PA Seeks More Than $6.1 Million for Cleanup of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

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