DEP BEGINS EFFORT TO REDUCE LEAKING TANKS
THROUGH COMPLIANCE INSPECTION PROGRAM
(04/96) TRENTON -- New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M.
Campbell announced the start of a new, enhanced statewide
underground storage tank compliance inspection program to
prevent pollution by reducing the number of leaking tanks.
"Performing comprehensive underground storage tank
inspections will protect our ground water resources from
gasoline and other contamination," said Commissioner
Campbell. "Millions of New Jersey residents get their
drinking water from aquifers that are vulnerable to pollution
from leaking tanks. New Jersey was long overdue for a more
effective leak prevention program for underground tanks,
but this has changed with the state making new funding available."
In November 2003, New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved
a public referendum Governor McGreevey requested to provide
DEP a stable funding source of up to $2 million annually
to create an underground storage tank inspection program.
In New Jersey, there are more than 22,000 regulated underground
storage tanks at about 8,000 facilities. DEP is establishing
a group of 18 state and county inspectors to conduct compliance
inspections at each facility once every three years. Owners
and operators of underground storage tanks also must register
their tank systems with DEP on a three-year cycle. Testing
and cleanup work is underway by responsible parties at more
than 4,000 sites statewide where underground storage tanks
have leaked resulting in soil or ground water contamination.
In past years, state underground storage tank inspections
were conducted on the basis of complaints or referrals to
DEP's Site Remediation Program. In addition, some county
health agencies conducted inspections and were reimbursed
through the DEP's County Environmental Health Act program
using state Spill Fund monies. In 2003, 12 counties performed
some inspections in addition to targeted DEP actions that
overall resulted in 781 inspections statewide.
DEP initially plans to fund nine county inspectors and
provide training and other assistance, including specialized
equipment to properly inspect underground storage tanks.
DEP also is hiring nine state inspectors to conduct compliance
and inspection activities out of three state field offices,
including oversight and assistance to county partners.
DEP provides compliance assistance to owners and operators
of facilities with underground storage tank systems. State
and federal laws require all owners and operators to maintain
leak detection, corrosion and overfill prevention and other
measures to prevent tank leaks. DEP also will track all
inspections and enforcement actions taken when responsible
parties fail to comply with relevant laws.
Two other significant operational compliance violations
that are being targeted include operators and fuel transporters
that disable or defeat tank system overfill devices, and
fuel transporters that place fuel into tanks lacking a valid
registration certificate.
Defeating an overfill prevention device may cause a sudden
release of flammable liquid into the surrounding environment.
Placing fuel into unregistered or improperly registered
tanks also risks a release to the environment as the tanks
could be substandard or being operated improperly.
The following are examples of enforcement actions that
have already been issued:
- On May 20, 2004, DEP issued D'Angelo Investment Group,
LLC (owner) and Diwan Singh dba Rt. 47 Highway Citgo (operator
since September 29, 2003) an Administrative Order and
Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment in the
amount of $15,000 for violations at a commercial gas station
located at Block 1438, Lots 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 5
and 9, Rt. 47, Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey.
- On May 14, 2004, DEP issued Singin Oil (operator),
Baris Alkoc (owner) and Suleyman Alkoc (owner) an Administrative
Order and Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment
in the amount of $15,000 for violations at a commercial
gas station located at 149 Lower Main Street in Aberdeen
Township, Monmouth County.
- On March 19, 2004, DEP issued Tarlok Singh dba Super
US Gas (owner and operator) an Administrative Order and
Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment in the
amount of $15,000 for violations at a commercial gas station
located at Block 538, Lot 1, 271 South Delsea Drive, Vineland,
Cumberland County, New Jersey.
- A large-scale investigation targeted six gas stations
in Passaic, Essex and Bergen counties owned and operated
under several different corporate names but tied to one
responsible party, AB Trading Enterprises. During the
course of the investigation three of the six sites were
closed. One of those six remains shut because of substandard
tank systems that need replacement. On August 11, 2003,
a Superior Court judge ordered AB Trading to pay DEP a
$200,000 penalty to settle all violations at the six sites.
DEP has received more than $100,000 to date from this
penalty with the remainder being paid over time with interest.
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