HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced that Pennsylvania is applying for $6.1 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to clean up 71 leaking underground storage tanks in 40 counties.
“We are applying for the maximum grant amount available and will target these funds to sites where historic abandoned underground storage tanks are delaying redevelopment efforts because of possible contamination and cleanup costs,” Rendell said. “The benefits from this influx of funding will go far beyond creating jobs and opportunities for cleanup contractors; the money will help remove roadblocks to development at abandoned sites in communities across the state.”
In Beccaria Township, Slovikosky Service Station was listed as one of the sites.
The funds will be distributed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and must be directed to the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks where the responsible party is unknown or the owner is unable or unwilling to remove the tanks and remediate the site. In the case where a responsible party is unwilling or partially able to conduct the work, the state Department of Environmental Protection will perform the work and may take actions to recover cleanup costs.
Pennsylvania first began regulating underground storage tanks in 1989 and typically spends between $1 million and $2 million each year to clean up leaking underground storage tanks. Money for state-sponsored cleanups comes from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund which is supported by a tax on gasoline sold in Pennsylvania.
Funding would address 71 sites in 40 counties where leaks from abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks have been reported or suspected. There have been more than 14,700 known releases from underground storage tanks in Pennsylvania since 1989. Remediation has been completed for 11,500 releases, and corrective actions are under way at nearly all the remaining sites.
Cleanup of a leaking underground tank can range from as little as $5,000 up to multi-million dollar projects that involve long-term treatment of contaminated groundwater.
A typical example of the sites to be addressed with the anticipated federal money is Malcolm’s service station in Warrington Township, Bucks County. This small family-owned facility was closed after petroleum releases and soil contamination were discovered in 2002 and underground storage tanks at the site were pumped and taken out of operation. The property owner’s estate lacks the financial resources to remediate the site which is now abandoned and fenced off in an area with growing retail development. Cleanup of the leaking tanks would allow the property to be returned to a useful purpose.
“This federal funding will supplement our existing cleanup program and allow us to make significant progress toward clearing up our backlog of sites where leaks have occurred and corrective actions have not yet been taken,” Governor Rendell added. “We are going to focus our initial efforts on sites where we have already made arrangements with landowners to enter the property and conduct the work so we will be able to begin these cleanups as soon as the funding is received.”
State law requires all underground storage tanks to be registered and permitted. Newly installed and replaced underground storage tanks must be double-walled and have corrosion protection and leak detection. Tank installers must be certified by the state and tanks are inspected by DEP certified inspectors at least once every three years.
To learn more about how the federal economic stimulus will benefit communities across Pennsylvania, visit here.
For more information, visit here, keyword: Storage Tanks.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is a list of 71 sites where Pennsylvania anticipates it will address leaking underground storage tanks using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Adams County
Oxford Township — William McIntyre property
Allegheny County
North Fayette Township — Former Dairy Mart #1122
Oakdale Borough — Zirwas Atlantic
Armstrong County
Ford City — Tim Rusfre property
Beaver County
Freedom Borough — Pine Run Market
Hopewell Township — Mancini’s Service
Bedford County
East Providence Township — Post House Restaurant
Napier Township — Gilbert Brothers
Berks County
Saint Lawrence Borough — Saint Lawrence Citgo
Bradford County
Ridgebury Township — Al’s Mid State Market
Wells Township — State Line Coastal
Bucks County
Springfield Township — Stony Point Grocery
Warrington Township — Malcolm’s
Carbon County
Summit Hill Borough — Leonzi Property
Chester County
East Pikeland Township — Gappa
Sadsbury Township — Tim Browns Auto
Clearfield County
Beccaria Township — Slovikosky Service Station
Columbia County
South Centre Township — Jiffy Mart
Crawford County
Conneautville Borough — Conneautville Keystone
Meadville City — Kimple’s Exxon
Cumberland County
Hampden Township — Super Car Wash
Delaware County
Chester City — Dudek’s Service Center
Ridley Township — Otto’s Service Station
Erie County
Albion Borough — Povolko Citgo
Fayette County
Uniontown Borough — Trusio’s
Forest County
Tionesta Borough — Shea Auto
Franklin County
Greene Township — Scotland Fuels
Waynesboro Borough — Waynesboro Food Mart
Huntingdon County
Jackson Township — Former Bigelows Grocery
Indiana County
Indiana Borough — McNaughton Oil
White Township — Flemings Amoco
Juniata County
Mifflin Borough — Former Mifflin Service Center
Lackawanna County
Clarks Green Borough — Hawk Oil
Clifton Township — Fisher’s Quik Shoppe
Scranton City — Carpentier Property
Scranton City — Diana’s Gulf
Lebanon County
Jonestown Borough — RK Tune Up 3
Lehigh County
Slatington Borough — Hilltop Texaco
Washington Township — Zeigler Property (Perkowski)
Luzerne County
Dallas Township — Besteder’s ESSO
Duryea Borough — Shock’s Service Station
Hanover Township — Domoco Gas & Oil
Lehman Township — Harold’s Garage
Newport Township — Alden Station Mini Mart
Wilkes-Barre City — Sanitary Leasing Service
Lycoming County
Jordan Township — Unity Market
Mercer County
Coolspring Township — McEwen Oil
Sharon City — Radkowski property
Monroe County
Pocono Township — Scotrun Texaco
Stroud Township — North Fifth Street Texaco
Stroud Township — Weaver Property
Montgomery County
Horsham Township — Glemser Bros
Norristown Borough — OJP Auto Service Inc
Whitpain Township — Center Square Citgo
Northumberland County
Shamokin City — Shamokin City Warehouse
Perry County
Spring Township — Greenbriar Mall
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia City — Bills Auto
Philadelphia City — Ribot’s
Potter County
Harrison Township — Mill’s Country Store
Portage Township — Costello General Store
Roulette Township — Faith’s Country Store
Schuylkill County
Cass Township — Jenkin’s Property
Pottsville City — West End Cleaners
Snyder County
Spring Township — Shellenberger Agency
Sullivan County
Dushore Borough — Trapani Service Station
Susquehanna County
Little Meadows Borough — Barnum’s Gulf
Silver Lake Township — Tucker’s Store
Washington County
Smith Township — Meerdo’s Service
Somerset Borough — Yost Property
Wayne County
Salem Township — Don Frick Sheds
Salem Township — Grason’s Service Station