Action in Richmond on the "Tank Farm"

The petroleum "tank farm" (as it's affectionately known) on Pickett Road has long been a thorn in the side of City and County residents alike. 2010 saw a number of incidents that heightened everyone's awareness. Working working together, County, City, state and federal officials are coming up with solutions where we have opportunities to improve safety and gain greater input from local government on regulation of the facility.

Fortunately for us we have state and federal officials looking out for us. Congressman Gerry Connolly is working on some things on Capitol Hill, while Del. David Bulova and Sen. Chap Petersen have us covered in Richmond.

An example of their work was on display as a bill to increase safety at the tank farm passed the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Del. Bulova has a companion bill in the House of Delegates.

Here's a press release from Chap's office that talks about the legislation.

For Immediate Release Contact: Michelle Ahn
January 31, 2011 804.698.7534/ michelle@fairfaxsenator.com

Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Passes Storage Tank Safety Bill

Richmond – This morning at the Capitol, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Senator J. Chapman Petersen (D-Fairfax City).

Senate Bill 843 provides for stricter environmental requirements on above ground storage tanks at the Fairfax City “tank farm.” This Pickett Road repository has suffered at least one major oil spill since the 1980’s, as well as at least several smaller but repeated accidents within the past four years. The tank farm has caused so many grievances for local residents that City and County leaders held a “summit” in October of 2010 to try and address the problem.

“Despite the good efforts of our state Department of Environmental Quality, it was evident that Assembly action was needed to protect the residents of Fairfax City and Mantua which border the tank farm,” says Senator Petersen.

His SB 843 requires the tank farm owner to restore tanks constructed prior to 1992 Code updates so that they conform to current design requirements, e.g. stipulating the use of “double-bottoms” to prevent water-contaminating leaks. If the bill becomes law, it would take effect in 2022 following the EPA’s ten-year standard for upgrading non-conforming tanks.

Senator Petersen’s legislation will not be heard by the House of Delegates. There is a companion bill sponsored by Delegate David Bulova (D-Fairfax) in the House.

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