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DEP
Commends Four Major Oil Companies for Service Station Cleanups
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn
today commended four major gasoline retailers for their outstanding performance
in cleaning up contamination from leaking underground storage tanks.
Shinn issued commendations to Getty Properties Corporation, Exxon Corporation
USA, Sunoco Inc., and Mobil Oil Corporation.
"The continued performance of these four companies is a demonstration
of their leadership in site remediation. These approval ratings mean that
the companies are effectively restoring sites and protecting the state's
ground water," Shinn said.
Getty and Exxon are four-time repeat top performers. Both Sunoco and
Mobil have received performance acknowledgements for the last two consecutive
years.
Sunoco tops the list with the highest approval rating with 81% of its
cleanup plans approved by DEP. Exxon was a close second with an 80% approval
rate. Both Getty and Exxon have cleanup approvals at two-thirds of their
sites.
This is the fourth annual "report card" rating companies with more than
50 cleanup projects underway in New Jersey. DEP initiated the Cooperative
Venture Program in 1995 to work with major gasoline retailers and others
in cleaning up contamination due to leaks from their underground storage
tank systems. DEP works closely with many companies and individuals in
setting up mutually agreed upon priorities, schedules and activities based
upon risks posed by their sites. In part, the Cooperative Venture is designed
to reduce paperwork, allow budgeted funds to be directed to priority cleanup
activities and give the private sector more front end responsibility to
achieve environmental protection.
"Open communication, measuring results and acknowledging top performers
is key. Less paperwork and faster cleanups is good for the environment
and the public. This program is proof that performance-based partnerships
can succeed in environmental protection," Shinn said.
Shinn added that sound tank management includes ongoing leak detection
monitoring. Between October 1999 and September 2000, more than 660 underground
tank facilities were inspected. Inspections will continue to verify compliance
with tank upgrade requirements. DEP encourages any underground tank owner
or operator who is not certain of all requirements, to call the Bureau
of Underground Storage Tanks at (609) 292-8761 or view the website (www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/bust)
for information and compliance checklists which were mailed to all registered
UST owners.
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