CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection wants to remind owners of aboveground storage tanks of an important deadline that is fast approaching. July 1 is the date when all tanks must be registered or be subject to possible enforcement action. Also, any necessary modifications to previously registered tanks must be completed by that date in order to ensure accurate invoicing.
Senate Bill 423, which passed during the 2015 legislative session and goes into effect June 12, amended the Aboveground Storage Tank and Public Water Supply Protection acts. Among the changes is an altered definition of what is considered an aboveground storage tank (AST). Therefore, tank owners who previously registered their tanks may need to remove some tanks from the AST Program. If tank owners don’t deregister tanks that no longer fit the statutory AST definition by July 1, those owners will be sent registration invoices of $40 per tank.
Tank owners who are unsure if their tanks still meet the definition are advised to take a short survey on the DEP’s AST page, which can be accessed from the agency’s home page:
www.dep.wv.gov. This survey, titled “Do I need to modify my existing registration?” can also be accessed directly on the AST page at
www.dep.wv.gov/tanks. If tank owners determine their tanks are exempt from the provisions of the new AST Act, they can click on the “Modify an existing registration” link to go to DEP’s Electronic Submission System. Once logged in, they will need to select “new” for process, and “Waste Management” for office and they’ll then be directed to the “AST EZ Deregister” modification form.
Any tanks in use that are not registered with DEP by the July 1 deadline will be considered out of compliance with the law and could be issued violations and possibly fines. The original date for registering tanks under the previous AST Act was Oct. 1, 2014, so all ASTs should actually already be registered. All tanks going into service after July 1 need to be registered prior to their use for storing liquids.
Another survey, titled “Do I need to register my AST?,” can help tank owners who aren’t already registered determine if they need to sign up for the program. This survey can also be accessed on the AST page.
While registrations need to be completed using the DEP’s online system whenever possible, if a tank owner doesn’t have access to a computer, he or she may contact Mavis Layton at 304-926-0499, ext. 1025, to request a paper registration form.
The DEP has revised the AST program rule, based on the amended AST Act. The proposed rule will go through the legislative process during the 2016 session.
For more DEP news and information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about the Adopt-A-Highway, West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia NonPoint Source and Youth Environmental Program initiatives, or the DEP’s Human Resources group, connect on Facebook.
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