School toxic sites targeted for cleanup

  Leaking underground storage tanks at 11 school districts across Arizona - including four sites in Yuma County - have been targeted for cleanup by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

  Fuel in underground storage tanks (USTs) have in some cases seeped into the groundwater where it breaks down into toxins such as benzine, toluene (octane booster) and hydrocarbons, according to Steve Owens, ADEQ director.

  "What's really important about the effort is not only the cleanup and removing contaminants but we're also saving schools lots of money," Owens said.

  The water table in Yuma County tends to be closer to the surface than elsewhere in the state but the USTs do not endanger drinking water, Owens stressed.

   The Yuma Elementary District 1 transportation building site cleanup at 1250 W. 11th St. has already been completed at a cost of $51,506, according to Mark Schaffer, ADEQ spokesman.
  Meanwhile, Crane Elementary School District office, 4250 W. 16th St., is under review, with expected cleanup time frame of 1-1/2 to two years at a cost of $115,695.

  Also requiring the same amount of time are the Rancho Viejo School, 930 S. Avenue C, $43,438; and Somerton Elementary District office, 215 N. Carlisle Ave., $121,851.

  The cleanup relies on revenue from the $30 million State Assurance Fund (SAF) that is financed through fees on gasoline sales across the state rather imposing a tax, Owens said.

  However, the SAF is scheduled to expire in 2013 and creates a sense of urgency to conduct the current maintenance. SAF was established in 1993 by the Arizona Legislature to clean up UST toxins from gasoline, diesel and heating oil tanks across the state.

  The school USTs hold fuel for school buses and other gas-powered maintenance vehicles.

  "It's part of our focus to protect children from toxic environmental exposure, and it is also a priority of Gov. Napolitano," Owens said.

  ADEQ will also continue to provide the school districts with technical assistance on proper care and storage of the tanks, which will save them the cost of hiring consultants to comply with state and federal regulations, Owens noted.

  What also prompted the current cleanup was the effort begun several years ago, and still ongoing, to clean up the Buckeye Union High School District in Maricopa County. ADEQ officials became concerned with other vulnerable school sites.

  "This unique partnership between ADEQ and school districts throughout the state has been tremendously successful," Owens said.

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William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yuamsun.com or 539-6858