- COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Many mom-and-pop gas stations around the country
shut down their pumps yesterday rather than pay to upgrade or replace underground
tanks to meet federal regulations.
-
- About 20,000 gas stations were expected
to miss the midnight deadline. If they keep pumping gas today, they face
fines of up to $11,000 a day per tank.
-
- "With the law, small businesses
are out and large companies are in," said Michael Mohajerin, who couldn't
afford to keep the gas pumps at his station in Montgomery, Ala.
-
- It has been estimated that more than
100 stations in San Diego could be shuttered or sold to Arco, Chevron and
Texaco. > In Canton, Mass., on Monday night, Al Lewis pumped the last
$19 worth of gas from his Advanced Automotive station, knowing he would
not meet the deadline. Lewis has spent more than $10,000 removing two old
tanks and believes it would cost $100,000 for new ones.
-
- "Every time they change the rules,
we mortgage our home or whatever we have to stay in compliance," he
said. "Now, there's nothing left to mortgage."
-
- A spot check by The Associated Press
around the country found similar closures in many states.
-
- With leaking tanks contaminating soil
and ground water, Congress approved tougher standards in 1988 and gave
the industry 10 years to comply.
-
- Under the new regulations, investigators
are looking for tanks that can protect from spills, overfills and corrosion.
-
- With an estimated 1 million gas tanks
nationally, the typical station has three or four tanks, which can cost
a total of $18,000 to upgrade to minimum requirements. Replacement could
cost about $35,000, said Andrew Tschampa, chief of the underground storage
tank program in the EPA's Chicago office.
-
- Nationally, inspections could take a
year or more to complete, said Tanya Meekins, a spokeswoman for the federal
EPA in Washington.
-
-
- Comment
From earth1 communications
<earth1@hughes.net> 12-23-98
-
- Dear Mom and Pop,
-
- Today, December 23rd, is the day, the
day you who have not complied to the EPA's manditory regulation, must close
your Gas Stations. I realize you didn't have the spare $50,000.to $75,000
to change your in gound tanks, but after all the gracious EPA gave you
10 months to do it..And what a better Christmas present for the Major oil
companies than to hand them your head on a platter.
-
- Thanks to the BIG BULLY oil companies,
who have, as they did in 1973, forced you out of business today so that
they can take more controll and make bigger profits at the expence of you
and your familys..
-
- By the way, did you hear about Dr. Bill
Wattenberg who commissioned a study using 10 of the top scientists from
Universities around the country?? Their findings were quite conclusive
...The EPA is wrong that there was and is no foundation for their ruling
other than to force you out of business and put yet more power in the hands
of the Major oil companies..His findings were presented to the EPA and
completly ignored (naturally)....
-
- As of today 42 % of the stations in California
will not open. 74% in Atlanta and so on.
-
- What??? you haven't heard this on the
news or read it in the paper,,,,no!!!!...I can't understand that???
-
- Well at least it is heartening to know
that all of the Major company owned stations are compliant... That our
ground water is now going to be safer.... This should give you at least
some comfort at this time of cheer..
-
- Merry Christmas....
-
- Oh, yes and Merry Christmas to all those
who lost their jobs this past 2 months in Aero Space as a result of bigger
and bigger profits..They too are glad that the companies are getting richer
and that the ground water is safer.
-
- MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A
GOOD NIGHT
|
