Amador County – The Big Trees Market in early May set about closing its 20 monitoring wells, and along with it the last chapter in handling a leaky underground fuel storage tank at the site.

Amador County Supervisors approved waiving permit fees for the well plugging work until the owner is reimbursed by the state for the work. Environmental Health Department Director Mike Israel said “Big Trees Market has undergone a lengthy groundwater investigation and cleanup process in connection with a release from an underground fuel tank.”

He said the consultant for the owner has requested a “no further action” letter from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The Regional Board said “the last piece to be completed is destruction of monitoring wells installed as part of the investigation and cleanup.” The Regional Board approved the request, and asked for a verification of the wells’ abandonment by May 30.

Israel said the 20 groundwater monitoring wells typically cost about $120 per permit to destroy and plug, with the rate set by county code, and the inspection and destruction of the wells set by state water code Section 13801. He said the fee includes inspection costs by a state certified inspector, and up to a 20-foot concrete plug of each of the 20 wells.

Israel said “this office has in the past performed multiple monitoring well destruction inspections at a reduced rate,” that being one fee of $120, plus $96 per hour for time beyond the first 1-and-a-quarter hours. This assumes the work is all for the same permittee and performed on the same day.” Israel said the work would be completed “in a full day or less.” He said the inspection would be done all at once with the sealing and destruction of the wells.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said “the whole deal has been a very arduous process for the owner,” and the work on removing the tank and doing clean-up has used up most of a $1.5 million grant for the project, and “left just a little bit in the pot for the closure.” Big Trees Market owner, Aline Diamond, of Volcano, requested the fee waiver.

Supervisor Louis Boitano asked Israel the issue involved a “standard triple-walled tank.” Israel said at the time the tank was installed, “it was in compliance” with state law, making it eligible to get state underground gas tank remediation funds.

Oneto motioned and the board on a 5-0 vote approved the waiving of the fees until the owner is reimbursed by the state.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.