미국 환경보호청(EPA)은 지하에 저장된 연료탱크로부터 지하 식수자원을 보호하기 위해 고안된 연방 법을 준수하도록 하기 위해 알래스카, 오레곤, 워싱턴에 위치한 주유소 9곳과 합의에 도달했다. 이들 주유소는 반복된 위반으로 벌금을 문 업체로, 이 중 일부는 계속된 불이행으로 연료 수송을 제재받기도 했다.

EPA 시애틀 지하수부문 매니저인 Peter Contreras는 “지하 연료탱크 소유주 및 운영자는 이러한 정보를 숙지해야 하고, 위해 요소로부터 지하수를 보호하기 위해 시스템을 안전하게 운영해야 한다”고 말했다.

 

 

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached settlements with nine gas stations in Alaska, Oregon and Washington to bring them into compliance with federal laws designed to protect underground sources of drinking water from fuel tanks stored below ground. The gas stations were subject to increased penalties for repeat violations, and some were blocked from receiving fuel shipments for continued non-compliance.

 

“Underground fuel tank owners and operators must be knowledgeable and safely operate their systems to prevent harmful releases,” said Peter Contreras, Manager of EPA’s Groundwater Unit in Seattle. “Repeat violators will face stiffer penalties and may be blocked from receiving fuel shipments.”

 

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s underground storage tank regulations, facilities that store petroleum or other certain hazardous liquids underground are required to install and maintain line leak detector systems on underground piping and conduct line tests.

 

All but one of the nine stations listed below has agreed to correct the problems, improve their management of underground fuel tanks, and come into compliance with federal rules. Shell Gas Station in Hoquiam, Washington is prohibited from receiving fuel delivery until it returns to compliance.

 

Failure to properly monitor tanks and underground piping contributed to more than 6,800 new petroleum spills across the United States in 2015. State regulatory agencies and EPA are working to respond to prevent new groundwater contamination and petroleum spills, which add to the over 70,000 properties contaminated from leaking underground tank systems nationwide. A leaking underground tank can present other health and environmental risks, including the potential for fire and explosion.

 

In 2015, EPA strengthened its underground storage tank regulations by increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining underground tank equipment. The revisions will help prevent and detect underground tank releases and help ensure all underground tanks in the U.S., including those in Indian country, meet the same minimum standards. This is the first major revision to the federal underground storage tank regulations since 2005.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2016년 2월 23일]