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The U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $5,855 penalty to settle allegations of underground storage tank violations at its Naval Support Activity facility in Norfolk, VA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced.
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NSA Hampton Roads |
| With more than 6,000 personnel, NSA Hampton Roads has the largest concentration of fleet headquarters administrative and communication facilities outside Washington, D.C. |
NSA Hampton Roads has the largest concentration of fleet headquarters administrative and communication facilities outside Washington, D.C. Home to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Naval Submarine Forces, Atlantic; Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic, and other commands, the facility has more than 6,000 personnel.
The alleged tank violations involve one building, known as Building NH94, at the facility.
Testing Deferred
EPA said the facility has three 25,000-gallon underground storage tanks containing diesel fuel. Each tank is required to undergo testing every three years to make sure that the tank is not corroded and that the corrosion protection system is operating properly. During a March 2011 inspection, the inspectors found that these tanks had not been tested since 2004, EPA said last week.
The $5,855 settlement penalty “reflects cooperation of the U.S. Navy with EPA in the investigation and resolution of this matter,” EPA said. ”The Navy has certified its compliance with applicable UST requirements, and the tanks were tested for corrosion on April 4, 2011.”
EPA rules on underground storage tanks (UST) require that the tanks be tested to prevent leaks. The greatest potential threat from a leaking underground storage tank is contamination of groundwater from hazardous and toxic chemicals in the tank systems, according to EPA. Groundwater is the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans.
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