The V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources on Monday advised all gas station owners and/or operators of underground storage tanks that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 2, will be conducting underground storage tank (UST) Inspections in the St. Croix District on or about the week of April 11, 2022.
According to D.P.N.R., the EPA has authority to conduct UST inspections and to enforce federal UST regulations in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (“HSWA”), 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. (collectively referred to as “RCRA” or the “Act”). Mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, EPA or DPNR is required to inspect all federally regulated UST systems every 3 years.
D.P.N.R. said that before the inspections occur, EPA is encouraging owners and operators of UST systems to review compliance with the Federal UST regulations. This includes ensuring all required documentation is completed and available for review during the inspections. If areas of concern are identified, they must be rectified immediately. EPA’s enforcement staff will review the information gathered during the inspection(s) and, if violations are found, will determine what enforcement actions are necessary.
"Please note that violations of federal UST regulations may result in enforcement actions with penalties of up to $24,730 per UST system per day of violation," says the release. "Therefore, DPNR and EPA encourages owners and operators of UST systems to take immediate steps to ensure compliance with the federal UST regulations which may be found at 40 C.F.R. Part 280."
Interested persons may also visit the EPA's website at this link for guidance document “Musts for USTs”.
For more information or questions and concerns, contact Austin Callwood, Director of the Division of Environmental Protection at (340) 774-3320 or by email at [email protected].
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