Underground Storage Tanks: LUST Remediation Standards
Pursuant to the District of Columbia Underground Storage Tank Regulations, Title 20 DC Municipal Regulations (DCMR) §§ 6210, 6211 and 6212 the Environmental Health Administration, Underground Storage Tank (UST) Division has established numerical standards for soil, surface water and ground water quality. All soil and water samples must be analyzed by an EPA-approved method, as directed by the LUST Case Manager of the Environmental Health Administration.
§ 6210 - Surface Water Quality Standards:
The standards for surface water quality are the District of Columbia Water Quality
Standards (21 DCMR Chapter 11, published at 41 DC Register 1075, March 4, 1994).
§ 6211 - Ground Water Quality Standards:
The standards for ground water quality are:
- No more than 1 ppm total petroleum hydrocarbons for ground water contaminated by non-gasoline petroleum contamination
- The standards for ground water quality for specific inorganic and organic compounds are the District of Columbia Water Quality Standards for Ground Water (21 DCMR Chapter 11, published at 40 D.C. Register 4203, July 2, 1993).
The maximum concentrations for the most common compounds of interest at LUST investigations: Lead, 50 ppb; Benzene, 5 ppb; Toluene, 1,000 ppb; Ethylbenzene, 700ppb; and Total Xylenes 10,000 ppb.
§ 6212 - Soil Quality Standards:
The standards for soil quality are no more than:
- 100 ppm Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (usually by 8015-M, the California method)
- 10 ppm Total Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Total Xylenes
- 1 ppm Benzene.
Note: § 6202 of the DC UST Regulations states that "any responsible party or any authorized agent of a responsible party; any person who tests, installs, or removes tanks; any person who engages in site investigation, assessment, remediation, or geotechnical exploration; or any public utility company who knows, or has reason to know of a release from an underground storage tank must notify" the DC Fire Prevention Division (202) 727-1614, and this office (202) 645-6080 of the release or suspected release within 24 hours. During business hours, you must speak to a member of the DDOE’s UST-LUST Program, (202) 535-2600. After hours, notice may be given to the Mayor's Command Center (202) 727-6161.
