West Virginia Hosts Meetings on Aboveground Tank Law

State environmental officials are holding meetings in Charleston and Martinsburg, W.Va., to discuss rule proposals for a law regulating aboveground storage tanks.

On Wednesday, the Department of Environmental Protection is holding a stakeholder meeting at the Charleston Civic Center.

An informational session will follow Thursday at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg.

The law reacts to a January chemical spill that contaminated 300,000 people’s tap water for days. It includes new registrations, inspections and requirements for many tank owners. Many specifics are spelled out by agency officials in proposed rules.

One proposed rule would ease initial inspections for tanks that don’t hold hazardous materials, contain less than 50,000 gallons or aren’t near water supplies. First inspections are due Jan. 1.

Wednesday is the deadline for tank owners to register aboveground tanks.