It is the intent of the Bureau of Petroleum Storage Systems to encourage the use of a wide range of cleanup strategies and techniques in the petroleum cleanup program in order to achieve the most cost-effective and efficient cleanup of contaminated sites. In keeping with this philosophy, the Department has created the Innovative Technology Acceptance program. The purpose of the program is to provide a mechanism to recognize innovative technologies as viable alternatives to be considered for the cleanup of contaminated sites. Recognition by the Department that technologies are considered viable will provide a degree of exposure and credibility that may result in the consideration and use of these cleanup techniques on a greater number of contaminated sites. This program is limited to petroleum contaminated sites and related technologies, products, and processes.

It is not the intent of the Department to endorse these technologies as a preference to other technologies, both innovative and conventional. Innovative technologies that have been accepted by the Department through this program are not necessarily appropriate for cleanup of all sites and should not be considered a presumptive remedy by virtue of being accepted by the Department. Selection of the appropriate strategy for cleanup of a site should be based on a thorough technical evaluation of site specific factors including extent and degree of contamination, type of media contaminated, soil and aquifer characteristics, and cost-effectiveness.

Technologies do not have to be accepted by the Department in the innovative technology acceptance program to be proposed in a Remedial Action Plan. There may be viable innovative technologies that either have not applied for acceptance or have applied but have not worked through the acceptance process yet, and as a result do not appear on our list of accepted technologies. It is not the intent of this program to exclude those technologies from consideration as viable cleanup methods.

An application form is available for vendors or proponents of innovative technologies to apply to the Department for the acceptance of their technology. This notice, the application materials, a listing of accepted technologies, and acceptance letters can be found at the Department's Innovative Technologies site. The application materials are also available by contacting:

          Rick Ruscito, P.E.
          Innovative Technology Coordinator
          Bureau of Petroleum Storage Systems, Team 6
          Mail Station 4590
          Department of Environmental Protection
          2600 Blair Stone Road
          Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
          (850) 877-1133, ext. 29
 

In evaluating technologies, Department staff will look at the viability of technologies based on both theoretical principles of their operation and empirical evidence of effectiveness and efficiency. The application review process also considers issues such as environmental, regulatory and permitting issues, safety, and possible limitations on the effective application in various cleanup situations and environmental conditions based on information provided by the applicant. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all considerations of the technology and does not relieve the Professional Engineer who is considering incorporating the technology in a Remedial Action Plan from a thorough consideration of these and other issues, including cost-effectiveness.

The Department encourages persons responsible for the cleanup of contaminated sites and the consulting community to give consideration to the innovative technologies the Department has accepted.