Womack Case: Land Use Agency warning on airport tanks

November 9, 1998

Mr. Trevor Mottishaw, Director
General Services Administration
12200 Airport Road
Martell, CA 95654

Re:	Closure of Underground Storage Tanks Westover Field, 12370 Airport Road, Martell (2 avgas)

Dear Mr. Mottishaw:

The underground storage tanks listed above do not currently meet the December 22, 1998 upgrade requirements. State and Federal law mandates that all underground storage tanks meet the upgrade requirements by December 22, 1998 in order to remain in operation. The upgrade of the underground storage tanks will be a condition of the operating permit for underground storage tanks in Amador County. It will be illegal to operate an underground storage tank that has not been upgraded and approved by this office after December 22, 1998. State law prohibits fuel deliveries to underground storage tanks that have not been upgraded and certified by Amador County after January 1, 1999.

All underground storage tanks must be either operated under a valid permit or closed. Three methods of tank closure are approved by the State of California. Permanent closure involves the pumping and cleaning of the tank, testing the soil beneath the tank for contamination, and either removing the tank or filling the tank with a cement slurry. It is possible to temporarily close a tank for 12 months if the underground storage tank will be upgraded and reused. A permit from Amador County Department of Environmental Health is required for all tank closures in Amador County. An application for underground storage tank closure permit is enclosed.

State law requires that an application for tank closure be submitted within ninety (90) days of the cessation of tank usage (March 22, 1999 for non-upgraded tanks). Closure of the tanks must occur within thirty (30) days of approval of the closure permit.

The following conditions are required for temporary closure:

1. All tank and piping integrity testing/or monitoring must be current.
2. All product, residual liquids, sludges, and solids must be removed from the tank and the tank cleaned. Submission of documentation of product removal, tank cleaning, and the recycling/disposal of the tank is required.
3. Fill pipes and other openings except vent lines must be sealed or secured. Tanks may be filled with inert liquid. Liquid must be used to fill the tank must be tested and disposal approved before upgrading and reuse of tanks.
4. Power must be disconnected from all dispensers and pumps. Cathodic protection, if installed, must be maintained.
5. The tanks must be inspected every three months for fluid presence/level in tank, fill pipe security, and condition of tanks.
6. All spill response and requirements remain in effect.
7. Temporary closure permits are good for 1 year and may be renewed for an additional year. As a condition for the renewal of the temporary closure, a site investigation to evaluate possible unauthorized releases must be conducted.
8. All temporarily closed tanks must be upgraded to the December, 1998 standards before being returned to service.

Please contact this office by December 1, 1998 with a schedule for the closure of your underground storage tanks as required by law. Please call me at (209) 223-6439 if you have any questions.

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Robert Fourt, REHS
Environmental Health Specialist

RF:ew

This page was last modified on Monday, 11-Oct-2004 19:06:19 PDT.

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