APPENDIX K - CCAMP UST RECOMMENDATIONS 



October 1987 Page K-4 



3 . Initiate a Public Education Program . 



Towns need to inform the public of the need for a comprehensive manage- 

 ment program for underground storage tanks. Residents should also be 

 aware of the relatively new State program and of any additional town 

 requirements. A special effort to target real estate agents, lending 

 institutions and property managers (especially seasonal property 

 managers) should be initiated. On Cape Cod, with so many absentee 

 homeowners, towns may find it useful to work through property managers 

 and real estate agents to reach individual homeowners. The BCHED's 

 offer to test any homeowner's property for a possible tank leak (free 

 of charge) using a gas chromatograph should be well publicized. 



4. Develop a System for UST Data Management. 



Towns acting through the Board of Health or Fire Department should 

 maintain a computerized tank inventory by location and age of all 

 underground storage tanks. Periodic data sharing among local boards 

 may be required through a bylaw. The ages of the USTs should be 

 tracked and notices sent to all tank owners whose tanks must undergo 

 State tightness testing in a given year. If there is a requirement 

 for tank removal at a certain age, notices should be sent out for that 

 as well. The towns should utilize existing files for oil-burning 

 permits and incorporate relevant information as part of the database. 

 It should be noted that the BCHED will provide computer management of 

 tank registration and tightness testing data at the County level. 

 This program can manage the redirecting resulting from the town 

 registration and tightness testing requirements. 



5 . Encourage Additional Permit Review for New Tank Applications. 



Current State regulations place primary authority over USTs with the 

 local Fire Districts. This may result in an emphasis on public safety 

 issues at the expense of public health concerns. To ensure that 

 protection of drinking water supplies receives adequate emphasis, the 

 town should require an additional permit review for new tanks that 

 focuses on this issue. This review, conducted by the BOH, or 

 conceivably by the Planning Board, should highlight the proposed 

 location and have the authority to deny permits and set performance 

 standards. A joint review could be conducted informally through a 

 coordinated process initiated by the UST Coordinator or through a 

 bylaw. 



6. Discourage the Location of USTs in Proximity to Drinking Water 

 Su pplies . 



A method for controlling land uses so as to discourage USTs in sensi- 

 tive areas is required to meet this objective. In towns with public 

 wells, this area corresponds to the Zone of Contribution or a defined 

 Aquifer Protection District. Towns dependent on private wells should 

 Identify critical areas based upon housing densities. The most 

 appropriate method of meeting this objective is through zoning. 



