Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks Grant

The RUST grant program supports small business owners in California by providing up to 100% funding for the removal, replacement, or upgrade of underground storage tanks (USTs) to meet safety regulations. Grants range from $3,000 to $70,000, with an additional $140,000 available for remote public fueling stations. Eligible applicants must have fewer than 20 employees and have specific compliance requirements with state health codes.

Purpose
RUST grants may be used to finance up to 100 percent of the costs necessary to upgrade, remove, or replace UST project tanks to comply with the requirements of Health and Safety Code sections 25284.1, 25292.05, 25292.4, 25292.5, or 41954.
Description
Replacing, Removing, or Upgrading Underground Storage Tanks (RUST) grants are available to assist small business underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators in financing up to 100 percent of the costs necessary to upgrade, remove, or replace project tanks to comply with the requirements of Health and Safety Code section 25284.1, 25292.05, 25292.4, 25292.5, or 41954. Please note that removal-only projects are now eligible for RUST grants. Grants are available for between $3,000 and $70,000 to eligible UST owners/operators. An additional $140,000 in RUST grant moneys above the $70,000 maximum is available for remote public fueling stations for the purpose of removing and replacing a single-walled UST.

Eligibility

The applicant is a small business that employs fewer than 20 full-time and part-time employees, is independently owned and operated, and is not dominant in its field of operation; The grant applicant’s principal office and its officers must be domiciled in California;All tanks owned and operated by the loan applicant, with the exception of the project tanks, must be in compliance with Health and Safety Code chapter 6.7 (commencing with section 25280), section 41954, and implementing regulations;The project facility has sold at retail less than 1,500,000 gallons of gasoline annually for each of the two years preceding the submission of the grant application;