UST Preapproval Program
Eligibility for the Preapproval Program is limited, and ADEQ recommends that UST owners or operators submit the Eligibility Screening Form to see if they qualify.
Program Eligibility | View Criteria > | View Categories > | View/Download Screening Form >
Eligibility Requirements & Definitions | View A.R.S. § 49-1006.02 (A, B and C) >
For help determining if you qualify, request an eligibility consultation by email. Please include your name and relationship to the facility, the ADEQ-assigned Facility ID Number, and Leaking UST Number(s) | Email Request for Consultation >
Prepare and submit the applicable Preapproval Application Form based on the number of UST facilities owned by the applicant.
- A “small owner” means an owner that owns fewer than 20 underground storage tank facilities in this state.1
NOTE: In addition to submittal of a detailed scope of work, implementation schedule, cost sheets, and certifications, applications require the submittal of documentation required to establish the corrective action priority for the application. This includes: the applicant’s need for financial assistance, the risk to public health and the environment, and whether the contamination is in an area with preexisting contamination of groundwater by a hazardous substance.
For more information, view the Preapproval Prioritization Frequently Asked Questions page | View >
1In accordance with A.R.S. § 49-1051 and § 49-1053
After receiving approval of the proposed scope of work, the applicant is responsible for implementing the approved corrective actions in accordance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and the associated approved preapproval.
Documentation of corrective actions must comply with regulatory reporting requirements.1 Costs associated with the preparation of regulatory reports are not reimbursable until and unless the report receives ADEQ approval. ADEQ recommends that regulatory reports documenting the corrective actions that are associated with a reimbursement request are submitted to ADEQ for evaluation prior to submitting a reimbursement request.
1Provided in Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-12-261 through R18-12-264
Reimbursement requests must be submitted on the most current forms provided by ADEQ and must include sufficient information to demonstrate that the costs were incurred and that the work was completed in accordance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and the approved preapproval scope of work | View Cost Considerations >
Expedited Preapproval Processing
Applicants may request expedited processing of their Preapproval Application if they can demonstrate that the contamination represents an immediate threat to public health and the environment,1 Applications qualifying for this process will be prioritized for expedited review by ADEQ.
If a receptor is found to be under immediate threat or impacted by the release, then the UST owner or operator must act immediately to mitigate that threat or impact. For example, if contaminants from a UST release are suddenly detected in a water supply well at concentrations in excess of aquifer water quality standards, then the sampling results must be sent immediately to ADEQ | Email >
Additional temporary or permanent solutions may be required following an evaluation of the health risk posed by the detected contaminant concentrations.
To qualify for this process applicants must demonstrate eligibility for an expedited review on the request form | View/Download Form >
1In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 49-1051(K) | View >
UST owners and operators are:
- required to comply with UST regulatory requirements, including financial responsibility
- expected to use their financial assurance to address contamination from the UST system
- not required to use the UST Preapproval Program, and participation in the program cannot be used to delay compliance with regulatory deadlines.
