The Massachusetts Underground Storage Tank Program (UST Program) was established to administer the Massachusetts Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Product Cleanup Fund (21J Fund). The Fund was created in 1991 pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 21J.

The 21J Fund was approved in 1992 by the EPA as a state financial assurance mechanism for UST owners. To oversee the Fund, a 9-member Administrative Review Board (21J Board) was established. The Fund is administered by the MA Department of Revenue. The 21J Board holds a 2-hour monthly virtual meeting as well as monthly 2 to 4-hour appeal hearings as needed for reimbursement requests. Periodically, there is work to be done by ad hoc subcommittees and work groups.  

Paul McNeil of Williamson Environmental LLC, the current 21J Board representative in the “Environmental Public Interest Group” seat, has informed the LSPA that he will soon be stepping down. We sincerely appreciate Paul’s 15-year commitment to the work of the Board and the volunteer hours he has spent.  

The LSPA is soliciting interested LSPs or other waste site cleanup practitioners to fill Paul’s seat which, historically, has been filled by a waste site cleanup practitioner. It is important that the Board seat be occupied by someone with extensive knowledge of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) and a strong understanding of the 21J Program. The candidate also must be a legal resident of Massachusetts.  If you are interested in being considered, please email the LSPA at [email protected] or call us at 617-977-4304.  

The LSPA will compile a list of candidates and send it to the Director of Boards and Commissions at Governor Healey’s Office. The Governor’s Office and Gordon Bullard, the Executive Director of the MA UST Program, will review applicants and make a recommendation for appointment by the Governor. Once approved, the candidate will need to go through a background check process and once set with that, will receive an appointment letter. 

The 9-person Board is composed of representatives of the following stakeholders:

• MA Department of Revenue
• MassDEP
• State Fire Marshal 
• New England Service Station/Automotive Repair Assoc. 
• Massachusetts Petroleum Council (currently vacant)
• New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association
• Insurance Industry 
• Finance Industry 
• Environmental Public Interest Group 

Click here for more detailed information about the 21J Fund and Board.