Formula Grant 00A01715

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND'S (RI) LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK PROGRAM (LUST) IN LEAK DETECTION, LEAK PREVENTION, AND RELATED ENFORCEMENT. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE LUST PREVENTION PROGRAM INCLUDE: (1) ENCOURAGING OWNERS AND OPERATORS TO PROPERLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THEIR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (USTS); (2) ENSURING OWNERS AND OPERATORS MONITOR USTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS; AND (3) DEVELOPING THE STATE PROGRAM TO OPERATE IN LIEU OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAM. THESE OBJECTIVES PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY PREVENTING PETROLEUM AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE RELEASES. THIS AWARD PROVIDES LUST TRUST FUND PREVENTION FUNDS TO THE RI DEM UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS SECTION IN THE OFFICE OF LAND REVITALIZATION SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT. ACTIVITIES TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS PROJECT INCLUDE CONDUCTING ON-SITE COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS AT FACILITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INSPECTED IN THREE YEARS, ENSURING THE SECONDARY CONTAINMENT AND UNDER DISPENSER REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DELIVERY PROHIBITION PROGRAM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS AWARD FULLY FUNDS THE PROJECT.ACTIVITIES:LUST PREVENTION PROGRAMS INCLUDE INSPECTIONS AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES, OPERATOR TRAINING, SECONDARY CONTAINMENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES, DELIVERY PROHIBITION ACTIVITIES, AND PUBLIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. FUNDING WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE ELIGIBLE LUST PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2005. RHODE ISLAND WILL MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH UST REGULATIONS, TAKE APPROPRIATE ENFORCEMENT, IMPLEMENT THE DELIVERY PROHIBITION PROGRAM, IMPLEMENT AN OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM, AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC RECORD OF LUST PREVENTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION ACTIVITIES. THE RECIPIENT WILL SEEK TO IMPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADITIONAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS AND A FOLLOW-UP ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE REGULATED ENTITIES COMPLY WITH RELEASE DETECTION, LEAK PREVENTION AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND ACTIVELY IMPLEMENT OPERATOR TRAINING, PROHIBITING DELIVERY FOR NON-COMPLYING FACILITIES, POSTING PUBLIC RECORDS, AND ENSURING SECONDARY CONTAINMENT OR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TANK MANUFACTURERS AND INSTALLERS. RI DEM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED RELEASES AT UST FACILITIES; AND INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF UST FACILITIES THAT ARE IN TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH RELEASE DETECTION AND RELEASE PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS. THE (UST) PROGRAM PROTECTS COMMUNITIES LIVING AND WORKING NEAR UST SITES AS WELL AS LAND AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES FROM CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY RELEASES OF REGULATED SUBSTANCES (TYPICALLY PETROLEUM-BASED MOTOR FUELS AND THEIR ADDITIVES) FROM LEAKING USTS (LUSTS). THROUGH PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, EPA PROTECTS GROUNDWATER FROM THESE PETROLEUM RELEASES AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TRIBAL AND STATE PARTNERS TO HELP MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS TO COMMUNITIES. THE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BRINGING ALL UST SYSTEMS INTO COMPLIANCE WITH RELEASE DETECTION AND RELEASE PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE ENERGY POLICY ACT (EPACT). THE EPACT REQUIRES ALL REGULATED FACILITIES TO BE INSPECTED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS CONDUCTING ON-SITE COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS AT FACILITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INSPECTED IN THREE YEARS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE THE STATE UST PROGRAM AND STATE RESIDENTS. THIS AWARD FULLY FUNDS THE PROJECT.