The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced there was still grant money available for the current fiscal year to assist tank owners with costs of taking corrective action in response to heating oil tank leaks.

The funding is available through the Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Grant Program.

Grants are available for tank owners who have underground storage tanks with a capacity of 3,000 gallons or less used for storing heating oil for consumption on the premises where stored to assist with costs of taking corrective action in response to a release. The release must have occurred on or after January 30, 1998.

Typical eligible corrective action costs include excavating, emptying, cleaning, removing, transporting and disposing of a leaking storage tank; excavating contaminated soil; transporting and disposing of wastes; and restoring disturbed or contaminated areas by backfilling, grading and revegetating. Costs associated with the removal of non-leaking storage tanks and releases from storage tanks located in underground areas such as basements or cellars are not eligible for reimbursement.

The reimbursement is limited to the actual costs of corrective action or $4,000, whichever is less. However, a $1,000 deductible must be paid first by the tank owner. The reimbursement and deductible apply on a per tank basis.

For more information, contact the Storage Tanks Cleanup Program in Harrisburg at 717-783-9475, contact the Environmental Cleanup Program in your local DEP regional office, or send email to: tankcleanup@dep.state.pa.us .

3/28/2008