New Website Up and Running in Response to Elk River Spill
The January 9th chemical spill in Charleston, WV has been a catalyst for new laws, regulations, and discussions due to the immense impact it had (and is still having) on the environment and people in the region. The chemical spill contaminated water for 300,000 people, making it unusable for a few days, and is still affecting the air quality and odor for the residents closest to the spill. Government response to this incident is a new law enabling the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create regulations for above ground storage tanks. The Senate Bill can be viewed here. It requires an inventory and registration of certain above ground storage tanks to be completed by the owners before October 1, 2014 , as well as drafting new regulations for the storage tanks which would take effect in 2015. The DEP suggests signing up for your login IDs now to help create a more streamlined process, and they offer an online quiz in order to see if your tank needs to be registered.
The DEP has allowed and encouraged stakeholders to give their input on this important and sensitive subject matter. Many individuals, businesses, and interest groups responded, and their responses can be viewed here. Their concerns vary, but a common theme can be summed up with a few major points:
- Transparent Process: All comments through the rule making process should be immediately posted online for public access.
- No Loopholes: Only allow exclusions to new rules if existing rules cover the exact same material to the same or stricter standards.
- Adequate Funding: All new fees need to fully cover the new program.
- Public Access to Information: All new rules and regulations from the new act need to be fully accessible by the public.
- No Double Regulation: If a certain area or industry is already regulated, adding more rules will add confusion and weaken business.
The public has spoken, and their concerns are valid. More laws and regulations are to come, and it is up to the business owners and commercial entities to be responsible for their chemical storage compliance.
Chemical Storage Solutions
We can offer you specialized chemical and explosive storage options customized to your hazmat needs and problems. We want to help you remain compliant in these times of increased regulations. If we work together, we can create a world that is safe from chemical hazards, and an environment that is free from harmful hazardous materials. We’ll continue to post helpful advice, tips, and news on our Facebook page. Don’t forget to check out our chemical storage options and our explosive storage options, and please call us at (888) 264-2449 to speak with a friendly staff member!
