DSHW-2024-006047

Petroleum products include diesel fuel, gasoline, hydraulic fluid, and refined oil. This document outlines the Utah
Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control’s (DWMRC) guidance for petroleum spills. This document is not
applicable to spills from Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Above Ground Storage Tanks (ASTs). This document is
for guidance purposes only.
1. Making a Hazardous Waste Determination
Don’t assume the material is nonhazardous!
A determination must be made to ascertain if the contaminated material is a hazardous waste at the point it was
released. A safety data sheet (SDS) is helpful in making that determination. Be aware that some diesel fuels are
flammable, and hydraulic oils and other oils may contain heavy metals, etc.
2. Reporting Petroleum-Related Spills
Under Utah Rules, spills and releases of petroleum products (diesel fuel, gasoline, and oils) that pose a potential
threat to human health or the environment or impacts to water must be immediately reported to the DEQ Hotline
(801-536-4123). (See reporting level requirements at https://documents.deq.utah.gov/environmental-response-and-
remediation/serc/DERR-2021-001802.pdf). Certain incidents also require reporting to EPA’s National Response
Center (800-424-8802); see 49 CFR 171.15.
3. Cleanup of Petroleum-Related Spills
Spills must be cleaned up to background. If background is not possible, USE the DWMRC Cleanup Levels
specified in Utah Admin. Code R315-101 [R315-101-5(f)(1) and R315-101-5(g)(11)]. These levels look at
indicator compounds rather than TPH-DRO or TPH-GRO levels.
Section 5.2.7 of the DWMRC’s Technical Guide for Risk Assessments (TGRA) provides additional guidance on
verifying cleanup of petroleum impacted soil.
Do NOT apply the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation’s (DERR) Leaking Storage Tank
screening levels. These screening levels DO NOT apply across all DEQ programs.
If the contaminated material is determined to be hazardous, a follow up report must be submitted to DWMRC
within 15 days of the release. See Utah Admin. Code R315-263-30 and R315-15-9.
4. Disposing of Contaminated Soils
Hazardous petroleum-contaminated material: Must be manifested off-site to an approved hazardous waste
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF).
Non-hazardous petroleum-contaminated material: Please contact a permitted solid waste landfill for further
information. Visit our website at recycle.utah.gov and use the map to locate nearby landfills.
Any questions, please call the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control [phone].
Hotline Reporting
Spills, Releases, or Environmental Emergencies
Utah DEQ 24-hour line
[phone]
EPA’s National Response Center (NRC)
[phone]

Response & Clean Up Guidance for
Petroleum Spills
2024