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September 2009 Enewsletter - Your Guide to Underground Storage Tank Issues
What are Underground Storage Tanks?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines an underground storage tank system as “a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground.” Leaking or corroding USTs are one of the most common causes of site contamination. According to the EPA, there are over 600,000 USTs nationwide that store petroleum or hazardous substances. Leaking USTs can contaminate groundwater, which is the most common source of drinking water for Americans.
What happens if a UST is leaking?
If a leak has been detected or there has been a release from overfilling the UST, a site assessment is required to determine the scope of contamination. Be sure to work with a firm that has expertise in USTs.
How much does it cost to clean up?
Very contaminated sites at which drinking water resources have been adversely impacted may involve cleanup activities that can cost millions of dollars. Other sites that exhibit relatively minor or no contamination may allow cleanup contractors to restore the site quickly and at less cost. Some contaminated sites have impacted only surrounding soil and not groundwater; these are generally easier and less expensive to remediate.
UST cleanup can be costly, but the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides a supplemental appropriation of $200 million from the LUST (Leaking Underground Storage Tanks) Trust Fund (Recovery Act funding) for LUST cleanup activities authorized by the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA).
Here in North Carolina, the EPA announced the distribution of $7.5 million under the ARRA of 2009 to assess and clean up UST petroleum leaks.
How can contaminated sites be remediated?
Depending on the extent and nature of the contamination, clean-up processes are varied. Examples of cleanup technologies include: soil vapor extraction (SVE), air sparging, biosparging, biopiles, bioventing, in situ groundwater bioremediation, dual-phase extraction, monitored natural attenuation, enhanced aerobic bioremediation, and chemical oxidation.
Questions or concerns about potential UST issues at your site? Contact Piedmont Geologic at 919-854-9700.
