Rep. Scott Storms And DEEP Help Windsor Locks Public Schools

From Connecticut House Republicans: The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently announced a revision of current regulations concerning underground storage tanks that could bring substantial savings to communities around the state.

The revision establishes consistent regulations of underground storage tank (UST) life expectancy in an effort to alleviate financial pressure on local school and municipal budgets to prematurely replace underground storage tanks.

State Representative Scott Storms (R-60) introduced legislation earlier this session after being contacted about the UST issue by Windsor locks Public Schools’ business manager, Les Koziara. This led to the discussions with the Office of the DEEP Commissioner. “In February, I proposed an alignment of the regulation of underground oil tanks with the criteria and requirements associated with underground gasoline tanks,” said Rep. Storms. “Last year, the regulations were amended to extend the life expectancy of underground gasoline tanks from 30 years to 40 years, but did not amend the expectancy of underground oil tanks.”

“This is a major development in helping the Board of Education and the taxpayers of Windsor Locks offset the costs of removal and replacement of underground storage tanks,” said Dr. Susan A Bell, Superintendent of Windsor Locks Public Schools. “Over the next two years, the Board of Education planned to request $165,000 from the town of Windsor Locks to remove 4 underground storage tanks and replace one; now, the Town can save that money for other issues. We are extremely grateful for Representative Storms’ efforts in moving this legislation forward.”

“I first proposed UST legislation to aid the Windsor Locks Public Schools as the revision of the regulation would save the school district more than $165,000. This then evolved into a regulation revision by the Commissioner,” added Storms. “Given the current budget climate in the state, we should be exploring savings opportunities to relieve financial pressure on municipalities as much as possible. I thank the staff of DEEP and the Commissioner for working to resolve this matter without getting bogged down in the legislative process.”

Photo courtesy of Connecticut House Republicans