DERR-2024-009184

UTAH TANK NEWS
FALL 2001 UST Branch
Published by the Utah Department of
Environmental Quality
Division of Environmental Response and
Remediation,
UST Branch
Dianne R. Nielson, Department Director
Kent P. Gray, Division Director
Dale Marx, UST Branch Manager
Gary Harris, Editor
SHALLOW GROUNDWATER
by John MenattiIncreasing population growth
in the Salt Lake Valley has
prompted water suppliers to
evaluate and develop new
sources of water. Currently,
groundwater provides about 43% of
Salt Lake Valley’s drinking water and
is pumped from wells installed in the
deep artesian aquifer (principal aqui-
fer). Water suppliers are currently pro-
posing to install wells into the shallow
unconfined aquifer and use the shal-
low groundwater to help meet future
water needs.
Generally, the shallow unconfined aqui-
fer is present from about 10 feet to 50
feet below the ground surface in the
Salt Lake Valley. A clay aquitard of
varying thickness underlies the shallow
aquifer. The principal artesian aquifer,
currently used for culinary water sup-
plies, underlies the aquitard. Primary
recharge water to the principal aquifer
is from rainfall and snowmelt in the
mountains surrounding the Salt Lake
Valley. Primary recharge water to the
shallow aquifer is from infiltration from
the ground surface in the valley.
Over 2,000 underground storage tank
sites in the Salt Lake Valley have had
leaks. The primary contaminants that
have leaked from these tank sites are
gasoline and diesel fuel. Most of these
sites have already been cleaned up.
Currently, there are about 400 under-
ground storage tank sites in the Salt
Lake Valley that are in various stages
of investigation and cleanup. Many of
these sites have contaminated the shal-
low groundwater aquifer and are be-
ing investigated and cleaned up by en-
vironmental consultants under the regu-
latory oversight of the Utah Division
of Environmental Response and
Remediation (DERR). Other sources
of contamination to the shallow
groundwater aquifer include industrial
sites and dry cleaners.
Generally, contaminants released to the
shallow groundwater aquifer move
relatively slowly due to the flat ground-
water gradients and low permeability
soils. However, the pumping of
groundwater from shallow wells can
increase groundwater gradients in the
vicinity of the wells and potentially
cause contaminants to migrate faster.
If contaminated groundwater reaches
the wells, additional treatment will be
required to use the water and addi-
tional costs will be incurred by water
suppliers/users. Because of the pro-
posed use of the shallow groundwater
resource in the Salt Lake Valley, in-
creased efforts are underway by the
DERR to investigate and clean up con-
taminated sites in the vicinity of the pro-
posed shallow groundwater wells.
INSIDE:
Shallow Groundwater
I Need to Look Where
Assistance Visits
PST Fund
UTAH TANK NEWS
page 2
FALL 2001
Environmental consultants working on contaminated sites
in the Salt Lake Valley should re-check the Utah Division of
Water Rights (DWR) database for the presence of shallow
groundwater wells in the vicinity of their sites. This infor-
mation can be obtained from the DWR website
(http://nrwrt1.nr.state.ut.us/wrinfo/wwwplatr.htm). If shal-
low groundwater wells are found in the vicinity of a con-
taminated site, the DERR should be notified immediately.
To determine if a proposed location for a shallow ground-
water well is near a contaminated site, the Interactive Map
should be checked at the DERR website
(http://www.deq.state.ut.us/eqerr/errhmpg.htm).
I Need To Look Where?
by Gary HarrisDispensers and sub-pumps are prime
candidates for leaks. A leak can be
defined as anything from a small drip to a
major spray. Behind your locked
dispenser panels and under your man-hole
covers there are metering and valve assemblies, along with
filters, solenoids and piping joints, flex connectors and
fittings. These components sometimes go awry or become
worn and may result in a leak. A small drip or fine hair-like
spray can add up to major contamination if gone unchecked
for months or even days. Our UST inspectors inspect
each facility once a year. The inspectors open each
dispenser panel and each sub- pump area. In many cases
the panels or man hole covers appear that they have not
been opened in months if not longer.
Some of these drips and leaks are small enough to go
undetected by typical leak detection methods. The most
reliable way to discover dispenser or sub-pump leaks is to
use the good old eye ball (visual check) method.
What to look for? First turn on the system, remove the
dispenser nozzle and turn or flip the handle, this will ensure
that the system is pressurized. Look for obvious drips,
puddles, stains and vapor.. Many of these drips can easily
be fixed by the turn of a wrench. If the contamination appears
to be significant, contact the DERR at 801-536-4100 and
report the contamination. On some occasions our inspectors
find used filters under the dispensers, which indicates to us
that the filter (about a quart of product) was dumped under
the dispenser and into the environment. This is not an
acceptable practice, the filter should be properly disposed
of as if it were used oil.
At the sub-pump containment area, sometimes we find that
the sub-pump is completely buried in dirt. We suggest to
the owner/operator to remove all the dirt around the sub-
pump and piping joints. This will increase the life span of
the pump and make it more accessible for visual inspections.
We also recommend that the dispensers and the sub-pump
areas be check at least once a month. By performing routine
visual inspections behind your dispenser panel and under
your manhole covers, you as an owner/ operator can head
off potential problems before they grow into costly
environmental contamination. The sooner these leaks are
found the better for everyone and the environment.
Compliance Assistance Visits by Gary HarrisEnvironmental Scientist form The
Underground Storage Tank (UST) section
are available to visit your facility, answer
questions and give advice about your tank
system, leak detection and required
paperwork. THIS WILL NOT BE AN INSPECTION.
This will be an assistance visit. If you are a new owner, old
owner, or manager of a UST facility and would like this
free training on your tank system, please contact the UST
Section at [phone].
This is a great opportunity for owners with more than one
facility to have all their managers trained on their
responsibilities dealing with the UST program. We will
present a one or two hour training session and provide
hands on training at your facility. We will go through step
by step our procedures for inspecting your tank system.
We will explain what we look for at your fill pipes, man-
hole covers, and dispensers. We are willing to provide
training in all areas dealing with UST program, everything
from paperwork to visual inspections.
UTAH TANK NEWS FALL 2001
page 3
This visit can be tailored towards you specific needs. For
example, if you require training on you Automatic Tank
Gauging (ATG) system, we will provide that training. The
more owners and operators understand about their UST
system, the better for your business and the environment.
PST Fund
by Doug HansenThe State of Utah Petroleum Storage Tank
(PST) Fund was established in response to
Federal Requirements that owners of under
ground storage tanks (USTs) have either
$500,000 or $1,000,000 of insurance to deal
with releases. All eligible releases that occur after July 1,
1994 are required to meet a $10,000 deductible prior to
receiving reimbursement from the Fund. Any eligible re-
lease that occurred prior to July 1, 1994 has a $25,000
deductible associated with it. The PST Fund is supported
through fees paid on tanks and environmental assurance
fee. Current tank fees include a $250 fee assessed for the
year in which a new tank is installed, and an annual renewal
fee of $50 for tanks that have less than 400,000 gallons
throughput. If the annual throughout exceeds 400,000 gal-
lons, the fee is increased to $150. Currently, the environ-
mental assurance fee is one-quarter of a cent per gallon
throughput. In addition to the fees collected from the
UST owners, interest generated on the cash balance in
the Fund. Historically, the interest earned has been greater
than the tank fees collected annually.
Since the inception of the Fund, over 400 releases from
USTs have received reimbursement for expenses related
to investigation and cleanup of petroleum contamination.
As of September 30, 2001, over 140 of those releases
that have received Fund reimbursement have been rel-
egated to “no further action” status. In many cases these
efforts have allowed owners to sell property, obtain loans
for improvements to their property, or use their property
as collateral to secure finances for other business ven-
tures.
To date, owners of USTs in the State of Utah have been
reimbursed over $40 million from the PST Fund. The
average time for processing a reimbursement request
(from the time the request is received by the State until
payment is approved) is just under 30 days. The amount
of money paid out on a quarterly basis has nearly tripled
since 1997. With the increase in Fund expenditures due
in part to the reality that the releases currently under
investigation and cleanup are substantially more costly than
those that have received “no further action” status, the
State is considering alternatives to traditional “time and
expenses” contracting to lower the cost of cleanup.
CLAIMS PAYMENT INFORMATION
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Mar-97 Sep-97 Mar-98 Sep-98 Mar-99 Sep-99 Mar-00 Sep-00 Mar-01 Sep-01
Quarter Ending
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Trend Line for $ Amount of Claims Paid
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Environmental Reponse and
Remediation
P.O. Box 144840
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4840
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
Salt Lake City, UT
Permit # 4621
VISIT OUR HOMEPAGE
www.deq.state.ut.us
DEQ
http://www.deq.state.ut.us/eqerr
DERR
PETCON
www.petconinc.com
Mar. 20-22, 2002
Jul. 17-19, 2002
Nov, 20-22, 2002
1-800-852-8374
Installer Remover Sampler
UVSC
Dec.11, 2001
Feb. 19, 2002
Apr. 16, 2002
Jun. 18, 2002
(Sampler only)
801-222-8000 ex. 8677
Re-certification
Tests are given the first Tuesday of each month.
For more information contact David Wilson at
(801-536-4138
ECIAlan JenkinsGroundwater, soil sampler801-491-3455by appointment
Environmental Consultants Exam DatesDec. 14, 2001Mar. 8, 2002Jun. 14, 2002 Contact Hillary Mason at [phone]
CERTIFICATION CLASSES AND EXAMS