Lawmakers Consider Scaling Back Storage Tank Registrations

State lawmakers are weighing whether to stop requiring state registration of storage tanks. At a House hearing on Monday, a dozen environmentalists and other advocates said the regulation costs only $20 to $40 in one-time fees. It also requires companies to publicly post labels on the tanks with information for reporting a leak or spill. A dozen oil and gas producers and their trade associations advocating the change said the tanks contain organic materials and don’t threaten drinking water systems. They said they already comply with other similar regulations that require filings and safety precautions for the tanks. The committee later advanced for full House consideration a bill that would continue registration and labels but limit other regulation of smaller tanks.