks where the agency should send invoices, delivery certificates, and enforcement letters. Use a mailing address you actually monitor, because legal notices delivered here are deemed received under Texas Water Code §7.058.

Enter street or P.O. Box, city, state, ZIP+4, a daytime phone, and a monitored email. Carlos Rivera uses PO BOX 412, BEAUMONT, TX 77704-0412, phone (409) 555-0188, email carlos@rivera-fuel.com. The nuance: if you operate out of state, list the foreign address but also designate a Texas registered agent on the SOS Form 401, because the agency can serve enforcement papers on the agent.

A common mistake is using a personal Gmail you check monthly; the consequence is missing a 30-day cure letter and walking into a default penalty. The misconception is that updating your address with the Comptroller updates TCEQ — it does not. File a separate Core Data Form 10400 to change your CN address.

Part III, Box 5: Operator Information

This part asks who runs the day-to-day operation of the tank if different from the owner. Operators include lessees, station managers under franchise agreements, and contract operators.

Enter the operator’s legal name, CN, mailing address, phone, and email using the same rules as Part II. Aisha Patel, who leases the Beaumont site from Carlos, enters PATEL RETAIL LLC, CN701445882, and her own contact line. The nuance: if owner and operator are the same person or entity, write SAME AS OWNER in Box 5(a) and skip to Part IV — do not leave the boxes blank, because blanks are read as “missing.”

A common mistake is naming an absentee landowner as operator when a tenant actually runs the tank; the consequence is that compliance correspondence goes to the wrong party. The misconception is that operator status is informal — it is not. The operator carries joint and several liability for spills under 30 TAC §334.7.

Part IV, Box 6: Facility Name and Regulated Entity Number (RN)

This box asks for the public-facing name of the site (e.g., Hill Country Express #3) and the 11-character RN that ties the registration to the physical location. The RN starts with RN followed by nine digits.

Look up the RN at the Central Registry Query using the street address; if none exists, request one through Core Data Form 10400. Hill Country Fuel Co. writes HILL COUNTRY EXPRESS #3 and RN105772834. The nuance: a single street address can host more than one RN if the operations are separable (e.g., a fueling yard plus a dry-cleaning plant), so confirm you are pulling the RN tied to fuel storage.

A common mistake is reusing an RN from a sister station; the consequence is that fee invoices, inspection reports, and enforcement actions are filed against the wrong site. The misconception is that the RN is optional for new sites — it is mandatory, and the agency will issue one only after you submit Core Data Form 10400.

Part IV, Box 7: Physical Location

This box asks for the on-the-ground location of the tanks, including street address, city, county, ZIP, and latitude/longitude in decimal degrees. The agency uses these coordinates to map spill response zones and to confirm the site is not in a wellhead protection area.

Enter the address as the U.S. Postal Service formats it, list the county in all caps, and pull latitude/longitude from a phone GPS or Google Maps to four decimal places. Beaumont site: 2200 COLLEGE ST, BEAUMONT, TX 77701, JEFFERSON, 30.0860, -94.1018. The nuance: rural sites without a street number should write FM 2818 AT CR 312 or similar, plus the latitude/longitude.

A common mistake is using the mailing P.O. Box from Part II in this box; the consequence is that inspectors cannot find the tank and may cite you for failure to allow access. The misconception is that the city listed by USPS is always the right city — for unincorporated areas, write the nearest incorporated city plus the county.

Part V, Box 8: Tank Identification Number

This box asks you to assign each tank a facility-specific number (1, 2, 3 …) that will follow the tank for its entire life. Use sequential whole numbers starting at 1; do not reuse a number from a closed tank.

Carlos Rivera labels his three Beaumont ASTs 1, 2, and 3 and stencils the same numbers on each tank shell so inspectors can match field tags to filings. The nuance: if you acquire an existing facility, keep the prior owner’s tank numbers to preserve the audit trail, even if the numbering is non-sequential.

A common mistake is renumbering tanks after a change of ownership; the consequence is that TCEQ’s tightness-test history breaks, forcing fresh tests at $400–$1,200 per tank. The misconception is that tank numbers must match the manufacturer’s serial — they do not, and the serial is recorded separately in Box 11.

Part V, Box 9: Tank Status and Date

This box asks the current status (in use, temporarily out of service, permanently out of service, removed) and the effective date in MM/DD/YYYY. The status drives whether annual fees apply and which closure rules govern.

Mark the status box and write the date. Tank 1 in Beaumont: X In Use, 04/15/2026. The nuance: Temporarily Out of Service is limited to 12 months under 30 TAC §334.55; after that, you must permanently close or return to service, or face daily penalties.

A common mistake is leaving a long-idle tank as In Use to avoid closure paperwork; the consequence is exposure to product-loss penalties if the empty tank corrodes and leaks groundwater. The misconception is that Permanently Out of Service ends fee liability — it does not until closure under 30 TAC §334.54 is verified by TCEQ.

Part V, Box 10: Tank Capacity and Substance Stored

This box asks the nominal capacity in gallons and the regulated substance currently stored, using the TCEQ substance code list printed on page 5 of the form instructions. Capacity is the manufacturer’s rated capacity, not the working volume.

Enter the gallons as a whole number and the four-character substance code. Tank 1 stores #2 diesel — Carlos enters 12000 and DSL2. The nuance: if the tank stores a blend (e.g., E10), use the predominant fuel code and add a comment in Box 19; the agency tracks ethanol content separately under 30 TAC §334.49.

A common mistake is rounding capacity to the nearest 500 gallons; the consequence is that fee assessments tied to gallon thresholds are wrong, triggering reconciliation invoices. The misconception is that “used oil” is exempt — it is a regulated substance under TCEQ rules, and used-oil tanks of 1,100 gallons or more must register.

Part V, Box 11: Tank Construction and Corrosion Protection Codes

This box asks for the construction material, secondary containment type, and corrosion protection method, each entered as the alphanumeric code on the form’s code sheet. ASTs typically use codes for steel, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, double-wall steel, concrete dike, and cathodic protection — impressed current or galvanic.

Match each code to the installer’s as-built drawings and write them in the boxes. Tank 1 is single-wall steel inside a concrete dike with no cathodic protection (above-grade) — Carlos enters S1, D1, N/A. The nuance: ASTs with underground piping must report piping construction separately in Box 11(c), and that piping is subject to cathodic protection rules even when the tank is not.

A common mistake is checking double-wall because the dike “feels like” containment; the consequence is a misclassification that voids financial assurance because the policy was written on the wrong tank type. The misconception is that secondary containment is optional for ASTs — Texas requires it for all aboveground tanks of 1,100 gallons or more under 30 TAC §334.127(d).

Part V, Box 12: Date of Installation and Date Placed in Service

This box asks two dates: when the tank was physically installed and when it first held a regulated substance. Both dates use MM/DD/YYYY and matter because compliance milestones run from each.

Enter the installer’s certified date in the first sub-box and the first-fill date in the second. Tank 1: installed 03/22/2026, placed in service 04/01/2026. The nuance: if the tank was relocated from another site, list the original installation date — not the relocation date — because age-based standards under 30 TAC §334.51 follow the tank shell.

A common mistake is using the closing date of the property purchase as the installation date; the consequence is that older tanks appear newer than they are and skip required upgrade deadlines. The misconception is that “placed in service” means when the station opened — it means when the first regulated drop went into the tank.

Part VI, Box 13: Financial Assurance Self-Certification

This block asks you to swear, under penalty of perjury, that the tank is covered by an approved financial assurance mechanism listed in 30 TAC §334.171. Coverage minimums are $1 million per occurrence and $1 million or $2 million annual aggregate, depending on tank count.

Mark the mechanism (commercial insurance, surety bond, letter of credit, trust fund, financial test of self-insurance, or local government test), enter the issuer name and policy number, and sign. Hill Country Fuel Co. checks Commercial Insurance, names Zurich American Ins. Co., Policy PST-2025-44719. The nuance: lapses of even one day require notifying TCEQ within 30 days under §334.171(g); silent lapses are how owners lose limited reimbursement eligibility.

A common mistake is checking Self-Insurance without passing the tangible-net-worth test; the consequence is that the certification becomes a false statement under Texas Water Code §7.187. The misconception is that a general liability policy counts — it does not, unless it has a pollution legal liability endorsement meeting Subchapter H.

Part VII, Box 14: Signature, Title, and Date

This block is the legal heart of the form. The signer must be an authorized representative of the owner: a corporate officer, partner, sole proprietor, or trustee, or a duly appointed agent with a written delegation on file.

Sign in blue or black ink, print the name and title beneath, and date. Carlos Rivera, President, signs Carlos M. Rivera, prints CARLOS M RIVERA, title PRESIDENT, dated 05/01/2026. The nuance: STEERS uses a digital signature key tied to your account; do not share login credentials, because every keystroke is logged and traceable for enforcement.

A common mistake is having the office manager sign without a written delegation; the consequence is that the agency rejects the form and may charge late fees from the original 30-day deadline. The misconception is that a notary is required — it is not for Form 00724, but the signer is still subject to perjury statutes.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Three named filers walk through the form below to show how the same boxes look across different fact patterns.

Scenario 1 — Carlos Rivera, new owner of a 12,000-gallon diesel AST in Beaumont:

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Box 1 — Reason	X Change of Ownership; 04/15/2026
Box 2 — Owner Legal Name	RIVERA FUEL LLC
Box 3 — Customer Number	CN602938471
Box 4 — Mailing Address	PO BOX 412, BEAUMONT, TX 77704-0412
Box 6 — Facility Name / RN	RIVERA FUEL #1 / RN105772834
Box 8 — Tank ID	1
Box 10 — Capacity / Substance	12000 / DSL2
Box 13 — Financial Assurance	Commercial Insurance — Zurich PST-2025-44719
Box 14 — Signature	Carlos M. Rivera, President, 05/01/2026

Scenario 2 — Aisha Patel, multi-site manufacturing facility self-certifying three existing ASTs after a corporate restructuring:

Form Section	What Aisha Enters
Box 1 — Reason	X Amendment — Owner Name Change; 03/30/2026
Box 2 — Owner Legal Name	PATEL INDUSTRIES LP
Box 3 — Customer Number	CN701445882
Box 5 — Operator	SAME AS OWNER
Box 6 — Facility / RN	PATEL HOUSTON PLANT / RN201338946
Box 8 — Tank IDs	1, 2, 3
Box 10 — Capacities / Substances	5000 GASR, 8000 DSL2, 2000 OIL1
Box 11 — Construction	S2 (double-wall) / D1 (concrete dike) / CP1 (galvanic)
Box 13 — Financial Assurance	Surety Bond — Liberty Mutual SUR-9981
Box 14 — Signature	Aisha Patel, EHS Director, 04/05/2026

Scenario 3 — Maria Gonzalez, bulk fuel distributor adding a fourth AST to an already-registered Lubbock site:

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Box 1 — Reason	X New Tank at Existing Facility; 05/12/2026
Box 2 — Owner Legal Name	MARIA GONZALEZ DBA LUBBOCK FUEL
Box 3 — Customer Number	CN554120033
Box 6 — Facility / RN	LUBBOCK FUEL YARD / RN108992205
Box 8 — Tank ID	4 (existing tanks are 1, 2, 3)
Box 9 — Tank Status	X In Use; 05/10/2026
Box 10 — Capacity / Substance	20000 / GASR
Box 12 — Install / In-Service Dates	04/28/2026 / 05/10/2026
Box 13 — Financial Assurance	Commercial Insurance — Chubb PST-77231
Box 14 — Signature	Maria Gonzalez, Owner, 05/15/2026

Beyond these three, you will see Hill Country Fuel Co., Janet Howard (an environmental consultant filing for clients), and Marcus Lee (a county fleet manager registering a 1,500-gallon diesel AST at a road-and-bridge yard) referenced in the field walkthroughs above to round out five named filers.

How to File the Completed Form

TCEQ accepts Form 00724 through three channels, and each has its own fee, processing time, and proof of filing. Pick one channel and stick with it for a given submission to avoid duplicate registrations.

Online via STEERS. Log in at the STEERS portal, select PST Registration, complete the on-screen form, attach PDFs of installer certifications and financial assurance, and pay the $25 per tank annual fee by ACH or credit card through the TCEQ ePay system. Processing usually takes 5–10 business days, and your proof of filing is the PDF confirmation page emailed to your account address — save it for at least five years.

By mail. Print, sign in blue or black ink, and mail the completed Form 00724 with a check payable to TCEQ for $25 per tank to TCEQ, PST Registration MC-129, P.O. Box 13088, Austin, TX 78711-3088. Use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt (about $5.50) so you have a date-stamped delivery card. Processing runs 4–6 weeks, and your proof of filing is the certified-mail green card plus the agency’s confirmation letter mailed to your CN address.

In person. Walk the form into the TCEQ Austin headquarters at 12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, TX 78753, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Pay by check, money order, or credit card at the cashier window. Ask the receptionist to date-stamp a copy for your records — that stamped copy is your proof of filing. In-person filing is rarely worth the trip unless you are already in Austin.

If you miss the 30-day deadline, file anyway as soon as possible; the agency reduces penalties for voluntary disclosures under the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act.

What Happens After You File

After TCEQ receives your Form 00724, the PST Registration Section opens an internal file under your CN/RN combination and assigns a registration confirmation number. The agency reviews the packet for completeness within roughly two weeks for STEERS submissions and four to six weeks for paper, and either issues a Delivery Certificate authorizing fuel suppliers to drop product, or sends a Notice of Deficiency (NOD) listing what is missing. Without a current delivery certificate, jobbers are barred from delivering fuel under 30 TAC §334.5, so a stalled registration can shut your station down.

You then enter the ongoing compliance cycle: annual fees billed each fall, monthly inventory reconciliation, periodic tightness testing, and an inspection by a TCEQ regional investigator on a 1–5 year rotation. Keep the Delivery Certificate posted at the facility and store the registration confirmation, as-built drawings, and financial assurance policy together for at least the life of the tank plus three years. If any registration data changes — owner, operator, address, capacity, status — file an amendment within 30 days; the same Form 00724 is used and the Amendment box in Part I is the trigger.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

The agency publishes its top return reasons in the PST registration FAQ, and the same errors appear year after year. Avoiding them keeps a routine notification routine.

Filing without a CN or RN — the form is rejected and the 30-day clock keeps running, exposing you to per-day penalties.
Using the DBA in the legal-name box — the database flags a name mismatch and freezes the registration until corrected.
Confusing the mailing address with the physical location — inspectors cannot find the tank and may cite you for denial of access.
Skipping the financial assurance certification — without a signed Box 13 the registration is incomplete and no delivery certificate issues.
Marking Amendment for a true ownership change — leaves the prior owner liable and creates a chain-of-title gap during a future sale.
Entering the wrong substance code — fee assessments and spill-response plans key off the substance code, and a wrong code triggers reconciliation invoices.
Rounding capacity to a nicer number — even 100-gallon misstatements can shift a tank into the wrong fee tier.
Reusing tank numbers from closed tanks — breaks tightness-test history and forces fresh tests.
Letting the office manager sign without delegation — the form is rejected for unauthorized signature and you lose your filing date.
Submitting an outdated revision of Form 00724 — the agency returns the packet, costing weeks of processing time.
Forgetting to update STEERS contact information — agency emails bounce and you miss cure deadlines.
Paying the wrong fee amount — partial payments are credited but the registration is held in pending status until paid in full.

Do’s and Don’ts

A short list of habits separates clean filers from repeat offenders.

Do:

Do file through STEERS whenever possible because real-time validation catches CN/RN errors before submission.
Do keep PDF copies of every page, every signature, and every confirmation for at least five years to defend future audits.
Do synchronize installation dates across the form, the installer’s certificate, and your financial assurance policy because mismatches trigger NODs.
Do write tank numbers on the physical tank shell so field investigators can reconcile your filings.
Do mail paper filings by Certified Mail with Return Receipt because the green card is your proof of filing date.
Do confirm your CN address with the Central Registry Query before each filing because changes elsewhere do not propagate automatically.

Don’t:

Don’t wait until day 28 to start STEERS account creation because activation can take 7–10 business days.
Don’t sign for someone else; the agency treats forged signatures as criminal under Texas Penal Code §32.21.
Don’t assume a heating-oil tank is exempt without checking 30 TAC §334.123 line by line.
Don’t use white-out on a paper form; line through, initial, and date corrections instead, because white-out is treated as alteration.
Don’t rely on the seller’s word that registration is current; pull the Central Registry record yourself before closing on any fueling property.
Don’t ignore an NOD letter; the 30-day cure window is short and silence converts the letter into an enforcement referral.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Most owners can file Form 00724 themselves, but consultants earn their fee on complex sites.

Pros of filing on your own:

No consultant fee, which typically runs $400–$1,200 per site for a single registration.
Direct knowledge of your tank inventory, installer history, and financial assurance.
Faster turnaround when STEERS validation catches issues you can fix immediately.
Builds in-house compliance literacy, which pays off at every annual fee cycle and inspection.
Direct line to the PST Registration Section at (512) 239-2160 for free guidance.

Cons of filing on your own:

Steep learning curve for substance codes, construction codes, and financial assurance categories.
Higher risk of NODs that delay your delivery certificate and idle the station.
No professional shield if the certification turns out to be incorrect.
Time cost that often exceeds the consultant fee for owners with multiple sites.
Easy to miss interaction effects with SPCC plans under federal 40 CFR Part 112 for ASTs over 1,320 gallons aggregate.

A useful comparison of channels:

Filing Channel	Best For
STEERS Online	Fastest validation, fastest delivery certificate, single-site owners with one or two tanks
Mail	Filers without reliable internet or who prefer a paper trail with a Certified Mail green card
In Person	Owners already in Austin or correcting a deficient packet under deadline pressure

FAQs

Do I need to register an AST that holds only used motor oil?

Yes. Used oil is a regulated substance under 30 TAC Chapter 334, and any AST of 1,100 gallons or more storing it must register on Form 00724 within 30 days.

Is a 1,000-gallon farm diesel tank exempt?

Yes. Tanks of 1,100 gallons or less used for non-commercial agricultural or residential motor fuel meet the §334.123 exemption, but commercial farms above the threshold must register.

Does TCEQ charge a separate filing fee plus the annual fee?

No. There is no separate filing fee; the annual $25 per tank fee covers registration and recurring compliance and is billed by the agency each fall.

Can I sign Form 00724 electronically?

Yes. STEERS uses an account-bound electronic signature recognized under the Texas Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and printed-PDF filers may use compliant digital signatures.

Do I write my legal name or my DBA in Box 2?

Yes — write your legal name. Sole proprietors enter the individual’s legal name with DBA and the trade name appended; corporations and LLCs use the SOS-registered legal entity name only.

Should the installation date in Box 12 be the closing date when I bought the property?

No. Box 12 takes the original installer’s certified date of installation, which travels with the tank shell regardless of how many times the property has been sold.

Do I need a Professional Engineer seal on Form 00724?

No — not on the form itself. A P.E. seal is required on supporting design documents for tanks built under API 650 or 653, but the registration form needs only the owner’s signature.

What goes in Box 11 if my AST has no cathodic protection?

No answer is wrong, but write N/A or the code for not applicable. ASTs sitting on concrete or pads above grade typically need no cathodic protection, but underground piping does.

Is my general liability insurance acceptable financial assurance?

No. Standard general liability excludes pollution. You need a pollution legal liability endorsement or a stand-alone PST policy meeting 30 TAC Subchapter H limits.

Will I get a delivery certificate the same day I file in STEERS?

No. Even clean STEERS filings take 5–10 business days; jobbers cannot legally deliver fuel until the certificate posts to your facility record.

Can I file one Form 00724 for multiple sites?

No. Each Regulated Entity Number requires its own form, even if a single owner runs every site under one CN.

Do I have to amend the form if I change the email address on file?

Yes. Any change in owner or operator contact information must be reported within 30 days, either through a STEERS contact update or a fresh Form 00724 marked Amendment.

What if my financial assurance lapses for a week?

No lapse is “harmless.” Notify TCEQ within 30 days under §334.171(g), reinstate coverage immediately, and document the gap; silent lapses can disqualify you from the Petroleum Storage Tank Reimbursement Program.

Does federal SPCC filing replace TCEQ registration?

No. Federal SPCC rules under 40 CFR 112 are separate from Texas registration; an AST over 1,320 gallons aggregate triggers SPCC and TCEQ obligations independently.

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