AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY BOARD


To The Department of Environmental Protection

March 4, 1996


Mr Karl K. Sheaffer

Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Water Quality Management

Division of Storage Tanks

P.O. Box 8762

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8762


Dear Mr. Sheaffer:

At the February 21, 1996 meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Board to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Board members voted unanimously to recommended that the Department place a moratorium on the requirement that regulated underground storage tanks be removed only by a certified installer. The Board believes that this moratorium would permit the agricultural community to remove underground storage tanks without incurring excessive and unnecessary expenses. The Board further believes that this moratorium would result in a greater number of underground storage tanks being removed from the ground, thus reducing the potential for pollution from leaking and aging storage tanks, as opposed to owners just abandoning these tanks to avoid the costs of removal by a certified installer. The Board requests that you give this recommendation your thoughtful consideration.

If I may be of further assistance please contact me at (717) 561-7200.

Sincerely,


Robert Junk

Chairperson

Agricultural Advisory Board