This cooperative agreement provides funding to the delaware department of natural resources and environmental control's underground storage tank (UST) program

Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 awarded the State of Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) $530,790 on October 1, 2025, under the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Prevention, Detection, and Compliance Program (CFDA 66.804).

The award funds Delaware's underground storage tank program, which delivers leak detection and prevention activities, facility compliance inspections, and enforcement actions designed to bring all USTs into compliance with federal release detection and prevention requirements. Funded activities include inspections and enforcement-related work, operator training, secondary containment support, delivery prohibition activities, and public reporting. The program aims to encourage proper operation and maintenance of USTs, ensure owners and operators monitor tanks in accordance with regulations, and develop the state program to operate in lieu of the federal program. Deliverables include improved and implemented facility compliance inspections and a follow-up enforcement program, with the primary expected outcome measured by the number of tank inspections completed in Delaware.

The award is a formula grant allocated non-competitively under 40 CFR 35.332. The obligated amount of $530,790 represents partial funding; an additional $682,810 in federal funds is contingent upon availability. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. Place of performance is Leipsic, Delaware. No sub-recipients are included in the assistance agreement. Primary beneficiaries are the state UST program and Delaware residents.

Specifically, the recipient will provide funding for the state's underground storage tank (UST) program, which includes leak detection, prevention, and related enforcement activities. The main objectives of the lust prevention program include: 1) encouraging owners and operators to properly operate and maintain their usts, 2) ensuring owners and operators monitor usts in accordance with 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 action partially funds the grant in the amount of $113,375. Federal funds in the amount of $682,810 are contingent upon availability. Activities:lust prevention programs include inspections and other enforcement related activities; operator training; secondary containment support activities; delivery prohibition activities; and public reporting requirements. The activities include working toward implementation of the provisions of revised federal UST regulations, including taking appropriate steps to adopt new regulations, and apply for state program approval. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the improvement and the implementation of traditional facility compliance inspections and a follow-up enforcement program. These tasks have proven successful in reducing and controlling risks; ensuring rapid response to accidental release; and other environmental emergencies associated with hazardous substances and petroleum products. The expected outcome of this cooperative agreement is the number of tank inspections completed in the state of delaware. The primary beneficiaries are the state UST program and delaware residents.