Jul. 4--The state is applying for more than $6 million from the federal stimulus money to clean up 71 leaking underground storage tanks, six of them in Luzerne County, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced on Thursday.

DEP's program fixes tanks where the responsible party is unknown or unwilling to remove the tanks and remediate the site. For owners who are unwilling or unable to pay, DEP noted in a news release that it "may take actions to recover" the costs.

Since 1989, DEP has identified 14,700 of such underground tank releases, costing from $5,000 to several million dollars for long-term treatment of contaminated groundwater. The agency has overseen remediation of 11,500 so far and says "corrective actions are under way at nearly all the remaining sites."

The state usually spends between $1 million and $2 million annually on such leaks, getting the money from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund which is supported by a tax on gasoline sold in Pennsylvania.

The projects up for money in Luzerne County include Besteder's ESSO in Dallas Township, Shock's Service Station in Duryea, Domoco Gas & Oil in Hanover Township, Harold's Garage in Lehman Township, Alden Station Mini Mart in Newport Township, and Sanitary Leasing Service in Wilkes-Barre.

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