Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-oil-tank-ordinance

Full Text:

Panel Weighs Provisions For Oil Tank Ordinance

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Since 1993, one fourth of all underground oil tanks dug up in Newtown have had

leaks, oozing contaminants into the soil and nearby water supplies, according

to Fire Marshal George Lockwood.

Do you have an old oil tank buried on your property? The town may soon create

a law that would require all residents to dig up underground oil tanks that

are 20 years old or more. It is not cheap either. Digging up a tank usually

costs more than $2,000.

The Legislative Council's ordinance committee had drafted an ordinance that

would have prevented oil tanks from being buried, but the proposed ordinance

said nothing about requiring those existing tanks from being unearthed. Mr

Lockwood found this out last summer, and immediately urged the committee to

make the necessary adjustments.

"This ordinance doesn't amount to a hill of beans," he said. "We need to get

these tanks the hell out of the ground."

Mr Lockwood believes the town must take steps to curtail the current leaking,

as well as prevent contamination in the future. At the urging of Mr Lockwood

and town sanitarian Martha Wright, the ordinance committee may eventually do

so, but not without some hesitation. After all, some members believe that such

an ordinance would put an unfair financial burden on residents. Mr Lockwood is

quick to point out, however, that an oil contamination cleanup can cost as

much as $100,000 or more, especially if the oil gets into surrounding well

water.

Ordinance Committee chairman Bill Brimmer will soon be stepping down to take

his seat on the Board of Selectmen. He realizes that the committee must make

some tough decisions in the coming months. The ordinance has been amended on

several occasions and after all this work, it looks as if the ordinance is

back to ground zero. Requiring the removal of existing tanks would be a major

change.

"This ordinance is taking on a life of its own," Mr Brimmer said.

Mr Lockwood said he sees multiple leakers taken out of residential yards in

Newtown each week. He estimates there could be as many as 800 to 900 oil tanks

in Newtown that are currently leaking. He said it is almost impossible to

determine if an underground tank is leaking. Most residents find out after

they dig it up. They bring them up, according to the fire marshal, because

they know they can't sell their house unless they do. Some tanks are abandoned

by homeowners illegally. Often water seeps into the porous tanks, eventually

backing up furnaces.

Ridge Road and Saw Mill Ridge Road have had several lead tanks removed in

recent years. Homes on those roads were built during the 1970s when cheap

metal was used in building the tanks.

Former ordinance committee chairman Pierre Rochman was against requiring oil

tank removal. He felt the problem may still be taken care of as more and more

banks and insurance companies are considering the underground oil tank issue

before handing out mortgages.

The ordinance committee is also in the final stage in its work on an

anti-litter ordinance. It has also begun discussion on a proposed ordinance

that would regulate adult entertainment establishments should they decide to

make Newtown their home. Committee member Will Rodgers, a local attorney, said

he did not want to touch such an ordinance, saying it would open up the town

to lawsuits. He said creating an ordinance might also draw attention to

Newtown, attracting porn shops into town.