Who must initiate cleanup when soil contamination is encountered before removing an underground storage tank (UST) system?

Who must initiate cleanup when soil contamination is encountered before removing an underground storage tank (UST) system?

• A. Ecology Inspector
• B. Fire Marshal
• C. Owner / Operator of the UST System
• D. Landlord

Answer: (C)

The party responsible for initiating cleanup is the owner or operator of the UST system. They own and operate the tank, and they bear the liability for environmental cleanup, so when soil contamination is found during removal they must coordinate corrective action with the appropriate environmental authority, arrange for testing, and implement the remediation plan under regulatory oversight. Regulatory staff such as an ecology inspector or fire marshal focus on safety, compliance, and permitting, but they do not initiate the cleanup themselves. The landlord’s involvement depends on ownership of the tank; cleanup duties hinge on who owns and operates the UST.

The party responsible for initiating cleanup is the owner or operator of the UST system. They own and operate the tank, and they bear the liability for environmental cleanup, so when soil contamination is found during removal they must coordinate corrective action with the appropriate environmental authority, arrange for testing, and implement the remediation plan under regulatory oversight. Regulatory staff such as an ecology inspector or fire marshal focus on safety, compliance, and permitting, but they do not initiate the cleanup themselves. The landlord’s involvement depends on ownership of the tank; cleanup duties hinge on who owns and operates the UST.