The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this week ordered Getty Realty Corp. and Getty Petroleum Marketing to investigate and correct soil and groundwater contamination from three underground storage tanks at the Getty gas station located at 2100 Market St., Linwood, Penn.
“Residents of this community need to be assured that an aggressive and immediate cleanup is underway to protect them from any potential harm,” said Joseph Feola, DEP southeast regional office director. “This order outlines a course of action with strict deadlines for the company to demonstrate progress in addressing the contamination issues from its underground tanks.”
The Linwood Getty station has a history of leaks from its underground tanks but it has taken steps to remediate the soil and groundwater.
In December 1994 and September 2001, the department received notification of unleaded gasoline releases underground that were found in the soil and groundwater. The station has been undergoing cleanup from these releases.
Last March, a tank truck spilled 75 gallons of gas during a product delivery that spread beyond the property.
The administrative order, issued May 15, calls the owner and operator to test and monitor the underground storage tanks for a potential ongoing gasoline release, as well as report the results of similar tests dating back to March 2006 to the DEP. They must also begin recovering escaped gasoline at the station and surrounding areas by May 21, and continue doing so until notified by DEP in writing to cease.
The administrative order also makes provisions for monitoring and mitigating air quality issues. Many homes have been monitored for petroleum vapors since 2005. In June of that year, DEP received the results of indoor air sampling tests that were conducted at two residences near the station. The sampling tests found an elevated level of benzene, a gasoline additive and known carcinogen, in one of the homes.
The department recommended that Getty install a ventilation system in the affected residence and closely monitor the air quality in the second home. In April of this year, additional air testing was conducted in the affected residence. Those tests also found benzene in the basement and second floor of the home. Testing outside of the home showed the ambient concentration was lower than the concentration inside the home.
The administrative order directs the company to continue to monitor vapors at the two residences with two more air samples, which are to be taken by May 18 and Jun. 29. Getty must also investigate vapor intrusion to indoor areas through a soil gas survey by May 25.