Region 1: EPA New England Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
Recovery Act - Leaking Underground Storage Tanks: States in Region I will use LUST Recovery Act Money for Assessment and Cleanup Work in New England
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In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress appropriated $200 million from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund to EPA for assessing and cleaning up leaks from underground storage tanks. EPA allocated the vast majority of that money to state and territorial underground storage tank programs because they are the primary implementers of the underground storage tank program. This money will pay for activities at shovel-ready sites and may be used either to:
- Oversee assessing and cleaning up underground storage tank leaks, or
- Directly pay for assessing and cleaning up leaks from federally regulated tanks where the responsible party is unknown, unwilling, unable, or the cleanup is an emergency response.
States in New England will use Recovery Act funds to assess and clean up petroleum releases from leaking underground storage tank sites. Funding will be used primarily for "shovel-ready" site assessment and cleanup activities at orphaned or abandoned sites, where the owners/operators of the sites are unknown or unable to pay. The purpose of these funds is to clean up contaminated LUST sites effectively, maximize job creation and retention, and provide economic and environmental benefits in our region's communities.
This infusion of critically needed dollars - over twice the typical annual funding for the six New England states - will help speed recovery and investment in many of our communities.
States in New England received a total of $9,832,000, allocated as listed below. This information is from EPA/state assistance agreements and is subject to change.
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection -- $2,000,000
Awarded – 08/07/2009
For More Information – Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection 
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection -- $3,118,000
Awarded – 08/13/2009
For More Information – Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Maine Department of Environmental Protection -- $1,436,000
Awarded – 07/16/2009
For More Information – Maine Department of Environmental Protection
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services -- $1,286,000
Awarded – 07/16/2009
For More Information – New Hampshire Office of Economic Stimulus
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management -- $977,000
Awarded – 07/24/2009
For More Information – State of Rhode Island Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation -- $1,015,000
Awarded – 07/31/2009
For More Information – Vermont Office of Economic Stimulus and Recovery
EPA's New England Storage Tank Program. In New England, about 31,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) store petroleum or hazardous substances that can harm the environment and human health if the USTs release their stored contents. Last year, nearly 500 releases were reported from USTs in New England. Today, about 3,000 cleanups are waiting to be completed. Learn about Underground Storage Tanks in New England.
Neighborhoods are often plagued by contamination from leaking underground storage tanks. Contamination seeps underground – tainting soil and water sources. Often, facilities are abandoned or under state enforcement orders for cleanup by unwilling owners. Last year, New England states received about $4.5 million and complete about 450 cleanups a year.