Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 3, 1994 TAG: 9408030072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Under the proposed policy, service stations no longer would have to clean up contaminated soil or even pools of petroleum if there are no nearby drinking wells or houses.
``If we want companies to spend money, we want them to do it for a reason - not just so they'll have a warm, fuzzy feeling,'' said Bob Baird, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Conservationists say the new policy may be so lax on polluters that it could leave Virginia open to sanctions from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Lois Epstein, an engineer with the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, said service stations could leave behind contaminated soil that could endanger ground water.
The proposed underground tank policy, which could save gasoline companies tens of thousands of dollars in consultants' fees and remediation costs, is scheduled to go into effect ``in the near future,'' according to a department memo dated July 26.
The change would be the second time in recent months that Republican Gov. George Allen has sided with the gasoline retail lobby. In a high-profile battle with EPA over clean-air standards in Northern Virginia, Allen has fought to make sure service stations keep a share of the business of repairing cars that flunk emissions tests.
The proposed underground storage tank policy, which has won the blessing of Environmental Quality Director Peter W. Schmidt, is designed to reduce a 300-case backlog of permit applications by focusing on tanks that pose the most serious environmental risk.
Baird, a temporary department worker brought in to revise the underground storage tank program, said it makes no sense for service stations to spend money to restore soil to ``the way it was when Christopher Columbus arrived'' when it poses no immediate health danger.
Baird contended that removing contaminated soil is unnecessary in many cases because naturally occurring bacteria will neutralize dangerous chemicals such as benzine and xylene.
``Bacteria likes to chew on this stuff. If it sits there, it will clean itself up,'' he said.
by CNB