UST Program - Marina Fueling Facility (MFF)

To: Local Agencies and Regional Water Quality Control Boards

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING MARINA FUELING FACILITY (MFF) INSPECTION FORMS

In response to concerns about possible releases of MTBE and other fuel contaminants from MFFs, we are now studying these facilities. This letter is to request your help with this effort. Specifically, we need to determine the number of these facilities and collect information on their design and operation. This information will allow us to understand the variety of construction and leak detection methods present at MFFs throughout the state. This data will also help us develop a materials and design standard for improved construction and propose legislative and regulatory changes, if appropriate.

It is only through your assistance that we can obtain the necessary information regarding MFF design and operation. Therefore, we are requesting your participation by completing and returning to us an inspection form for each MFF that you routinely inspect. We acknowledge that completing the inspection form will slightly increase the inspection time, however having every agency's information is critical.

To assist us in this effort, we ask that you please complete the enclosed Participation Questionnaire and return it by November 10, 2000 to Laura Chaddock, Clean Water Programs, P.O. Box 944212, Sacramento, CA 94244-2120. For the use of participating agencies, we have enclosed the Marina Fuel Storage and Piping Inspection Form. The inspection form was developed by staff of the State Water Resources Control Board, and tested and reviewed by Certified Unified Program Agencies, Regional Water Quality Boards, State Lands Commission, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board and the Department of Fish and Game. Also enclosed are the instructions to complete the inspection form, glossary of terms and a typical diagram of a MFF.

Please return the inspection forms to us as you complete them. Our goal is to receive inspection forms for all MFFs by December 31, 2001. Please note that for those marinas where operations close down seasonally it is important to conduct these inspections prior to fall/winter closure. If your agency would like to receive a list of MFFs we have initially identified within your jurisdiction, please contact Ms. Chaddock. The inspection form and the list of MFFs will also be available on our web page at http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ust/

Thank you for considering this request. If you have questions you may reach Ms. Shahla Farahnak, the Senior Engineer in charge of the marina fueling project, at (916) 341-5668 or Ms. Laura Chaddock, the Project Manager, at (916) 341-5870.

Sincerely,

 [ ORIGINAL SIGNED BY ]

Elizabeth L. Haven, Manager
Underground Storage Tank Program

Enclosures
cc: Ms. Nancy Wolf, Chief
     Assistant State Fire Marshall
     Office of the State Fire Marshall
     1311 S Street
     Sacramento, CA 95814

     Ms. Dorothy Walker
     Marine Terminal Safety Specialist
     Northern California Field Office
     State Lands Commission
     725 B Alfred Nobel Drive
     Hercules, CA 94547-1897

     Mr. Lawrence A. Hope, Supervisor
     Southern California Field Office
     State Lands Commission
     330 Golden Shore, Suite 210
     Long Beach, CA 90802-4246

     Mr. Bill Lent, Chairman
     Cal-CUPA Forum
     San Mateo County
     590 Hamilton Street
     Redwood City, CA 94063

     Ms. Michelle Rogow
     United States Environmental Protection Agency
     75 Hawthorne Street, SSD-6
     San Francisco, CA 94105

     Niloufar Glosson
     United States Environmental Protection Agency
     75 Hawthorne Street, WST-8
     San Francisco, CA 94105

     Mr. Robert Hughes
     Information Officer
     Office of Oil Spill and Emergency Response
     Department of Fish and Game
     P O Box 944209
     Sacramento, CA

     Ms. Julie Menack
     Aboveground Storage Tank Program Coordinator
     San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
     1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400
     Oakland, CA 94612

     Mr. Brad Nicolet
     Senior Environmental Health Specialist
     County of Solano
     Environmental Health Department
     601 Texas Street
     Fairfield, CA 94533