PennDOT fined for tank violation in West Brownsville
The state Department of Transportation will pay a $26,066 penalty for failing to properly monitor or test underground diesel storage tanks in West Brownsville and Venango County, the Environmental Protection Agency said.
The settlement addresses alleged violations regarding underground storage tank regulations that help protect communities and the environment from exposure to oil or potentially harmful chemicals, EPA said.
At the two sites, PennDOT allegedly failed to conduct proper monitoring or testing of detectors on pipe lines for leaks and did not maintain proper monitoring records regarding the underground tanks. None of the violations included any type of release or leak from the tanks or pipes, the EPA said.
The settlement penalty reflects PennDOT’s cooperation with EPA in correcting the violations, the EPA said.
The West Brownsville site is at the intersection of Routes 40 and 88, and the Venango County site is at 1460 Pittsburgh Road, Franklin.
Leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups.