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EPA Lab Settles Underground Storage Tank Violations

Release Date: 7/6/2001
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will pay a $2,833 penalty for violations of federal and Virginia regulations designed to prevent leaks from underground storage tanks. The violations were at the Virginia Testing Laboratory in Alexandria, Va., an auto emissions testing facility, operated by a private contractor, EG&G Emissions Testing Services, for EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

The office in Alexandria self-disclosed that they had missed a December 22, 1998 deadline for closing or upgrading one of five underground gasoline tanks at the lab. They also failed to conduct several required monthly tests to detect leaks in 1998 and 1999.

Independent testing during the last three years showed that gasoline had not leaked from the tanks. The tanks were removed in April 2001.