Goals

Governor Napolitano established Children's Environmental Health to protect children from exposure to harmful chemicals and other environmental health hazards. In keeping with this program, in August 2007, ADEQ launched the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) School Assistance Initiative to coordinate efforts with schools and school districts to prevent future releases from operating UST systems and to remediate open UST releases at schools. ADEQ's efforts include:

• Providing education and information on Arizona's underground storage tank laws to schools and school districts.
• Expediting cleanup and closure of contaminated leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites at schools.
• Assisting schools to prevent future releases from operating underground fuel storage systems.

Stakeholders

• Schools/School Districts with operating USTs
• Status of Schools/School Districts with LUST cases

Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Corrective Actions

For school districts with LUST sites, ADEQ staff has met with school officials across Arizona to discuss partnership opportunities to expedite the cleanup of UST releases at school sites before the State Assurance Fund (SAF) application deadline in 2010.

ADEQ has provided information to school officials on accessing financial assistance through the SAF, and encouraged them to make use of this resource. This fund provides money for overseeing and clean-up activities at the UST sites. The eligible school pays only 10 percent of the total cost for the site cleanup. This collaborative effort will help schools address the high cost of leaking UST investigations and cleanups.

ADEQ has also helped school sites that are not financially or technically able to address their corrective action responsibilities by encouraging them to address corrective actions through the agency's State Lead program. Under this scenario the State will conduct the corrective actions that the agency determines are necessary to protect human health and the environment. The school district pays a 10 per cent co-pay of the total cost to cleanup the contaminated site.

UST Compliance Assistance

For school districts with operating USTs, ADEQ offers compliance assistance in the form of:

• On-site meetings to help school officials understand UST regulations and effectively manage UST systems.
• A review of their UST system(s) to provide information and awareness on necessary testing, maintenance and calibration of UST systems, as well as required documentation to maintain or achieve compliance with the State's UST requirements.
• Distribution of a Compliance Assistance Binder, including a compliance checklist for UST operation, best management practices, and an appendix for critical forms and certifications and resources to help the owner achieve compliance with the UST requirements.

On the Road

UST inspectors and LUST corrective action case managers have held on-site meetings at LUST sites and operating UST locations to help develop a partnership with school and school district personnel. Since the creation of the School Assistance Initiative, ADEQ has also gone on the road with the Children's Environmental Health Project to inform counties about the SAI, touch on issues that will help protect the environment, and make our schools a safe and healthy environment to work and play.

Press Releases

• 04/17/08: ADEQ Program to Help Schools with Underground Storage Tanks Wins Award for Environmental Achievement from EPA
• 09/11/07: ADEQ Director Owens Announces New Initiative to Help Arizona Schools Clean Up and Prevent Contamination from Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

ADEQ Contacts

• Don Spencer, Coordinator
  (602) 771-4388
• Wayne Pudney, Technical Advisor
  (602) 771-4192
• Bill Engstrom, Site Investigation and Remediation Unit I Supervisor
  (602) 771-4309
• Joe Drosendahl, Corrective Action Section Manager
  (602) 771-4845
• Ron Kern, UST & Division Support Section Manger
  (602) 771-4242

Links

• Governor's Kids Page
• Protecting Arizona's children (Governor Napolitano's Priority)