For how long must the responsible party retain a report submitted to DEQ?

The correct answer is that the responsible party must retain a report submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) until property is transferred. This requirement ensures that relevant historical data and compliance information are available for any new owner or party involved with the property. Retaining the report is crucial for continued regulatory compliance and helps inform future management actions regarding the heating oil tank.

In many regulatory frameworks, maintaining records for as long as the property is owned or until it is transferred ensures that any potential environmental issues related to heating oil usage and tank management are transparently addressed. This aligns with the goal of safeguarding public health and the environment by providing new owners with all necessary information concerning compliance history and any previous incidents or monitoring results.

Other options may misrepresent the actual retention period according to regulations set by DEQ, which emphasizes the need for documents to accompany property transactions to enhance knowledge regarding the status of environmental compliance related to heating oil tanks.