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EPA and New Jersey DEP To Announce Grant For Tank Inspections in Hunterdon County; County Officials To Play Major Role After December 22 Tank Deadline

Release Date: 12/09/1998
Contact Information:

(#98168) New York, N.Y. -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials will announce an EPA grant of $25,000 to train Hunterdon county health inspectors to inspect underground storage tanks (USTs). Hunterdon county will be the first local government in New Jersey to make comprehensive UST inspections, which are normally conducted exclusively by EPA and DEP inspectors.

The announcement of the grant comes two weeks before the national EPA deadline of December 22, 1998 for all owners of outdated USTs to replace, upgrade, or close their old tanks. As a result of the EPA grant, Hunterdon county officials will assist EPA and DEP in ensuring compliance in the county, which is home to 500 underground storage tanks.

There are 900,000 USTs nationwide, which are used to store petroleum, fuel, and hazardous waste at gas stations, municipal and industrial facilities, marinas, and other businesses. Leaks from substandard tanks are the nation's number one source of ground water contamination.

When/Where: Hess Station, 1746 Rte. 31 (phone 908-713-6300); Clinton, New Jersey; Thursday, December 10, 1998, 12:00 PM

Attendees: George Pavlou, EPA Region 2 Acting Director of Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance; Rick Gimello, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation; John Beckley, Hunterdon County Health Officer

Photo-Op: "Big check" presentation by EPA official to DEP and Hunterdon county representatives, with gas station in background. Demonstrations of tank leak detection and spill prevention systems.

Directions: Take Route 31 North from the interchange with Route 78. Go approximately 2.5 miles. You will pass a Shoprite at the first light. The Hess station is on the right hand side before the second light / Route 513.

For more information contact:
Nina Habib Spencer, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3670 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: habib.nina@epamail.epa.gov