PROGRAMS: Underground Storage Tanks

In October 1986, Congress amended Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to provide a Federal Trust Fund to finance the clean-up of petroleum releases from underground storage tanks (USTs). Trust Fund monies are available from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through cooperative agreements with acceptable plans for using Fund resources.

Department of Planning and Natural Resources-Division of Environmental Protection (DPNR-DEP), as the agency responsible for developing and implementing the Virgin Islands UST program, is developing basic program elements to deal with the proper use and tracking of UST Trust Fund monies. For FY’2K, DPNR is concentrating its efforts on four (4) program tasks. These tasks focus on development of enforcement strategies and cost recovery abilities, and management of UST Trust Fund activities associated with clean-ups at fund-eligible facilities. Individual tasks are described below.

Upon being given the ability to cover cost, DPNR will take over full management to the Leaking UST Trust Fund Grant for the U.S. Virgin Islands. In preparations for this, DPNR will continue to work with EPA to develop procedures for coordinating response, clean up, removals, and remediation of UST Trust Fund Sites at which DPNR would be the lead agency.

Subtask I. Answer calls of reporting releases, including suspected releases, spills / overfills and confirmed released.

Subtask II. Oversee RP Cleanups at UST eligible sites. (ongoing) Receive and review reports of:

1. Corrective actions taken or planned, including initial abatement measures;

2. Initial site characterization reports;

3. Free product reports;

4. Corrective Action Plans; and

5. Corrective Action Progress Reports.

Subtask I. DPNR will continue updating LUST sites by sending them a copy of the guidance document that was completed November 1996. Use of this document is to assist responsible parties as to what steps to take for a LUST site. (Target date: January 1999).

Subtask II. Procedures and policies will be developed to:

1. Investigate leaks, perform emergency response and hazard mitigation, conduct site investigations and exposure assessments.

2. Provide alternate water supplies.

3. Perform corrective action including site clean-up, removal, treatment, and disposal of all contamination. (ongoing)

Subtasks III. Revise final cost recovery authority procedures and policy.

Cost recovery will be included as part of the proposed UST amendments to the Oil Spill Prevention and Pollution Control Act. (Target date: December 1998)

Subtask I

1. Mid-Year progress report: April 20, 2000

2. End-of Year progress report: October 20, 2000

New staff brought on board during fiscal year 98 will take part in courses offered through the office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, such as Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation, Environmental Risk Assessments, and Incident Mitigation and Treatment Method Training.