Cleanup

The 19 counties in Northeast Florida, have roughly 2,500 commercial facilities with tanks registered as having regulated substances.  Of the 2,500 facilities about one third (approximately 800-900) had discharges to the environment.  When petroleum contamination occurs, our office will oversee the cleanup of petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater. 

• Petroleum Cleanup Section in Tallahassee contains information on rules, site assessment guidance and forms, active remediation and free product recovery guidance.

  • Chapter 62-770, Florida Administrative Code

• Site Priority  Ranking report

Financial Assistance Programs

Because cleanup can often be very expensive, the state has financial assistance programs available to registered facilities: 

Petroleum Cleanup Program EDI - Early Detection Incentive Program PLRIP - Petroleum Liability and Restoration Insurance Program ATRP - Abandoned Tank Restoration Program PCPP - Petroleum Participation Cleanup Program Preapproved Advanced Cleanup

*Note: State funded cleanup assistance programs have become generally unavailable after December 31, 1998.  Facilities causing contamination in 1999 or later must use their own resources (through their insurance or other financial coverage) to assess the pollution and clean it up. 

However, sites still on the state cleanup list that had contamination before 1999  will still receive financial assistance for assessment and cleanup in priority order as state funds become available.

Related Links: 

• Guide to Florida's Petroleum Cleanup Program

Compliance

Florida has some of the most stringent Storage Tank Regulations in the country. Compliance with these rules is a priority.  

Our tanks section deals with the construction, maintenance, operation and closure of the following (detailed in Chapter 62-761 and 62-762, Florida Administrative Code):

Aboveground Storage Tanks containing:		Underground Storage Tanks containing:
Petroleum Pesticides Ammonia compounds		Petroleum Pesticides Ammonia compounds CERCLA - listed Hazardous Substances (not hazardous waste)

2009 Upgrade Deadline Please note that single-walled regulated storage tanks and piping MUST be upgraded with secondary containment by December 31, 2009. It’s highly recommended that you take steps well enough in advance of the deadline to ensure the timely upgrade of the necessary equipment.

Storage Tank Regulation Section in Tallahassee maintains helpful information including:

Upgrade information Tanks Program County Inspectors (at bottom of linked page) Current Approved equipment list Petroleum Storage System Contractor (PSSC) list Rules and guidelines (such as the closure assessment guidelines) Tanks facility database Petroleum Contamination Tracking database A list of Contracted Counties with each county inspector

Related Links: 

• Petroleum Storage Tank Facility Inspection Guide

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Storage Tanks Site
  Underground storage tanks at residences larger than 1100 gallons are regulated nationally by the EPA, but not by the DEP in State of Florida.

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Complaints, Questions and Concerns
Call in Complaints about leaking storage tanks or tank systems that don't meet code to Deneen Benefield at  (904) 256-1677, or by fax at (904) 256-1588.

Petroleum contamination of soil or groundwater, or petroleum discharges (spills) should be reported to the State Warning Point at (800) 320-0519.