By Tammy Stone
The Dec. 22, 1998, deadline has come and gone. If you have not done anything to be in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, you may be in BIG trouble. The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) can assess you fines or penalties. Or, if you have your jet gas and/or aviation gasoline delivered by a private distributor, they may choose not to deliver, if you are not certified by TNRCC as being in compliance.
The TNRCC will be doing 400-600 inspections during the next few months. So be prepared! If you were in compliance or had a signed contract with a contractor to perform the necessary upgrades on Dec. 22, 1998, you should have a good inspection report. Let’s hope so! If you have not started, beware of the consequences for not being in compliance and the impact to your airport.
You MUST notify TNRCC when you get certified, in order for them to know you are in compliance. TNRCC uses their database as a tool to monitor who has registered or is in compliance and who is not. Therefore, your registration is important, and can be done at any time. Register promptly so that you can receive valuable notices on further requirements at your earliest convenience. If you have questions regarding the regulatory requirements, contact the TNRCC’s Petroleum Storage Tank Division at 512/239-2106 or the Waste Program at your local TNRCC regional office.
