Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program

Petitions Regarding UST Cleanup

A petition is a request from an aggrieved person for the State Water Board to review any action or failure to act by a regulatory agency that may be improper or inappropriate. There are different filing procedures depending on which type of petition is most appropriate to file. Where should petitions be sent?

1. Petitions for Closure of UST Case (RWQCB or LOP Agency)
   Any underground storage tank or residential tank owner or operator or other responsible party who believes that corrective action has been satisfactorily implemented, but who has not been granted closure, may petition the State Water Board for review of the case.
   • For instructions on how to file a closure petition, see our Closure Petition Fact Sheet.
   • View a list of State Water Board UST Water Quality Petitions and their status.
   • View UST Petition Performance Statistics.
   • Additional details regarding the closure petition process can be found in Article 6 of Chapter 18 of the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund Regulations.

   Closure petitions should be mailed, faxed or filed in person to:

   State Water Resources Control Board
   Underground Storage Tank Program
   1001 "I" Street, 15th Floor
   Sacramento, CA 95814
   FAX: 916-341-5808
   ATTN: George Lockwood (916) 341-5752

   Although not required for you to file a closure petition, the submittal of the following information is helpful:
   • Information about repair, removal and installation of USTs and associated components.
   • Information on the water quality specific to the site and the surrounding area.
   • A narrative and graphic representation of site conditions which explain the dynamic of the local hydrogeology and contaminant distribution and migration.
2. Non-Closure Petitions Involving Regional Board Oversight of UST Cases
   For matters not involving closure, an aggrieved person may petition the State Water Board in matters involving a Regional Board’s actions or failure to act. See more information and details about filing one of these water quality petitions.
3. Non-closure Petitions Involving Local Oversight Program (LOP) Agency Oversight of UST Cases
   For matters not involving closure, an aggrieved person may petition the State Water Board in matters involving LOP agency’s actions or failure to act. There are 20 LOP Agencies. For more information and details about how to file one of these petitions, review Resolution No. 88-23 for filing LOP petitions.
   
   Non-closure Petitions involving Local Oversight Program (LOP) Agency Oversight of UST Cases should be mailed, faxed or filed in person to:

   State Water Resources Control Board
   Office of Chief Counsel
   1001 "I" Street, 22nd Floor
   Sacramento, CA 95814
   FAX: (916) 341-5199
   ATTN: Therese Barakatt, Staff Counsel (916) 341-5186

   Actions or decisions made by local agencies not participating in the Local Oversight Program are not subject to review by the State Water Board. A person who wishes to challenge a local underground storage tank decision, by non-LOP agencies may do so by contacting that specific agency, and obtain information about their administrative review process.

Where should petitions be sent?

Petitions should be sent by mail to the following address, or faxed, or filed in person. A petition may also be sent via email by prior arrangement. Exhibits should not be sent by fax but included with the hard copy.

Send Petitions for Closure of UST Case (RWQCB or LOP Agency) to:

State Water Resources Control Board
Underground Storage Tank Program
1001 "I" Street, 15th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 341-5808
ATTN: George Lockwood (916) 341-5752

Send Non-closure Petitions Involving Regional Board Oversight of UST Cases to:

State Water Resources Control Board
Office of Chief Counsel
1001 "I" Street, 22nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
EMAIL: jbashaw@waterboards.ca.gov
ATTN:  Jeannette L. Bashaw, Legal Analyst (916) 341-5155
(detailed information is also available at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/public_notices/petitions/water_quality/index.shtml)

Send Non-closure Petitions Involving Local Oversight Program (LOP) Agency Oversight of UST Cases to:

State Water Resources Control Board
Office of Chief Counsel
1001 "I" Street, 22nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 341-5199
ATTN: Therese Barakatt, Staff Counsel (916) 341-5186

(Updated 3/21/13)