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• STATE G-CALIFCRNIA•CALIPORNIF ENVIRONldr 4& PETE WILSON.Gc�emw <br /> ROTEOTION AGENCY _— - -- <br /> STATE WATER RESOURCES CON'. TL BOARD —� <br /> PAUL R.BONDERSON BUILDING <br /> i <br /> Sot P STREET �'� <br /> P.O.BOX 100 �"' <br /> SACRAMENTO,CALIFORNIA SSZ12-0100 0 <br /> (916) 657-0941 <br /> (916) 657-0932 (FAX) <br /> DEC 6 1995 <br /> All Regional Water Board Chairpersons <br /> - <br /> Al Regional Water Board Executive Officers <br /> All LOP Agency Directors <br /> LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY (LLNL) REPORT ON LEAKING <br /> UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK (UST) CLEANUP <br /> In October 1995, the LLNL presented to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) its final <br /> report, Recommendations to Improve the Cleanup Process for California's Leaking Underground Fuel <br /> Tanks. The LLNL team found that the impacts to the environment from leaking USTs were not as <br /> severe as we once thought. The report also presents a convincing* argument that passive <br /> bioremediation should be considered as the primary remediation tool in most cases once the fuel leak <br /> source has been removed. <br /> The LLNL report has also been presented to the SWRCB's SB 1764 Advisory Committee which will, <br /> in turn, provide recommendations to the SWRCB by the end of January 1996. The SWRCB may <br /> choose to implement recommendations from the LLNLreport and the SB 1764 Advisory Committee <br /> through revisions to SWRCB Resolution 92-49 in early 1996. <br /> In the interim and in light of the findings and recommendations in the LLNL report, we believe <br /> cleanup oversight agencies should proceed aggressively to close low risk soil only cases. For cases <br /> affecting low risk groundwater (for instance, shallow groundwater with maximum depth to water less <br /> than 50 feet and no drinking water wells screened in the shallow groundwater zone within 250 feet of <br /> the leak) we recommend that active remediation be replaced with monitoring to determine if the fuel <br /> leak plume is stable. Obviously good judgment is required in all of these decisions. However, that <br /> judgment should nolo include knowledge provided by the LLNL report. <br /> What I propose to you is not in any way inconsistent with existing policies or regulations. However, <br /> it does represent a major departure from how we have viewed the threat from leaking USTs. This <br /> guidance is consistent with the results of a discussion of this subject among the StaLe Board Chair and <br /> Regional Board Chairs on December 5, 1995. If you have any questions on this matter please call <br /> Mr. James Giannopoulos, our manager of the underground storage tank program, at (916) 227-4320. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Walt Pettit <br /> Executive Director <br /> cc: All Regional Water Board/LOP UST Program Managers <br />