Tank Program Catches On
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Sometimes a good idea catches on fast. Sometimes faster than expected.
Such is the case for the Indiana Development Finance Authority's grant program to remove old and abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks, according to Indiana Rep. David Wolkins, (R-Winona Lake).
The grant program was authorized under Senate Enrolled Act 158 as passed by The Indiana General Assembly earlier this year. The grant fund was appropriated $640,000 and the typical costs of removing underground tanks range from $10,000-$20,000. It is funded by the $289 per storage tank registration fees paid annually by storage tank owners.
"The response to the program has been much more than we expected," Wolkins said. "There was $640,000 in the grant fund and we have had $720,000 in grant requests."
That is in addition to those former tank owners who removed their storage tanks prior to the program's July 1 commencement date, he added.
One such owner was Corky Koors, former owner of the Koors Amoco station, 941 N. Detroit St., Warsaw. Koors spent $12,000 to remove the old tanks from his business May 28 and 29. The grant program took effect on July 1.
Koors' grant application was rejected by the Indiana Development Finance Authority because they were removed before the program's start date.
"We have 10 to 12 people in the same position as Corky," Wolkins said. "We're going to try and help them by putting more money in the grant fund specifically to reimburse tank owners who removed their tanks just prior to the grant program taking effect."
Despite minor glitches, such as the one experienced by Koors and others, the program is helping to meet the Environmental Protection Agency mandates to upgrade all underground storage tanks or remove them by Dec. 22, 1998.
"This (grant) program is not a complete answer to the problem, but it does provide assistance to some lower-income individuals who have not been able to secure funding to close their tanks," Wolkins said. "Additionally, the program attempts to prohibit brownfield sites by ensuring the proper closure of these tanks.
"It's doing exactly what we intended it to do. We had abandoned service stations all over the state that no one wanted to claim because of the cost to remove the tanks, and those tanks are now being removed," he added.
The grants, paid through the Indiana Development Finance Authority, are intended for small underground storage tank owners who are closing their tanks instead of upgrading them. The goals of the program are to clean up abandoned gas station sites; and provide tank owners who own 12 tanks or fewer and earn less than $50,000 per year some relief in meeting EPA requirements.
Because of the limited funds available, the IDFA is allocating the funds by determined number for each Congressional District. Locally, Congressional District 3 will be allowed two underground storage tank grants and District 5 with be allowed three grants.
For those needing information on applications pending, call (317) 233-4332. [[In-content Ad]]
Sometimes a good idea catches on fast. Sometimes faster than expected.
Such is the case for the Indiana Development Finance Authority's grant program to remove old and abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks, according to Indiana Rep. David Wolkins, (R-Winona Lake).
The grant program was authorized under Senate Enrolled Act 158 as passed by The Indiana General Assembly earlier this year. The grant fund was appropriated $640,000 and the typical costs of removing underground tanks range from $10,000-$20,000. It is funded by the $289 per storage tank registration fees paid annually by storage tank owners.
"The response to the program has been much more than we expected," Wolkins said. "There was $640,000 in the grant fund and we have had $720,000 in grant requests."
That is in addition to those former tank owners who removed their storage tanks prior to the program's July 1 commencement date, he added.
One such owner was Corky Koors, former owner of the Koors Amoco station, 941 N. Detroit St., Warsaw. Koors spent $12,000 to remove the old tanks from his business May 28 and 29. The grant program took effect on July 1.
Koors' grant application was rejected by the Indiana Development Finance Authority because they were removed before the program's start date.
"We have 10 to 12 people in the same position as Corky," Wolkins said. "We're going to try and help them by putting more money in the grant fund specifically to reimburse tank owners who removed their tanks just prior to the grant program taking effect."
Despite minor glitches, such as the one experienced by Koors and others, the program is helping to meet the Environmental Protection Agency mandates to upgrade all underground storage tanks or remove them by Dec. 22, 1998.
"This (grant) program is not a complete answer to the problem, but it does provide assistance to some lower-income individuals who have not been able to secure funding to close their tanks," Wolkins said. "Additionally, the program attempts to prohibit brownfield sites by ensuring the proper closure of these tanks.
"It's doing exactly what we intended it to do. We had abandoned service stations all over the state that no one wanted to claim because of the cost to remove the tanks, and those tanks are now being removed," he added.
The grants, paid through the Indiana Development Finance Authority, are intended for small underground storage tank owners who are closing their tanks instead of upgrading them. The goals of the program are to clean up abandoned gas station sites; and provide tank owners who own 12 tanks or fewer and earn less than $50,000 per year some relief in meeting EPA requirements.
Because of the limited funds available, the IDFA is allocating the funds by determined number for each Congressional District. Locally, Congressional District 3 will be allowed two underground storage tank grants and District 5 with be allowed three grants.
For those needing information on applications pending, call (317) 233-4332. [[In-content Ad]]