Project Grant 02J70101

DESCRIPTION:THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THE STATE OF OREGON'S LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK (LUST) PROGRAM. SPECIFICALLY, THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ITS LUST CORRECTIVE ACTION PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES ASSESSMENT, REMEDIATION AND ENFORCEMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE LUST CORRECTIVE PROGRAM ARE TO INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED PETROLEUM RELEASES AND TO PERFORM CORRECTIVE ACTION ON THESE RELEASES. ACTIVITIES:LUST COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FUNDS ARE TO BE USED TO ADMINISTER THE LUST PROGRAM; TO OVERSEE AND ENFORCE CORRECTIVE ACTION BY OWNERS OR OPERATORS; TO INVESTIGATE SUSPECTED PETROLEUM RELEASES; TO PERFORM DIRECT CORRECTIVE ACTION WHEN OWNERS OR OPERATORS ARE UNKNOWN, UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PERFORM THOSE ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES; TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PROMPT ACTIONS TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT; AND TO PURSUE COST RECOVERY ACTIONS FOR LUST TRUST FUND (LTF) EXPENDITURES, WHEN NECESSARY. SPECIFICALLY, OREGON WILL BE EXECUTING THE LUST BACKLOG REDUCTION STRATEGY, CONDUCT ABILITY-TO-PAY ANALYSES, CONDUCT COST RECOVERY FROM RESPONSIBLE PARTIES OF LTF MONIES, CONDUCT CLEANUP OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS, DEVELOP GUIDANCE, PERFORM OUTREACH, PREPARE REPORTS AND CONDUCT JOINT EVALUATIONS OF PERFORMANCE WITH EPA REGION 10. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE PREPARING OUTREACH AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS, UPDATING OREGON DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (ODEQ)'S WEBSITE, COLLECT APPROXIMATELY $800,000 IN COST RECOVERED FUNDS, SENDING LETTERS TO RESPONSIBLE PARTIES REQUESTING FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR CLEANUP FUNDING, PROCESS AND PRIORITIZE REPORTED RELEASES, CONDUCT APPROXIMATELY 20 CLEANUP INSPECTIONS, REDUCE THE LUST BACKLOG BY CLOSING 80 SITES, CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT ON NONRESPONSIVE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES AND PREPARE REPORTS EVALUATING PERFORMANCE. THE PRIMARY DELIVERABLE IS THE STATE CLEANUP DATA THAT IS ENTERED INTO EPA'S LUST 4 DATABASE SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY OUTCOME IS A REDUCTION IN THE BACKLOG OF UST RELEASES FOR WHICH CLEANUPS HAVE NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED. THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE, AND THE PRIMARY, DIRECT BENEFICIARY IS THE STATE LUST CORRECTIVE ACTION PROGRAM WITH THE INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES BEING THE STATE'S RESIDENTS.