N.J. Counties Settle Oil Tank Claims With Feds

(CN) - Federal environmental regulators touted settlements with two New Jersey counties on Wednesday regarding petroleum storage tank maintenance.

Monmouth County's deal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires it to spend an estimated $275,000 installing a 20,000-gallon, above-ground tank to replace three underground tanks at its reclamation center in Tinton Falls.

Covering past violations with also cost Monmouth $3,660, the EPA said, noting that it reduced the penalty in light of the cost of the new tank.

The EPA said its "inspections and a subsequent investigation revealed several alleged violations at the Tinton Falls site and at two other county facilities."

Monmouth County was cited for failing to keep adequate records of release detection for pressurized piping, and failing to conduct monthly monitoring of an underground storage tank.

Monmouth County has since come into compliance with these requirements.

Middlesex County reached a separate settlement that includes a $51,100 penalty. The EPA said its "inspections and a subsequent investigation revealed several alleged violations at the county's four underground storage tank facilities."

Middlesex faced citations for "failing to keep adequate records of release detection monitoring; failing to keep adequate records of release detection for pressurized piping; and failing to perform annual tests of automatic line leak detector systems."

The settlement required Middlesex to install electronic release-detection monitoring equipment to ensure compliance at all of its underground storage tank facilities.

Both deals come on the heels of a settlement that the EPA reached with the city of Paterson earlier this year regarding its underground storage tanks at three locations.

Paterson agreed to pay an $11,480 fine and to operate its underground tanks in full compliance with the law.

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