PECFA Program to Receive Stimulus Funds for Tank Removal and Cleanups

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Funds), the State of Wisconsin, Department of Commerce (Commerce) PECFA program will receive a limited amount of funds to remove old petroleum underground storage tanks and to complete the cleanup of petroleum contaminated sites.

Funds will be available for removal of abandoned underground storage tanks if they are part of corrective action activities. Commerce has identified sites that meet the federal criteria for using stimulus funds; however, prior to allocating the funds, input from local municipalities will be sought to assess the importance of the sites for fostering economic development in the area.

Commerce will soon send out a statewide survey to municipalities with identified abandoned petroleum tanks which have met the federal eligibility requirements. Commerce will seek municipalities' ranking of the sites as they relate to their economic development potential.

The intention of the survey is to prioritize sites and effectively support communities' economic development efforts. It is anticipated that stimulus funding for removal and completion of site cleanups will occur throughout the state.

One example where Commerce has fostered revitalization of old contaminated and dilapidated areas through the cleanup of sites is the city of Marshfield. New business development has flourished and jobs were created in the community in part because of the cleanup of petroleum contaminated sites. Similar results are anticipated in communities receiving Stimulus Funds.

-- Berni Mattsson