PA Seeks $6.1 Million In Recovery Funds For Cleanup Of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

The Commonwealth this week is applying for $6.1 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to clean up 71 leaking underground storage tanks in 40 counties.

“We are applying for the maximum grant amount available and will target these funds to sites where historic abandoned underground storage tanks are delaying redevelopment efforts because of possible contamination and cleanup costs,” Gov. Rendell said. “The benefits from this influx of funding will go far beyond creating jobs and opportunities for cleanup contractors; the money will help remove roadblocks to development at abandoned sites in communities across the state.”

The funds will be distributed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and must be directed to the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks where the responsible party is unknown or the owner is unable or unwilling to remove the tanks and remediate the site. In the case where a responsible party is unwilling or partially able to conduct the work, the Department of Environmental Protection will perform the work and may take actions to recover cleanup costs.

Pennsylvania first began regulating underground storage tanks in 1989 and typically spends between $1 million and $2 million each year to clean up leaking underground storage tanks. Money for state-sponsored cleanups comes from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund which is supported by a tax on gasoline sold in Pennsylvania.

Funding would address 71 sites in 40 counties where leaks from abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks have been reported or suspected. There have been more than 14,700 known releases from underground storage tanks in Pennsylvania since 1989. Remediation has been completed for 11,500 releases, and corrective actions are under way at nearly all the remaining sites.

Cleanup of a leaking underground tank can range from as little as $5,000 up to multi-million dollar projects that involve long-term treatment of contaminated groundwater.

A typical example of the sites to be addressed with the anticipated federal money is Malcolm’s service station in Warrington Township, Bucks County. This small family-owned facility was closed after petroleum releases and soil contamination were discovered in 2002 and underground storage tanks at the site were pumped and taken out of operation.

The property owner’s estate lacks the financial resources to remediate the site which is now abandoned and fenced off in an area with growing retail development. Cleanup of the leaking tanks would allow the property to be returned to a useful purpose.

“This federal funding will supplement our existing cleanup program and allow us to make significant progress toward clearing up our backlog of sites where leaks have occurred and corrective actions have not yet been taken,” Gov. Rendell added. “We are going to focus our initial efforts on sites where we have already made arrangements with landowners to enter the property and conduct the work so we will be able to begin these cleanups as soon as the funding is received.”

State law requires all underground storage tanks to be registered and permitted. Newly installed and replaced underground storage tanks must be double-walled and have corrosion protection and leak detection. Tank installers must be certified by the state and tanks are inspected by DEP certified inspectors at least once every three years.

A list of specific cleanup sites is available online.