The Underground Storage Tank (UST) 30-Day Notice, Washington State Department of Ecology Form ECY 020-95, is the form every UST owner or operator must file at least 30 days before they install, permanently close, or change the service of an underground storage tank or its piping. You file it with Ecology’s Underground Storage Tank Section, and you cannot break ground on your project until Ecology date-stamps the form and the 30-day waiting period ends.
This form is small, but the rules behind it carry real weight. Skip it, file it late, or fill it out wrong, and your fuel system project can be shut down on the spot, your one-time test fuel drop can be denied, and your future Business License with tank endorsement can stall. Washington has thousands of regulated USTs in active use, and Ecology requires this 30-day advance notice for every install, removal, or change-in-service project under Chapter 173-360A WAC, with no filing fee at all.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🛢️ What the 30-Day Notice does and exactly who must file it before touching a tank
- 📋 Every document, ID number, and certification detail you must gather before you start
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all four sections of Form ECY 020-95
- 🚚 How filing works, the 30-day wait, the 90-day deadline, and how to ask for a waiver
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that get projects delayed and how to dodge each one
You will get the official 30-Day Notice form (ECY 020-95) link, real filled-out examples, and a mistakes list built from the spots filers trip over most.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The 30-Day Notice is Ecology’s advance-warning system for underground storage tank work. Under WAC 173-360A-0300, owners and operators must tell Ecology at least 30 days before they begin any UST or piping installation, decommissioning (permanent closure), or change-in-service project. The notice gives Ecology’s regional UST inspector a chance to talk with you and your contractor and to watch the actual install or closure if they choose.
The person responsible for filing is the owner or operator of the tank, not the contractor, even though a contractor often prepares the form. If you own a gas station, a fleet fueling site, a marina, or any commercial site with a buried tank that holds petroleum or hazardous substances, this form is yours to file. The certified service provider who does the physical work gets listed on the form, but the legal duty to notify Ecology rests with you.
Not every tank is covered. The Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance explains that some tanks are exempt, and the form lists them on the back page. Exempt tanks include farm or residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less that store motor fuel for personal or farm use only, tanks that store heating oil used solely to heat the building they sit under, any tank with a capacity of 110 gallons or less, and emergency overflow tanks, catch basins, or sumps. If your tank fits one of these, you do not file this notice.
The form you want is ECY 020-95 (Revised May 2019). Always confirm that revision date in the bottom corner so you know you have the current version, because Ecology updates its forms and an old version can carry outdated field labels or addresses.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. Missing one item can stall your filing or, worse, lead to a date-stamped notice that does not match your actual project.
- Your UST ID number, if the facility already has one. Ecology tracks tanks by this number, and leaving it blank on a closure project makes the inspector hunt for your records, which slows validation.
- Your Tag or UBI number, if you hold a Business License. This ties the notice to your registered facility, and a wrong UBI can connect the notice to the wrong business.
- The site name and full site address, the physical place where the tank lives. A PO Box here is a common error and tells Ecology nothing about where to send an inspector.
- The owner/operator name, business name, and mailing address, because Ecology mails the date-stamped form back to this exact address. A wrong mailing address means your validated permit never reaches you.
- A working phone number and email for the contact person, since the inspector calls this contact to confirm the start date.
- Your certified service provider’s details, including company name, the provider’s name, certification type, certification number, and expiration date. Anyone doing UST work must be ICC-certified or have passed another Ecology-approved exam.
- Tank-by-tank details, meaning each tank’s ID, capacity, the substance stored, and whether piping is being installed or replaced. Guessing capacities leads to a notice that does not match the field work.
- Your expected project start date, which must sit at least 30 days past the day Ecology date-stamps the form unless you get a waiver.
- Local permit confirmations from your fire marshal and planning department, because city or county rules under the State Environmental Policy Act may apply on top of Ecology’s notice.
Having all of this in hand means you fill out the form once, correctly, instead of refiling and restarting the 30-day clock.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Download the form straight from Ecology’s publication page. The official PDF lives on the Ecology publications site, and the direct file is the ECY 020-95 PDF. The form is two pages: the front holds the four fill-in sections, and the back holds the general instructions and the exempt-tank list.
The form is a fillable PDF, so you can type your answers on a computer before printing, or print it blank and write by hand in black ink. There is no online portal that lets you submit this form electronically. You complete it, then send the paper version to Ecology by mail or fax, which the next sections cover in detail.
Use a separate form for each project type. If you plan to close one tank and install another at the same site, that is two notices, not one, because Ecology processes installs and closures on different tracks. Filing both on a single form forces the inspector to reject or split the notice, and you lose time.
A key detail many filers miss: the form is free. The ORIA regulatory handbook confirms there is no fee for the 30-Day Notice. If a contractor charges you a “filing fee” to send this form, that money is going to them for their time, not to Ecology.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form ECY 020-95 Line by Line
The front page holds the header fields plus four numbered sections: I. Site Information, II. Owner/Operator Information, III. Certified Service Provider(s), and IV. Tank and/or Piping Information. There is also a project-type checkbox row. Fill each part in order, using the exact field names printed on the form.
Header: UST ID # and County
At the top right of the form you will see two short blanks labeled UST ID # and County.
The UST ID # field asks for the identification number Ecology already assigned to your facility, if you have one. You write the number Ecology gave you, with no extra spaces or letters, for example 2-14-009823. New installations at a brand-new site often have no number yet, so you leave it blank and Ecology assigns one. If you are closing tanks, this number should match the one printed on your Business License, because that is how Ecology pulls your file.
A common mistake here is inventing or guessing a UST ID, which links your notice to the wrong facility and delays validation while staff sort it out. People often believe the UST ID and the UBI number are the same thing; they are not. The UST ID identifies the tank facility in Ecology’s system, while the UBI identifies your business with the state, so keep them separate.
For County, write the Washington county where the tank sits, such as King or Spokane. This routes your notice to the correct regional inspector, and a wrong county can send your file to an office hundreds of miles from your project.
Project Type Checkboxes: Intent to Install, Intent to Close, Change-in-Service
Just above the tank section sits a row of three boxes: Intent to Install, Intent to Close, and Change-in-Service.
This row tells Ecology what kind of project you are doing. You check exactly one box. Marcus, who is installing two new fuel tanks at a new convenience store, checks Intent to Install. Janet, who is digging out an old leaking tank for good, checks Intent to Close. A change-in-service means you are switching a tank from one regulated substance to another, such as from diesel to gasoline.
The edge case people miss is doing two project types at once. If you are closing one tank and installing another, you cannot check two boxes on one form; you file two separate notices, because the instructions require a separate form for each project type.
A common mistake is checking Intent to Close when you really mean a temporary shutdown. This box is for permanent closure (decommissioning), not temporary out-of-service status, and checking it can trigger a site assessment requirement you did not plan for. Many filers wrongly think change-in-service is for any change to the tank; it is only for changing the stored substance, not for repairs or upgrades.
Section I: Site Information
Section I asks where the tank physically lives and how to reach the site contact.
You fill in the Site Name, Site Address, City, Phone, and Email. Use the real street address of the property, not a billing office. Marcus writes QuickFuel Mart #7, 4820 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma, with the site phone and an email the inspector can reach. The contact person listed here must confirm the exact project start date with the regional UST inspector at least 3 business days before work begins.
The nuance: if the site has no formal name yet, use the business name or a clear description like New Texaco at 5th and Main. A blank site name forces the inspector to guess which location you mean if you own several.
A common mistake is entering a PO Box as the site address, which is wrong because an inspector cannot drive to a PO Box to watch an install or closure. The misconception many hold is that the site address and mailing address are interchangeable; they are not, because Ecology mails the stamped form to the mailing address in Section II but sends inspectors to the site address here.
Section II: Owner/Operator Information
Section II identifies who legally owns or operates the tank and where Ecology should mail the validated form.
You complete the Tag or UBI #, Owner/Operator Name, Business Name, Mailing Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, and Email. Enter the owner’s full legal name as it appears on the Business License, for example Marcus T. Reyes with business name Reyes Retail Fuels LLC. The mailing address is where your date-stamped permit comes back, so double-check it.
The edge case: if the owner and operator are different people or companies, list the legal owner here, because the owner carries the notification duty even if a separate operator runs daily fueling.
A common mistake is entering a contractor’s address as the mailing address, which sends your validated permit to the installer instead of you and can delay your project start. People often believe the UBI and Tag number are different fields needing different numbers; the form treats Tag or UBI # as one combined field, so you enter whichever number applies to your facility.
Section III: Certified Service Provider(s)
Section III names the certified professional who will do the physical work. There are two provider blocks so you can list more than one if your project needs both an installer and a site assessor.
For each provider you check a role box, Installer, Decommissioner, or Site Assessor, then fill in Company Name, Certification Type, Service Provider Name, Cert. No., Exp. Date, Provider Phone, and Provider Email. Anyone performing UST services must be ICC-certified or have passed another Ecology-approved exam. Janet’s closure lists Evergreen Tank Services as the company, Dana Wu as the provider, role checked as Decommissioner, with cert number ICC-5512094 and an expiration date of 08/31/2027.
The nuance: a closure that needs a site assessment may require both a Decommissioner and a Site Assessor, so you fill out both provider blocks. ORIA notes you may list the company even if the exact provider is not yet locked in, but the certification details should be accurate.
A common mistake is listing a provider whose certification has expired, which is the same as having no certified provider, and Ecology can reject the project. The misconception here is that the owner can do the work themselves to save money; UST installation and decommissioning must be done by certified professionals, not the property owner.
Section IV: Tank and/or Piping Information
Section IV is a grid where you describe each tank or piping run in the project. Each row covers one tank.
For every tank you enter the Tank ID, Tank Capacity, Substance Stored, Piping Installation or Replacement Only (Y/N), Date Project Is Expected to Begin, and any Comments. For installs, assign Tank ID numbers that have never been used at the facility before. For closures, use the Tank ID numbers already listed on your Business License. Marcus enters Tank ID 001, capacity 12,000, substance Unleaded Gasoline, piping-only N, and start date 09/15/2026.
The nuance: the Piping Installation or Replacement Only (Y/N) column matters. If you are only touching piping and not the tank, enter Y, which tells Ecology to expect a Retrofit/Repair Checklist plus the Manufacturer’s Installation Checklist within 30 days of finishing the piping work. Use the Comments box on a closure to note the date product was drained from both tank and piping to less than one inch.
A common mistake is reusing an old Tank ID on a new install, which collides with historical records and confuses Ecology’s database. People often think the expected start date is just a guess that does not matter; it does, because the contact person must still confirm the exact date with the inspector at least 3 business days out, and your install must begin within 90 days of the date stamp.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios show how different filers complete the same form. Each follows one person through the key fields.
Scenario 1: Marcus installs two new gas station tanks
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Project type checkbox | Intent to Install |
| UST ID # / County | (blank, new site) / Pierce |
| Site Name / Address | QuickFuel Mart #7 / 4820 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma |
| Owner/Operator Name | Marcus T. Reyes |
| Business Name / UBI | Reyes Retail Fuels LLC / 604-998-221 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 3310, Tacoma, WA 98401 |
| Section III provider | Installer — NW Petroleum Builders, cert ICC-4471122 |
| Tank IV row 1 | ID 001, 12,000 gal, Unleaded Gasoline, piping N, start 09/15/2026 |
| Tank IV row 2 | ID 002, 10,000 gal, Diesel, piping N, start 09/15/2026 |
Scenario 2: Janet permanently closes an old leaking tank
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Project type checkbox | Intent to Close |
| UST ID # / County | 2-17-004412 / Spokane |
| Site Name / Address | Riverside Auto Lot / 112 N Division St, Spokane |
| Owner/Operator Name | Janet Okafor |
| Business Name / UBI | Okafor Holdings Inc / 601-220-905 |
| Mailing Address | 112 N Division St, Spokane, WA 99202 |
| Section III provider | Decommissioner — Evergreen Tank Services, cert ICC-5512094 |
| Section III provider 2 | Site Assessor — Cascade Enviro, cert ICC-6602310 |
| Tank IV row 1 | ID 003, 8,000 gal, Used Diesel, piping N, start 10/02/2026, comment product drained below 1 inch 09/28/2026 |
Scenario 3: Priya files a piping-only replacement on the owner’s behalf
| Form Section | What Priya Enters |
|---|---|
| Project type checkbox | Intent to Install |
| UST ID # / County | 2-09-001277 / King |
| Site Name / Address | Greenlake Fuel Stop / 7100 Aurora Ave N, Seattle |
| Owner/Operator Name | Sunrise Fuel Partners LLC |
| Business Name / UBI | Sunrise Fuel Partners LLC / 603-441-870 |
| Mailing Address | 900 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Section III provider | Installer — Puget Pipe & Tank, cert ICC-3398541 |
| Tank IV row 1 | ID 001, 15,000 gal, Unleaded Gasoline, piping Y, start 11/01/2026 |
| Comments | Replacing product piping only; tank not disturbed |
How to File the Completed Form
Once the form is filled in and signed where needed, you send it to Ecology’s Underground Storage Tank Section. There are two channels, and no online portal exists for this form.
By mail: Send the completed notice to Department of Ecology, Underground Storage Tank Section, PO Box 47655, Olympia, WA 98504-7655. There is no filing fee. Processing begins when Ecology receives the form, and Ecology date-stamps it and mails it back to the mailing address in Section II. Keep your own copy and the returned date-stamped original as your proof of filing, because that stamp starts your legal clock.
By fax: You may fax the completed notice to (360) 407-7154. Again, there is no fee. Faxing can be faster than mail, but keep your fax confirmation page and a copy of the form as proof, and watch for the returned date-stamped version.
After Ecology validates and returns the form, you may begin your project 30 days after the date stamp, unless a regional UST inspector waives the wait. You may request a waiver of the 30-day waiting period by writing or calling Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program or the regional office covering your site. The contact person on the form must also confirm the exact start date with the inspector at least 3 business days before work begins.
What Happens After You File
Ecology date-stamps your notice and mails it back, which both validates the notice and starts the 30-day waiting period. The returned form acts as your permit to proceed, but only after the wait ends. For installs, this validated form also allows a one-time drop of product for UST system testing purposes only, and that test drop does not have to happen within the 90-day window.
Your notice is valid for 90 days, and your install or closure project must begin within 90 days of the date stamp. The permit stays valid for up to 60 days after the original 30-day wait passes. If you cannot meet these deadlines, you must submit a new 30-Day Notice or request an extension, because an expired notice means starting the clock over.
For installs, once your tanks hold more than one inch of product you must have leak detection and monitoring in place. To receive additional deliveries and operate the tanks, you then submit the Business License application and UST Addendum with the Manufacturer’s Installation Checklists to the Department of Revenue within 30 days of finishing the install, which triggers your Business License with tank endorsement and your facility compliance tag from Ecology. For closures, a site assessment is required, and if no contamination is found you submit a site assessment report within 30 days, while confirmed contamination must be reported to your regional office within 24 hours with a site characterization report due within 90 days.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing fewer than 30 days before the project. Your project cannot legally begin until the 30-day wait ends, so a late filing delays your whole job.
- Putting two project types on one form. Ecology requires a separate form for each project type, so a combined form gets rejected or split.
- Using a PO Box as the site address. Inspectors cannot visit a PO Box, so the notice fails to show where work happens.
- Listing the contractor’s address as the mailing address. Your date-stamped permit then goes to the installer, not to you, delaying your start.
- Reusing an old Tank ID on a new install. This collides with Ecology’s records and confuses tank tracking.
- Naming a provider with an expired certification. An expired cert is treated as no certified provider, and the project can be rejected.
- Leaving the substance-stored column blank. Ecology cannot assess your tanks without knowing what they hold.
- Checking Intent to Close for a temporary shutdown. That box means permanent decommissioning and can trigger a site assessment you did not expect.
- Skipping local fire marshal and planning permits. City and county rules apply on top of Ecology’s notice, and missing them can halt the job.
- Forgetting to confirm the start date with the inspector. You must call at least 3 business days before work, or the inspector may not validate your project.
- Throwing away the returned date-stamped form. That stamp is your proof and your start-of-clock, so losing it leaves you unable to prove timing.
- Assuming an exempt tank still needs the notice. Filing for a truly exempt tank wastes time, while missing a covered tank risks penalties.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do confirm the May 2019 revision date on the form, because an outdated version can carry wrong field labels or addresses.
- Do file a separate form for each project type, since installs and closures travel on different tracks at Ecology.
- Do use the real street site address, so an inspector can actually find and observe the work.
- Do verify your provider’s certification is current, because an expired cert can void the whole project approval.
- Do keep your returned date-stamped form, as it is your proof of filing and the start of your 30-day clock.
- Do call your local fire marshal and planning department early, because local permits stack on top of the state notice.
Don’ts
- Don’t begin work before the 30-day wait ends, unless a regional inspector grants a written waiver, or you risk enforcement.
- Don’t guess Tank ID numbers, since reused or invented IDs scramble Ecology’s facility records.
- Don’t enter a mailing address you cannot receive mail at, because your validated permit gets lost.
- Don’t treat the notice as your only permit, as you still need the Business License, UST Addendum, and compliance tag to operate.
- Don’t let the 90-day window lapse, because an expired notice forces a full refiling.
- Don’t try to do UST work yourself, since the law requires ICC-certified professionals.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With a Contractor
Many owners debate whether to complete the notice themselves or let their UST contractor handle it. Here is how the two paths compare.
| Filing It Yourself | Filing Through Your Contractor |
|---|---|
| Free, since there is no filing fee and no markup | Contractor may charge for their time, though Ecology charges nothing |
| You control accuracy of owner and mailing details | Risk that the contractor lists their own address and gets your permit |
| You learn your own UST obligations firsthand | You lean on the contractor’s experience with the exact fields |
| You must track the 30-day and 90-day deadlines | Experienced contractors track these deadlines for you |
| You may miss certified-provider detail requirements | Contractor knows their own cert numbers and expiration dates |
Pros of filing yourself
- You save money, because the form is free and you skip any contractor service charge.
- You keep control of the mailing address, so your validated permit reaches you directly.
- You build direct knowledge of your tank obligations and deadlines.
- You can move quickly, filing the moment your project details are set.
- You hold your own proof of filing, never relying on someone else to forward the stamped form.
Cons of filing yourself
- You may misenter cert details, since you do not hold the provider’s certification numbers.
- You carry the deadline-tracking burden for the 30-day wait and 90-day window.
- You risk field errors on Tank IDs and project-type boxes without filing experience.
- You must coordinate the inspector call at least 3 business days before work.
- You take on the research of which local permits also apply.
FAQs
Is there a fee to file the UST 30-Day Notice?
No. Ecology charges nothing to file Form ECY 020-95. Any cost you pay is a contractor’s service charge for completing or mailing the form, not a state filing fee.
Do I need a separate form for an install and a closure at the same site?
Yes. The instructions require a separate form for each project type, so a combined install-and-closure project at one site needs two notices, not one shared form.
Can I start my project as soon as Ecology receives my form?
No. You must wait 30 days after the date Ecology stamps and returns the form, unless a regional UST inspector waives the waiting period in advance for your project.
Do I write a PO Box or a street address in the Site Address field?
No PO Box is allowed for the site address. Use the real street address where the tank sits, because an inspector must be able to visit and observe the work.
Is the UST ID # the same as my UBI number?
No. The UST ID identifies your tank facility in Ecology’s system, while the UBI identifies your business with the state, so they are different numbers in different fields.
Do I check Intent to Close for a tank I am only shutting down temporarily?
No. The Intent to Close box means permanent decommissioning, and checking it can trigger a required site assessment, so it is wrong for a temporary shutdown.
Can I do the tank installation or closure work myself?
No. UST services must be performed by an ICC-certified professional or someone who passed another Ecology-approved exam, so the owner cannot legally do the physical work.
Do I enter Y in the piping column if I am replacing only the piping?
Yes. Enter Y for piping-only work, which signals Ecology to expect a Retrofit/Repair Checklist and Manufacturer’s Installation Checklist within 30 days of finishing.
Is my 30-Day Notice valid forever once stamped?
No. The notice is valid for 90 days, and your project must begin within that window or you must refile or request an extension before the clock runs out.
Do I have to call the inspector before starting work?
Yes. The contact person on the form must confirm the exact start date with the regional UST inspector at least 3 business days before the project begins.
Can I file this form online?
No. There is no online portal for the 30-Day Notice. You must submit the completed form by mail to PO Box 47655, Olympia, or by fax to (360) 407-7154.
Do exempt tanks like a small farm fuel tank need this notice?
No. Farm or residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less for personal or farm use, heating-oil tanks for the premises, and tanks of 110 gallons or less are exempt.
Does the notice alone let me operate my new tanks?
No. You still must file the Business License application and UST Addendum with the Department of Revenue and get a facility compliance tag from Ecology before normal operation.
Do I use a new Tank ID for an install or the existing one?
Yes, for installs use Tank ID numbers never used before at the facility; for closures, use the Tank ID numbers already listed on your Business License.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Washington Ecology Underground Storage Tank 30-Day Notice + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington Ecology Water Quality Modification Permit + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington Ecology NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit (Notice of Intent) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Ecology NPDES Industrial Stormwater Permit (2025 ISGP) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington Ecology Water Quality Modification Permit (Form ECY 070-361) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Underground Storage Tank Closure Report + FAQs