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I <br /> leaking hydraulic elevators were reported. In response to a question <br /> relating to beneficial use impairment, one elevator company reported <br /> that beneficial uses of ground water had been adversely affected by <br /> leaking hydraulic elevators. All elevator companies reported that <br /> petroleum-based hydraulic fluid is used One company reported that <br /> vegetable-based hydraulic fluid was used on an experimental basis. <br /> The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) reported that there are 25,000 in- <br /> ground lifts currently in operation in California. The ALI, which <br /> represents all manufacturers of non-elevator, in-ground hydraulic lifts <br /> (primarily those at automobile service stations), stated that it does not <br /> j know how many automotive lifts have been abandoned or removed <br /> �P <br /> E The ALI estimated that approximately two percent of the 25,000 <br /> automotive lifts that they estimated are :n California have leaked more <br /> than 5 gallons of hydraulic fluid over a one-year period to the <br /> punderground environment. Of these 460 estimated below-ground <br /> 1 leaks, the ALI did not know whether a beneficial use of water has <br /> tl been adversely affected. The ALI stated that hydraulic lifts naturally <br /> 1 "leak" oil above -ground in order to lubricate the pistons. Such above <br /> ground leaks are generally small and can be cleaned up easily during <br /> housekeeping and maintenance. The ALI has recommended that <br /> either petroleum-cased hydraulic oils or biodegradable vegetable-based <br /> hydraulic oils be used in hydraulic lifts. <br /> C. FINDINGS <br /> Based on the combined estimates of the Department of Industrial <br /> Relations and the Automotive Lift Institute, SWRCB staff assumed that <br /> there are a total of 73,000 (48,000 plus 25,000) HLTs in operation. <br /> The number of leaks reported by LIAs in this survey may be a low <br /> dl� estimate, owing to the recent inclusion of HLTs into the statewide <br /> UST universe. Nonetheless, the results indicate that reported HLT <br /> leaks have had no known adverse impact on drinking water supplies or <br /> other beneficial uses of water. These results are consistent with the <br /> rationale that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented to <br /> l` justify exempting HLTs from the Federal regulatory program in 1988. <br /> I� <br /> - 4 - <br />