Underground Storage Tanks Program

Permit Requirements for UST Cleanup Sites

• Petroleum-Contaminated Soil Treatment Permits
  Information about permits that authorize the short-term treatment and/or disposal of petroleum-contaminated soil on-site or off-site is found here.

Before planning to use on-site or off-site soil treatment, you must make sure that the site you intend to use for treatment is not in a wetlands area, and that soil treatment is compatible with local land use regulations or concerns. You are advised to contact local authorities (city or county) for this purpose. Some jurisdictions have ordinances prohibiting soil aeration or have additional controls which they place on the treatment unit.

Prior to remediating the petroleum-contaminated soil, you must provide the Department with a written treatment plan which outlines how you intend to manage your soil. This plan must include:

• Treatment cell and leachate collection system designs,
• A plan to cover the treatment pile during inclement conditions,
• A sampling plan under which regular sampling will occur, and
• A soil tilling schedule (if applicable).

Contaminated soil may not be moved to an off-site location without first coordinating with the appropriate regional DEQ office and having written approval from the local jurisdictions.

• Water Quality Permits
  Information about permits required if petroleum-contaminated groundwater or surface water is treated and will be discharged to public waters (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit – NPDES) or on land (Water Pollution Control Facilities Permit – WPCF) is found here.

Cleanup activities which result in discharge of treated contaminated water may be allowed under certain circumstances. These activities may include dewatering excavations, pump tests (short-term), and on-going discharges from groundwater remediation. The discharge water must be tested periodically and meet criteria for a number of parameters including pH, TPH, and benzene concentration. Water with a sheen may not be discharged to waters of the state. Discharge permits must be obtained from the DEQ Water Quality Division prior to treatment. Fees of $250 to $300 are required for these permits.

• Air Quality Permits
  Information about permits required if the emissions from a soil vapor extraction system or air stripper groundwater treatment system exceed 10 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants is found here. A standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit may be required to cover the projected emissions from these groundwater treatment systems.
  • Guidelines for Using Air Contaminant Discharge Permit (ACDP) Application Forms PDF

Some treatment systems, such as vapor extraction systems or air strippers, remove contaminants from the soil or groundwater, but result in emissions to the air. If those emissions are significant, you may be required to obtain a separate Air Contaminant Discharge permit. If you intend to use one of these systems, you must notify the Department in advance of activating the system. Detailed plans that demonstrate how your treatment system will work, and calculations that show the amount of contaminants that will be emitted to the air must be submitted with the corrective action plan.

For More Information

If you need specific information about obtaining Soil Matrix Service Provider or Supervisor licenses call Steve Paiko at 503-229-6652 or leave a message on the UST Help Line at 1-800-742-7878 (toll-free in Oregon).

If you need more information or help with a solid waste, water quality or air quality permit application, contact the appropriate DEQ Regional Office (see Contact DEQ link at top of page) and ask for the Underground Storage Tank program.

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