Closed station may come alive
BUTLER TWP — A new gas station could replace the former Exxon station at Route 8 and Evans Road, pending the results of environmental tests.
Sean Tosadori of Total Tank Works in Butler said Thursday his crews are removing the pumps and three large underground gas tanks from the site.
He said two of the tanks held 10,000 gallons of gas and the third held 12,000 gallons.
Tosadori said the tanks, all of which are about 28 years old, and pipes leading to the tanks are being removed and soil samples are being taken.
Tosadori said state Department of Environmental Protection officials look at gas station sites and determine how many soil samples must be taken and from what locations at the station.
An environmental expert hired by Tosadori took three soil samples from beneath each tank, one sample from underneath each gas pump and others under the location of the pipes.
He stressed that the DEP did not shut the Exxon down or require the soil samples. Rather, the sale of the gas station necessitated the removal of the tanks and soil testing.Tosadori said the sale of the property is contingent upon the results of the soil testing, which usually takes from seven to 10 days.The DEP will test to see if gasoline has leaked from the tanks or pipes into the soil.Representatives of the potential buyer said they could not comment on their plans for the new store should the sale go through because of confidentiality agreements with the seller.
