Chemical safety alert for liquid storage tank owners

Jan. 11, 2001—Owners of liquid storage tanks ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million gallons in size are being advised to take precautions to prevent sudden ruptures, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a release today.

Over the past few years, ruptures of these large, industrial-sized storage tanks have resulted in significant damage to the environment and private property from fertilizer runoff into soil and waterways.

EPA's alert encourages tank owners to inspect their tanks for erosion, as well as to check the manufacturer's records for a history of rupture problems. EPA is issuing this alert as part of an ongoing effort to protect human health and the environment and to prevent chemical accidents by increasing awareness of possible hazards.

For more information about this alert, go to: http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/p-small.htm#alerts.