The Goodrich School Board moved forward Monday night with a proposal by the Oscar W. Larson Company to replace three 40-year-old underground fuel tanks that had failed an Enviromental Protection Agency inspection earlier this month.
At a cost of $125,042, the board agreed to a plan which included removal of the existing tanks, upgraded fuel monitoring systems and replacement with a single double-walled, compartmentalized fiberglass tank.
The underground fuel storage tanks, were located at the Goodrich School Bus garage on Erie Street.
The tanks, which were installed in the 1970s and had been lined with fiberglass about 16 years ago, were never tested for leaks. The process of coating the tanks with a spray-on liner of fiberglass or epoxy was used to comply with a 1998 mandate to meet federal standards for underground storage.
The new tanks will hold 10,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of gasoline. Superintendent John Fazer and Trustee Jim Bertrand were absent from the meeting.
Randy Spiller of Oscar W. Larson Company said the DEQ report indicated that some of the fiberglass used to coat the inside had flaked off one the tanks and a second tank was out of round. A third tank was still in good condition. In addition, Spiller said soil samples were taken around the tanks and it appeared there were no signs of leakage or contamination from the underground tanks. The tanks are empty; however, soil samples were not returned as of Monday night to determine if there is contamination of the soil.
School officials say the district uses about 80,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year and about 6,000 gallons of gasoline.
Spiller said that a geologist will be on site when the tanks are removed and installed. The cost will be about $2,000 to the district.
‘The new tank will go back in the same hole as the old ones.? said Spiller.
‘The project should be completed by mid-September after the beginning of the new school year.?
Temporary tanks have been located at the bus garage until the new system and be installed.
Three bids were received for the project.