CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Department of Environmental Protection has it’s website in place to allow on-line registration of storage tanks in West Virginia. The website is one of the first steps to implement the rules associated with legislation borne out of the January 9 chemical spill which contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 West Virginians.
Under the law any liquids stored in an above ground tank with a minimum capacity of 1,320 gallons and more than 90 percent above ground must be registered. Notification from the agency has already gone out to those expected to need registration.
“We’re reaching out in as many ways as we can to people who may own or operate tanks,” said Spokesperson Kelly Gillenwater. “We’ll soon be opening the registration period and all tanks have to be registered by October 1.”
The law does not specify if it’s a hazardous liquid.
“Right now our division of water and waste management is asking water utilities to register their storage tanks,” said Gillenwater. “Now, the utilities also have clarifier tanks, but those would be considered process vessels and the law exempts process vessels.”
The law also exempts tanks with dry storage such as fertilizer or livestock feed and grain.
The storage period gets started around June 10 and will run through October. Registration is somewhat thorough with about six pages of questions detailing the tank and how it is used.
“What does your tank hold? What’s the size of your tank? When was your tank made? What is it made from? Does it have secondary containment?” said Gillenwater. “Also a big one, ‘Where is your tank located?'”