Recent removals in Ash Fork and Phoenix reduce environmental risks and prepare properties for redevelopment

PHOENIX (Nov. 18, 2025) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program recently completed environmental site assessments that included the removal of abandoned, orphaned petroleum tanks from private properties in Ash Fork and Phoenix, using federal Brownfields funding. These long unused tank sites, with no identified owners or operators, posed potential environmental risks and barriers to redevelopment.

Properties with abandoned underground storage tanks that have not been adequately assessed may have hidden environmental risks and could impact the potential for redevelopment, said ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Julie Riemenschneider. Thanks to the grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) we were able to remove those tanks and give communities peace of mind knowing their land is safe for continued use.

ADEQ completed the assessments in Oct. 2025 using approximately $450,000 from a $2 million Brownfields Assessment Grant awarded to ADEQ by the EPA. The grant is part of expanded federal resources through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which support state and local efforts to assess and restore underused or contaminated properties.

ADEQ reviewed historical records and available environmental data statewide to identify and prioritize sites for assessment. The review verified that no documentation existed showing the tanks had been properly and permanently closed and evaluated each site based on risk factors and the willingness of property owners to participate. ADEQ then used ground-penetrating radar to confirm the locations of the underground storage tanks which were then removed. The successful assessments eliminated potential hazards and cleared the way for safe redevelopment opportunities in Arizona.

In Ash Fork, one of the site cleanups cleared a small commercial parcel for potential reuse, while in Phoenix, the work addressed aging underground infrastructure in a mixed-use corridor.

These projects demonstrate how environmental cleanup and community revitalization go hand in hand, said ADEQ UST Manager Joey Kiker. We’re excited to build on this momentum by assessing more orphan UST sites across Arizona to help more communities turn underused land into opportunities for growth.

ADEQ plans to assess about 10 additional orphaned UST sites across Arizona as funding becomes available. These efforts help communities reclaim valuable land for redevelopment, align with ADEQ’s mission to protect public health and the environment, and ensure Arizona’s towns continue to grow safely and sustainably.

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