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EPA Awards $2,270,000 in Recovery Act Funds to Clean Up Underground Petroleum Leaks in Nebraska

Release Date: 07/09/2009
Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, 913-551-7557, [email protected]

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., July 9, 2009) - In an effort to protect people where they live, work, and play, EPA announced the distribution of $2,270,000 to Nebraska under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to assess and clean up underground storage tank petroleum leaks. The greatest potential hazard from a leaking underground storage tank is that the petroleum or other hazardous substances seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly one-third of all Americans.

“We’re providing immediate growth opportunities for communities across the nation, as well as long-term protection from dangerous pollution in the land and water,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA is putting people to work by serving our core mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

"The money for storage tank cleanup in Nebraska will help speed its journey to recovery,” Acting Regional Administrator William Rice said. "This funding will bolster the state's economy and create new, green jobs while protecting Nebraska’s land and water.”

This money is part of $197 million appropriated under the Recovery Act to address shovel-ready sites nationwide contaminated by petroleum from leaking underground storage tanks. The funds will be used for overseeing assessment and cleanup of leaks from underground storage tanks or directly paying for assessment and cleanup of leaks from federally regulated tanks where the responsible party is unknown, unwilling or unable to finance, or the cleanup is an emergency response.

EPA regional underground storage tank programs entered into cooperative agreements with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality June 19, 2009. These cooperative agreements will include more detailed descriptions of state spending plans.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at www.recovery.gov.