- Michael Hollis has a BS in Environmental Policy from Rutgers University, and has been with the NJDEP in the UST Compliance and Enforcement program since August of 2004. He is currently the Chief of NJDEP's Bureau of UST Compliance and Enforcement, is a member of the National Work Group on Leak Detection Evaluations, and is Chair of ASTSWMO's UST Release Prevention Task Force, representing EPA region 2.
- Randy Martin is the Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank Compliance and Enforcement Section Manager in the Division of Storage Tanks for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. He is responsible for the oversight of a third-party installer and inspector program and the technical requirements and proper installation, modification, inspection, and removal of approximately 39,000 aboveground and underground storage tanks. He has been in the PA DEP Storage Tanks program for over 19 years. He currently sits on the Petroleum Equipment Institute Recommended Practice 100 Committee and the Steel Tank Institute Underground Storage Tank Repair Standard Committee. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Dickinson College. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and spending time outdoors while hunting, fishing, and coaching girl’s youth softball.
- Dustin is an Environmental Consultant with Tennessee’s underground storage tank program and has 11 years of professional experience in various environmental fields with specific petroleum underground storage tank (UST) background. Additional experiences include the Divisions technical expert in tank, line, and overfill testing, conducting UST Operational Compliance Inspections, being a former petroleum contamination case manager for approximately 3 years, and providing technical assistance to senior management, legal counsel and UST compliance inspection field staff on a statewide basis. Dustin has been an EPA Region 4 representative for ASTSWMO Tanks Task Force since 2021 and serves on the Tennessee Standardized Inspection Committee since 2020. Lastly, Dustin is a graduate of TN Tech University and enjoys competitive fishing, traveling, coaching, and spending time with his wife Brittany and two children Lakelyn and Canaan.
- Greg Bareta has been employed in the Flammable, Combustible, and Hazardous Liquids storage tank program by the State of Wisconsin since 2001. He is currently the Weights and Measures Internal Operations Manager with the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection. His primary duties include administrative and technical responsibility for aboveground and underground storage tank systems plan review, leak detection system approval, Wisconsin code development, variance approval, special projects/investigations, and permit and registration programs. He has been a member of the National Workgroup on Leak Detection Evaluations (NWGLDE) since 2006, with primary responsibility for line leak detection approvals. He also serves on the NFPA 30, 30A And UL 1316 code committees. Prior to his current position, he spent nine years as an in-service inspection and mechanical evaluations engineer in the nuclear power industry. Mr. Bareta received his engineering degree from UW-Milwaukee in 1991 and an MBA in 2004, and is a registered Wisconsin Professional Engineer. In his spare time he enjoys camping, biking, hiking, kayaking, home improvement, and reading.
- Chris Hamilton works as a Supervisor in the Prevention & Inspection Program of the New Mexico Environment Department/Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau. He has been with the bureau since February of 2017, working as a Remediation Project Manager before moving over to the Prevention & Inspection Program in the Delivery Prohibition enforcement section. Prior to this he had 3 years of experience in environmental Consulting and 3 years of experience in the mining industry. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science degree, carrying a double major in Geological Sciences & Marine Science with a focus in Marine Geology. He is currently serving as a member of ASTSWMO’s Release Detection Task Force. In his free time Chris enjoys reading, gaming, model railroading & gardening.
- Served as a gas station operator for two years, 2012-2014. Became a Deputy State Fire Marshal in 2014 and served as a tank inspector until spring of 2017. Assumed the position of Chief of the Fuels Division in the spring of 2017.
- Morgan Atkinson is the Manager of the Petroleum Storage Tank Release Prevention and Compliance Section in the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation, Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the Remedial Assistance Cleanup (LUST Trust) Section engineer for 20-years and then that section’s manager for three years before moving to the dark side of compliance. Morgan is a Utah-licensed Professional Geologist and has a B.S.in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Utah State University. In his free time, Morgan enjoys a ‘good walk spoiled’ on the golf course and skiing the greatest snow on earth.
- Mevany Hecita is an Environmental Health Specialist with the Hazardous Waste Management Program for Guam EPA. Her program is responsible for regulating and permitting USTs, ASTs, RCRA C hazardous waste facilities, and responding to emergency oil spills. Born and raised on Guam, this beautiful island has always been her home. She has a Bachelor’s in Biology and Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Guam. Prior to Guam EPA, she was a Chemist and worked in the laboratory field for many years. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her son, eating and cooking local food, and going to the beach with family.
- Amy Lou Torres-Rodríguez has been an Environmental Quality Specialist II for the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Division since 2015. There, she evaluates permit applications for installing, replacing, and closing underground storage tank systems. Also, she evaluates work plans and reports related to the investigation and cleanup of sites contaminated by Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST). Previously, this position was at the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (PREQB), but in 2019, the agency was consolidated with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Before joining the PREQB in 2010, she worked as a professional environmental contractor in various governmental agencies and consulting companies. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Science in Environmental Management, majoring in Environmental Risk Assessment and Management at Ana G. Méndez University. She has been a Registered Environment Manager (REM) in the National Registry of Environmental Professionals since 2005. Guided by her environmental commitment, she joined and voluntarily served on the ADAPRI board of directors. This association uses camping and hiking to educate about the conservation of the environment.
- Ross D. Elliott P.G., studied geology at the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s in science for Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, and a minor in Coastal and Marine Geoscience. Ross is a licensed professional geologist in Delaware. Before working for the State, he was a field geologist for the environmental engineering firm Environmental Alliance Inc. Previously, he worked at the Delaware Geologic Survey as a research assistant for the State Map Program. In addition, for the past five years he has been the Vice President for the Delaware Mineralogical Society (DMS). Currently, he has been working as a Hydrologist for the past seven years in the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Waste and Hazardous Substance Remediation Section LUST Corrective Action Branch and manages the States Heating Fuel Assistance Program. Ross is the current EPA Region III representative for the ASTSWMO LUST work group. In addition Ross is a passionate rock and mineral collector.
- Mihir Mehta has been working in various environmental program areas with SC DHEC since 1995 and as the Director for the UST Management Division (petroleum program) since May 2011. He has a bachelor’s in civil engineering from India and Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of South Carolina. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E) in SC and certified public manager (CPM).
- Mohammed Rahman is the Section Manager for the Illinois EPA Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Section. He has been with the Illinois EPA for over 24 years. Mohammed started his career with the Illinois EPA LUST Section. He also worked at the Illinois EPA Permits Section writing Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permits.
Mohammed is also a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and currently serving as the Illinois Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) with the Defense Coordination Element at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Region V. Mohammed deployed four (4) times during his military career in Middle East and Africa. Mohammed was awarded Bronze Star Medal during his deployment in 2009 in Iraq. Mohammed worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and conducted research on solid waste reduction/diversion toward Army's Net Zero Waste goal. Mohammed is a Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner (LEHP) with the State of Illinois. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, an M.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering, and an MPH in Public Health. Mohammed enjoys traveling around the world. - Joshua Stevens is the Region 6 representative for ASTSWMO’s LUST Task Force and is involved with the LUST Story Map. He currently serves as case manager for Arkansas Energy & Environment – Office of Land Resources – Regulated Storage Tanks. His passion for geosciences led him to earn a BS in Geology from Arkansas Tech University, and later, a MS in Geology from The University of Arkansas. Joshua’s professional background includes field geology, wellsite geology, wireline logging, prospecting, geosteering, and the United States Marine Corps. In his free time, Joshua enjoys all outdoor hobbies that The Natural State has to offer and quality time with his friends and family.
- Nancy Mann has worked at the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy since May 1992, starting as a Project Manager and ultimately rising to the position of Section Supervisor for the Petroleum Remediation Section. She graduated with from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln in 1991 and has been a professional geologist since 1999. She is currently the secretary for the Nebraska Board of Geologists.
- Mary White currently serves as the Remediation Supervisor at the Division of Oil and Public Safety. The Remediation Section administers laws and regulations to reduce damage to the environment and risk to the public caused by leaking petroleum storage tanks and to mitigate such damage effectively when it occurs. By requiring owners/operators of regulated tank systems to report and respond to releases of regulated substances from regulated storage tank systems this ensures that owners/operators of regulated storage tank systems take action to protect human health and the environment from potential harm from releases from their storage tank systems and conduct cleanups in a timely manner. Additionally, the Remediation Section provides technical guidance related to release response.
Mary received a bachelor’s degree in Geological Sciences with a minor in Geography from the University of South Carolina. She has over 20 years of experience conducting site assessment and remediation in both public and private sectors both petroleum cleanup, RCRA/CERCLA, and voluntary cleanup programs around the Southeast. In 2019, Mary came to the Division of Oil and Public and Safety’s Petroleum Program. - Tiffany Yee is a registered engineer with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in the UST and Leaking UST section. She has worked in the ADEQ UST section for the last 10 years in various roles, and currently acts as the lead for data requests and reporting for the section. Currently she is the chair for the ASTSWMO LUST Task Force and looks forward to working with the team on projects and resources that will assist states and territories with LUST cleanups and closures. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her family and learning how to garden.
- Matthew Pabich has been working at the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality since 2019 as a Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Compliance Officer and Emergency Response Environmental Liaison. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
- Lynda Provencher works in the Sites Management Section (SMS) of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. She has been a project manager of contaminated petroleum and non-petroleum sites in Vermont since the early 1990s. In more recent years she has included working on Brownfield sites and updating and developing Rules and Policies for the SMS. Lynda has been involved with the ASTSWMO Annual State Fund Survey (now the Annual Tanks Update) since its inception. Currently, she is serving as vice chair of ASTSWMO’s Financial Responsibility Task Force, and is excited to continue working on projects with the Task Force. In her free time, Lynda enjoys being outside, reading, cooking and spending time with her family.
- Nicole Lelievre works in the Permit Coordination Section of the Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment Program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. She has been with the program since 2014 and has worked on varying projects, but as of the last 5 years, has been working in UST Registration & Billing. This is Nicole’s first year with ASTWSMO (2022) and she is currently serving as a member of ASTSWMO’s Financial Responsibility Task Force. She is excited to work with the team on emerging issues in the UST Financial Responsibility task force. In her free time, Nicole enjoys spending time with her two young boys, especially at the beach and boardwalk.
- Chanin is the Financial & Mission Support Supervisor for Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality. Originally from Indiana, Chanin attended Purdue University and worked in her home state for years before moving to Virginia in 2015. Prior to coming to DEQ, she was a Sr Budget Analyst for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. She enjoys hiking and traveling the world. Every year she travels to Alaska to volunteer with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
- Jill Stoltz is the Kentucky Underground Storage Tank Branch’s Claims and Payments section supervisor. She works with her staff of 7 to review and approve fund reimbursements for investigative and remedial actions associated with UST cleanups. Prior to taking on this position in 2013 she served as a project manager for site investigation and corrective actions for 5 years. While in this position she was the Environmental Education representative at the division level. Currently, she is the chair for ASTSWMO’s Financial Responsibility task force. She is excited to continue the Emerging Trends, Annual Tanks Update and Cost Control projects and looks forward to the new ideas that continue to surface with this energized group. In her free time she enjoys spending time hiking and camping with her husband and two sons.
- Nikolas Hertrich is an environmental quality analyst with the Michigan Underground Storage Tank Authority (MUSTA) housed within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. His primary functions include reviewing eligibility of claims and invoices, conducting audits, communicating with stakeholders, and assisting the MUSTA Fund Administrator as needed. Nikolas has been in this role for over 6 years. Prior to joining the State he was an environmental consultant working with a global firm managing the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks sites for a major oil company in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Minnesota for 11 years. Nikolas appreciates the opportunity he is being given and is excited to be a member of the State Fund – Financial Responsibility Task Force. When not working Nikolas is on the Howell City Council and represents his hometown on various boards. For fun he enjoys camping in their rebuilt pop up with his wife and Belgian Malinois pup Smith Deschain on their property in northern Michigan.
- Terin Morris is the Indemnity Fund Administrator for the Petroleum Storage Tank Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. She has been with the Petroleum Storage Tank Division for 23 years and became the Fund Administrator in 2017. As Fund Administrator, she determines eligibility and ensures funding is available to address petroleum release cases in the State of Oklahoma. She is excited to continue as a member of the ASTSWMO Financial Responsibility Task Force and assist with upcoming projects. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband and attending their various activities.
- Kelley Ogletree is the Executive Director of the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund. Kelley, along with a staff of claims adjusters, underwriters, and legal and administrative support, manages the PSTIF under the direction of a Board of Trustees appointed by Missouri’s governor. The MO PSTIF is utilized to reimburse costs for cleanups of historic contamination as well as new releases reported by UST and AST tank owners / operators who voluntarily participate in the Fund. Prior to joining the PSTIF staff in 2020, Kelley was a Risk Manager and Commercial Insurance Advisor in the private sector, and her background includes work with petroleum marketers and suppliers in Missouri. In her spare time Kelley enjoys spending time with her family and traveling whenever and wherever the opportunity presents.
- Therron Blatter is the Manager for the Petroleum Storage Tank Branch in the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In this capacity, he is responsible for oversight of Utah’s compliance and enforcement program, cleanup program, and Petroleum Storage Tank cleanup fund. He has worked in the Utah UST program for the past 31 years. Therron received his B.S and M.S. in Geology from Brigham Young University. Outside of work he enjoys cycling, backpacking, and spending time with his grandkids.
- David Deaton is an Analyst with the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund, as part of the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance. David reviews and approves reimbursement requests for corrective action associated with cleanup of leaking USTs, and handles issues regarding maintaining financial responsibility for USTs. He is also a Manger of the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program, which helps provide relief for those experiencing hardships paying their water bills during the Covid period. Currently, he is a member of the ASTSWMO State Fund Financial Responsibility Task Force, and is excited to assist with current and upcoming projects the Task Force is working on. David enjoys spending time outdoors doing all types of activities, but especially rock climbing.
- Dave Wattles is currently the Operations Manager of the Idaho Petroleum Storage Tank Fund (PSTF). He is tasked with managing the PSTF underwriting, claims, and loss control departments. PSTF is a division of the Idaho State Insurance Fund. The Idaho State Insurance Fund is the designated administrator for the Idaho Petroleum Clean Water Trust Fund. Dave has been a licensed insurance professional since 1999 and has worked for the Idaho State Insurance Fund since 2015. He has a Bachelors in Business Information Systems from Ashford University, an AINS designation from The Insurance Institutes, and has studied Accountancy at Boise State University.
- Suzanne Picone works as a Training Specialist at the New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services (NH DES). During her career, she has worked as an inspector of regulated aboveground and underground storage tank (AST & UST) facilities, she was the UST Operator Training Specialist, leading the monthly classroom-style course, and has been a Project Manager of investigations and corrective action at petroleum remediation sites. In recent years, she implemented online operator training, leading bimonthly online exam sessions for owners and operators of UST facilities. In addition to training, she continues to conduct inspections of over 100 facilities. Thanks to the encouragement of her leadership, Suzanne has been involved with ASTSWMO’s efforts throughout her career; however, since 2019, she’s been a member of the Emerging Issues Taskforce, working with several knowledgeable professionals to collaborate on nation-wide projects.
- Alicia Meadows is the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Compliance Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Alicia began her career in DEQ's Petroleum Storage Tank program over 25 years ago as a UST Inspector. Alicia has coordinated the UST Compliance Program since 2010 by writing regulatory guidance, supporting the inspection staff, coordinating the UST Operator training program, providing stakeholder training, running statistical program data and providing answers to technical questions from inspection staff and tank owners. Alicia has also served on the National Tank Conference planning committee, NEIWPCC Inspector webinar series, and the EPA Region 3 RCRA Inspector workshop planning committee. Alicia holds a B.S. in Biology from Roanoke College.
- Nigel Luther has worked for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Division of Underground Storage since 2011 and is currently the Statewide Operational Compliance Quality Assurance and Controls Manager for the operational compliance program. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 2009 with a B.S. of Geology. He has over 13 years of environmental experience including conventional and high-resolution investigation technologies, development and implementation of corrective action plans, tank removals, and operational compliance inspections. His primary roles include development and implementation of metrics and standards to ensure consistency and accuracy of the Division’s operational compliance program, integration of new policy and rules to existing processes, creation of training curriculums for new hires and experienced staff and serving as a Division technical expert. In his spare time Nigel enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, playing guitar, and hiking the Cumberland Plateau.
- Greg Dunn is Deputy Chief in Illinois EPA’s Bureau of Land with over 35 years of experience with the Agency. He began his career investigating contaminated sites for potential listing on the National Priorities List (Superfund) eventually transferring to reviewing Consent Orders and reports for the voluntary program. Greg was promoted to Unit Manager of a Site Remediation Program (voluntary) Unit in 1998 and was named Section Manager of the Remedial Project Management Section in 2016 overseeing the Voluntary, Brownfield and Leaking UST programs. In January 2020, Greg was named Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Land overseeing Permit, Remedial Project Management, Leaking UST, Federal Site Remediation, Materials Management and Compliance, and Field Operation Sections along with the Office of Site Evaluation. He has Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Earth Science from Eastern Illinois University and is a Licensed Professional Geologist in Illinois.
- Joe Godwin served in the US Army in the 1980s before going to college and getting a degree in Biological Sciences from Florida State University. He started his environmental career with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in Tallahassee, Florida as a laboratory Technician that prepared soil samples for analysis. Next, he was promoted to an Environmental Specialist in the Petroleum Storage Tank Systems Bureau within Florida DEP. In 2001, he accepted a position with the New Mexico Environment Department as a tank inspector in the Las Cruces Field Office and worked on the addition of aboveground storage tanks into the regulations in Title 20 Chapter 5 of the New Mexico Administrative Code. Later, in 2012, he was promoted to supervisor of the tank inspectors in southern district of New Mexico. Finally, in 2017, he was promoted to Program Manager for the Prevention Inspection Program whose staff are responsible for conducting inspections of petroleum storage tank systems, both aboveground and underground, throughout New Mexico.
- Angela is an Environmental Specialist for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Tanks Section. Her primary responsibility is to review more than 1,400 compliance inspections performed by the Department and the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Funds joint contractor as well as inspections performed by Department inspectors. She is also the technical lead and makes rules determinations for the regulated community. Angela has worked for the Department of Natural Resources for 18 years. In the past, Angela has been in charge of financial responsibility compliance, operator training compliance, as well as reviewing new tank installations and certifying the installation was performed in accordance with manufacturer requirements and industry standards. In her spare time, she spends time with her husband and two sons, often watching them play baseball or football.
- The manager for the underground Storage and leaking underground storage tanks (UST/LUST) program in the Division of Waste Management, within North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ). As a program manager my responsibilities include, but not limited to; coordinating with federal and state partners to ensure all applicable federal and state UST laws and rules are appropriately implemented throughout the state. Audit field activities of staff and regulated community to ensure compliance with appropriate regulations. Ensure implementation of up-to-date Quality Management Plan (QAPP). Maintain expenses within approved budget, apply for and manage the federal grant awards. I have been with program for nine and half years, prior to being the UST/LUST program manager for the last three and half years, I was an inspector. I graduated with double major degrees (BS-Geology and BS-Natural Resources Management) from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Master of Project Management from University of Mary (UMary). I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.
- Matthew Cohen is a Professional Geologist with the California State Water Resources Control Board. He received his degree in Geology from San Francisco State University. He has private sector experience conducting environmental cleanup and investigations at sites thought California. He currently serves as UST Cleanup Program Manager for the Water Boards.
- Kristopher Grinnell is the policy section manager for the Washington Department of Ecology’s Toxics Cleanup Program which includes the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program. He has been with Ecology since September 2007 and in his current position since July of 2022. He has also worked in the water quality and spills programs and is currently a member of the Department of Ecology spill response team. Kris received a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University and BS in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University. From 1999-2002, Kris served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Haiti.
Mission
The Tanks Subcommittee includes four Task Forces that manage the inspection of Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) which typically contain petroleum products; provide oversight for the remediation any leaks or spills from these USTs; and administer financial assurance funds that are offered to the owners and operators of USTs. The members also provide comments on federal policies and rulemaking and work directly with both federal officials at U.S. EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) and officials of the State and Territorial UST programs.
Recent Publications
Task Forces
Release
Prevention
Leaking Underground
Storage Tanks
Financial
Responsibility
Emerging
Issues
Mission
The mission of the Release Prevention Task Force is to represent the interests of State and Territorial programs whose primary responsibility is the environmental regulation of State and Federally regulated USTs. These programs work in concert with U.S. EPA to ensure that owners and operators are in compliance with leak prevention, leak detection and financial responsibility requirements and, by so doing, reduce the impact of UST releases on human health and the environment. The Task Force serves as a liaison between State and Territorial UST Programs and the U.S. EPA and provides a forum for sharing information and ideas among State regulatory officials.
Task Force Members
Mission
The LUST TF represents the unique concerns of State LUST Programs responsible for oversight, investigation, and remediation, and closure of releases of regulated substances from USTs. The LUST Task Force recognizes the important role of State LUST Programs in protecting human health and the environment through reducing exposure risk to contamination from UST releases. The Task Force will serve as a liaison between State and Territorial LUST Programs and the U.S. EPA, and act as a resource for distributing technical information and ideas among State LUST regulatory officials.
State Approaches to Addressing Leaking Underground Storage Tanks – Compilation Map
Task Force Members
Mission
The mission of the State Fund – Financial Responsibility (SF-FR) TF is to identify important issues affecting State petroleum cleanup and/or liability financial assurance trust funds for USTs, to create a forum for the State officials who manage them to communicate and share related information and experiences, to interact and communicate with officials at the U.S. EPA on issues pertaining to its regulation and oversight of State petroleum UST programs, and to work together to achieve our mutual goals.
Task Force Members
Mission
The mission of the Emerging Issues Task Force is to identify new and emerging issues that may impact program management of UST release prevention, cleanup, and financial assurance programs, and to provide resources and information associated with these issues to States and Territories to help guide strategic policies and efforts.