Helping Tank Owners Upgrade Aging Infrastructure While Protecting the Environmnet
In July 2023, Indiana amended its Underground Storage Tank (UST) statues (IC12-23) to authorize the Indiana department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to reimburse 50% of eligible costs from the Excell Liability Trust Fund (ELTF) for petroleum UST removals and reinstallations. This program allows tank owners to share the cost of decommissioning and replacing aging or falling UST systems with upgraded tank systems designed to reduce environmental risk.
Since the 50% program inception, Creek Run has prepared and submitted claims for 22 facilities totaling more than $10million in costs, resulting in IDEM reimbursing our clients 96.8% of eligible reimbursable expenses – a proven track record of helping owners successfully navigate this program.
UST Eligibility Requirements
To determine eligibility, tank owners must complete a simple eligibility application. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) then Evaluates whether decommissioning or replacement is necessary to protect human health or the environment based on specific tank characteristics.
Tanks that may qualify include:
- Lined Steel USTs.
- First generation fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) USTs.
- USTs that are over 30 years old; and
- USTs which have caused or are likely to cause catastrophic releases and which cannot be repaired or maintained to avoid such release
Eligibility determinations are made by IDEM and must be approved before reimbursement can occur
Eligible Costs Under the ELTF 50% Reimbursement Program
Once eligibility is established, IDEM may reimburse 50% of the costs associated with:
- Decommissioning existing petroleum USTs;
- replacing them with new UST or aboveground storage tank (ASTs) systems;
- Proper disposal of tanks and contaminated materials;
- closure reports and required documentation; and
- site restoration items directly related to tank removal/replacement.
These costs must be reasonable, cost-effective, and justified as necessary to protect human health and the environment. Some expenses are not eligible such as fuel dispensers, buildings, parking lot expansions, financing fee, and other related site improvements.
Upgrading and properly managing USTs is critical to protecting Indiana’s soil, groundwater, and communities from the risk associated with aging petroleum infrastructure. The 50% reimbursement program provides a valuable opportunity for tank owners to modernize their systems while significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs.
If you’re considering UST removal or replacement and want help navigating the ELTF 50% reimbursement program, assessing eligibility, or managing the application process, contact Creek Run today. Our team has the experience to move your project forward with confidence.
