EPA: Leaking storage tanks threaten groundwater

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Noncompliance with federal regulations for underground fuel storage tanks continues to run at a high rate.

The Environmental Protection Agency reported that its latest check of 76 storage tanks in northern Idaho and across the southern part of the state found two-thirds out of compliance, a number cited for multiple violations.

There are 1,350 underground tank facilities under federal regulation statewide.

The October inspections resulted in 93 citations and proposed fines totaling more than $14,500.

“The bottom line is we found only one in three facilities complying with key operational requirements,” said Jim Werntz, Idaho state director for the EPA. “While some in the industry are doing everything right, there are a large number of facilities in Idaho that are not making leak detection and prevention a priority.”

Idaho is one of the few states without its own inspection program, relying instead on the federal agency for tank regulatory enforcement.

Tank owners had until December 1998 to comply with federal regulations.

In two previous rounds of inspections in April and October 2003, another 154 facilities across the state were checked and a similar noncompliance rate was found, resulting in more than $33,000 in proposed fines.

“This should be a concern not just to EPA, but to every Idaho resident who drinks water or irrigates from a well,” Werntz said.

Inspectors found that 52 percent of violations were due to a lack of leak detection equipment, improper operation of that equipment and missing or incomplete records.

A quarter involved lack of required equipment upgrades, improper equipment installation and failure to follow operational requirements.

When the regulations first took effect six years ago, compliance rates were very low despite the publicity and information distributed to tank owners beforehand, said Erik Sirs, EPA’s inspector for Idaho.

Idaho’s low compliance rate has prompted an escalation in federal inspections, he said.

“I would anticipate in the near future we would inspect facilities for the second time,” Sirs said. “The trend was that they were doing a little better.”