Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
The goal of the Department of Environmental Quality Petroleum Technical
Section (PTS) is to protect human health and the environment from petroleum and
hazardous substance releases from storage tank
systems, both underground and above ground. Meeting this goal requires
definition of the extent and magnitude of the contamination and
implementation of the necessary corrective action.
Petroleum Release Section staff includes geologists, hydrogeologists,
engineers, and environmental scientists who direct and oversee cleanup of
petroleum releases. They are available as technical resources for tank
owners and operators, local government officials, and the public to help
respond to questions or concerns about tank leaks.
Petroleum and hazardous substance releases can contaminate soil,
groundwater and surface water, and may threaten or impact public and private
drinking water supplies. In addition, harmful and potentially explosive
hydrocarbon vapors can accumulate in confined spaces such as basements,
crawl spaces and utility corridors. If a petroleum release occurs, the
Petroleum Release Section assists and oversees the efforts of the facility
owner or operator in assessing the potential threat to human health and the
environment, and provides assistance with corrective action. The section
works closely with the Petroleum Tank Release
Compensation Board (PTRCB) which provides financial reimbursement of
eligible corrective action cleanup costs to tank owners and operators.
The Petroleum Release Section also administers the federal Leaking
Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund Program. This program conducts
investigation and remediation activities at release sites that threaten
human health and the environment where: (1) the release source is unknown or
(2) the tank owner is insolvent or recalcitrant. The LUST Trust Program also
conducts emergency response activities to mitigate immediate human health
hazards such as petroleum-impacted drinking water supplies, and buildings
impacted with petroleum vapors.
State statutory authority for corrective actions is found in the Montana
Underground Storage Tank Act, 75-11-501, MCA et seq. The Department's
administrative rules are found in Title 17, Chapter 56 of the Administrative
Rules of Montana (ARM). These rules include the requirements for release
reporting, investigation, confirmation, abatement measures, and corrective
action.
The DEQ-PTS maintains a statewide database of all
petroleum storage tank releases that have been reported since 1986.
Information on the status and final disposition of these releases are
tracked in the UST-Access database. Since 1986, 4,189
releases have been reported. As of December 15, 2004, there are
1,585 active petroleum releases and 2,604 resolved releases.
The following functions are administered by the Petroleum Release
Section:
- receives and investigates reports of environmental storage tank
releases;
- assists local fire and health authorities in responding to the
immediate threats resulting from contaminated drinking water supplies
and explosive vapors created by releases;
- requires, approves and oversees release investigation and remediation
activities conducted by storage tank owners and operators;
- reviews and recommends PTRCB reimbursement claims for completed
investigation and remediation activities;
- conducts final release site closure determinations at the conclusion
of the remediation;
- in the event the source of the release cannot be identified or the
owner is recalcitrant, the LUST Trust Program utilizes federal LUST
Trust funding to respond, investigate and remediate any health or
environmental threats posed by the release.
