Underground storage tank loan program available for those affected by Helene
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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management’s Underground Storage Tank Section (NCDEQ-DWM-UST), has launched the Bridge Loan Program to assist owners and operators with testing and repairing surface infrastructure for their petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) affected by Hurricane Helene.
The North Carolina General Assembly has allocated $22 million in emergency disaster recovery funding to this new program.
The Bridge Loan Program provides financial assistance for repairing and testing commercial underground storage tank systems in affected counties, including Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, Yancey and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Eligible services include line and tank testing, product removal and disposal, and repair or replacement of aboveground piping, dispensers and electronics.
The loan program is designed to provide temporary financial assistance until federal disaster relief or insurance reimbursement is received. Loans awarded under the program will be interest-free and must be repaid upon receiving disaster relief or by June 30, 2030, whichever comes first.
Interested applicants can submit a loan application at https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/ustblapp?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery through June 30, 2025. Questions regarding the program can be directed to Meredith Love Gawai at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
