What does the indicator show?
The indicator shows progress in cleaning up and managing contaminated petroleum storage tanks
sites throughout Alberta. A total of 4,152 contaminated tank site reports were reviewed by the
end of 2004. Almost 1,300 of these sites had been cleaned up by the end of 2004. Cleanup
continued at 2,584 sites, while 303 sites needed further planning for cleanup or management.
This indicator shows that Alberta's petroleum storage tank sites are being cleaned up at a rate
of 260 per year. It is estimated that with a backlog of almost 3,000 sites and current cleanup rate,
cleanup activity will need to continue for another 11 years.
How do we compare?
The following graph is from a United States Environmental Protection Agency 2004 Semi-Annual
End-of-Year Activity Report, which shows the agency's ongoing activities in identifying and
cleaning up contaminated underground storage tank sites (UST). The U.S. program has been in place
since 1989, and has made extensive progress in managing contamination at underground storage tanks.
Alberta's cleanup rate of approximately 6% per year for these sites is comparable to the U.S. rate
of almost 5% per year.
Return to Top
|
