What West Virginia's Shoddy Tanks Held, And Where They Are

In a statewide survey of chemical tanks, the Department of Environmental Protection recently found about 50 tanks that were not-fit-for-service, but still held chemicals close enough potentially to threaten public water supplies.

The Associated Press

May 4, 2015

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — In a statewide survey of chemical tanks, the Department of Environmental Protection recently found about 50 tanks that were not-fit-for-service, but still held chemicals close enough potentially to threaten public water supplies.

Since the survey, state regulators say most operators took their tanks out of commission. The others are monitoring their individual tank issues until they can complete repairs.

The biggest issues were corrosion and inadequate secondary containment safeguards.

Here's a look at what some of the almost 50 tanks held and where they are located, county-by-county.

Oil, brine, gas, or some combination: 30 tanks

Locations: Upshur (7), Raleigh (7), Logan (3), Barbour (2), Jackson (2), Randolph (2), Preston (2), Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Mingo, Tucker

Diesel fuel: 6 tanks

Locations: Randolph, Lincoln, Mineral, Berkeley, Tucker, Monongalia

Crude oil: 3 tanks

Locations: Wetzel (3)

Caustic soda (hazardous): 3 tanks

Locations: Marshall, Logan, Mingo

Sulfuric acid (hazardous): 1 tank

Location: Mingo