Ohio BUSTR action levels: the latest values and what environmental professionals need to know

Ohio’s current underground storage tank standards are found in Chapter 1301:7-9 of the Ohio Administrative Code. For environmental investigations, the most important numerical criteria are the closure action levels in Rule 1301:7-9-12, the risk-based corrective-action levels in Rule 1301:7-9-13, and the excavated-soil re-use levels in Rule 1301:7-9-16.

Current closure action levels

Rule 1301:7-9-12 applies these screening levels during a UST closure assessment. Water concentrations are in milligrams per liter (mg/L), while soil concentrations are in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).

Chemical of concern	Drinking water	Soil Class 1	Soil Class 2	Soil Class 3
Benzene	0.005	0.246	0.437	1.63
Toluene	1.0	70.7	168	850
Ethylbenzene	0.7	84.5	130	130
Total xylenes	10.0	42.7	51.8	63.5
Naphthalene	0.0014	0.511	1.12	4.99
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene	0.015	2.37	5.89	7.99
Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE)	0.12	1.58	2.67	11.5
1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB)	0.00005	0.000982	0.00177	0.00734
1,2-Dichloroethane (EDC)	0.005	0.101	0.177	0.714
Benzo(a)anthracene	0.00092	12	12	12
Benzo(a)pyrene	0.0002	1.2	1.2	1.2
Benzo(b)fluoranthene	0.00092	12	12	12
Benzo(k)fluoranthene	0.0092	120	120	120
Chrysene	0.092	1,200	1,200	1,200
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene	0.000092	1.2	1.2	1.2
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene	0.00092	12	12	12
TPH C6–C12	Not applicable	1,000	5,000	8,000
TPH C10–C20	Not applicable	2,000	10,000	20,000
TPH C20–C34	Not applicable	5,000	20,000	40,000

Soil Class 1 is the default unless site testing supports Class 2 or Class 3. The rule also assumes that groundwater exists, is drinking water, and that land use is residential. Using Class 2 or Class 3 requires geotechnical analysis supporting that classification.

If a laboratory result exceeds an applicable closure action level, the owner and operator must report a confirmed release to the State Fire Marshal within 24 hours of receiving the result and proceed under the corrective-action rule. Results at or below every applicable level generally require no further action under the closure comparison.

See the official OAC 1301:7-9-12 rule text.

Current excavated-soil re-use levels

Rule 1301:7-9-16 provides a separate set of concentrations for deciding whether excavated soil may be used for any lawful purpose. All values below are in mg/kg.

Chemical of concern	Re-use action level
Benzene	0.0246
Toluene	7.07
Ethylbenzene	8.45
Total xylenes	42.7
Naphthalene	0.051
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene	0.237
MTBE	0.158
EDB	0.000982
EDC	0.0101
Benzo(a)anthracene	12
Benzo(a)pyrene	1.2
Benzo(b)fluoranthene	12
Benzo(k)fluoranthene	120
Chrysene	1,200
Dibenz(a,h)anthracene	1.2
Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene	12
TPH C6–C12	1,000
TPH C10–C20	2,000
TPH C20–C34	5,000

Soil that does not exceed any of these values may be re-used for a lawful purpose, subject to any other federal, state or local restrictions. These values should not be confused with the closure levels or the pathway-specific corrective-action levels.

See the official OAC 1301:7-9-16 rule text.

Corrective-action levels are site-dependent

Rule 1301:7-9-13 does not provide a single screening number for each chemical. Instead, its Tier 1 tables assign different action levels according to:

• soil class;
• depth to groundwater;
• drinking-water or non-drinking-water status;
• residential, non-residential or excavation-worker exposure;
• direct contact;
• soil or groundwater vapor intrusion;
• outdoor-air exposure; and
• soil-to-groundwater leaching.

For example, the current direct-contact soil levels for residential use include 26 mg/kg for benzene, 820 mg/kg for toluene, 130 mg/kg for ethylbenzene and 260 mg/kg for xylenes. These numbers address only the direct-contact pathway. A lower value from another applicable pathway may control the site decision.

The rule also retains soil TPH levels of:

• 1,000, 5,000 and 8,000 mg/kg for the C6–C12 fraction across Soil Classes 1, 2 and 3;
• 2,000, 10,000 and 20,000 mg/kg for C10–C20; and
• 5,000, 20,000 and 40,000 mg/kg for C20–C34.

Environmental professionals should therefore use the complete Tier 1 tables rather than selecting one headline value. The official OAC 1301:7-9-13 PDF contains the full matrix.

When were the standards last updated?

The latest major recalculation of BUSTR’s action levels took effect on September 1, 2017.

Ohio subsequently reviewed Chapter 1301:7-9 in 2022. Rule 1301:7-9-12 was reissued with an effective date of September 1, 2022. Rules 1301:7-9-13 and 1301:7-9-16 were also reviewed and filed in 2022, but the numerical corrective-action and re-use standards continue to reflect the substantive 2017 update.

This distinction matters: 2022 is the most recent rule-review cycle, but 2017 is the key date for the current risk-based numerical framework.

The official Ohio Administrative Code chapter page provides the current effective dates and review information for each rule.

What changed in the major update?

The 2017 revisions modernized the program’s chemical and risk assumptions. In particular:

• Closure, corrective-action and soil re-use values were recalculated using updated scientific information.
• New chemicals of concern were added, including additional compounds relevant to light-distillate releases.
• Naphthalene analysis was expanded to gasoline releases.
• The re-use table changed materially: Ohio’s rule summary reported that 11 levels became less restrictive, two became more restrictive, three were new and three remained unchanged.
• The analytical requirements for petroleum groups were expanded and clarified.
• Rule terminology and several release-reporting and closure procedures were aligned more closely with federal UST requirements.

Ohio’s supporting rule analysis also identified the addition of three chemicals of concern and the wider application of the naphthalene criterion as substantive changes affecting petroleum-contaminated soil assessment. See the official 2017 Rule 1301:7-9-16 analysis.

Practical takeaway

Before comparing laboratory data with BUSTR criteria, confirm:

1. whether the work is a closure assessment, corrective-action investigation or excavated-soil re-use decision;
2. which petroleum analytical group applies;
3. the relevant soil class;
4. groundwater depth and drinking-water status;
5. current and potential land use; and
6. every applicable exposure pathway.

Applying a value from the wrong table can change whether a release must be reported, whether further delineation is required, or whether excavated soil may be re-used.

Keeping standards current in ESdat

ESdat has recently compiled a range of updated standards across North America, Europe and Australia.

These updates allow users to seamlessly apply current guideline values, automate compliance monitoring, and incorporate the latest standards into reporting and decision-making workflows in ESdat.

Explore the compiled standards at ESdat Environmental Standards.

This summary is intended as a quick professional reference. Check the current rule text and obtain site-specific regulatory advice before making a compliance decision.

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