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DEQ completes review of storage tanks for new Town Pump

HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month AGO
by HEIDI DESCH
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | June 23, 2021 1:00 AM

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality determined that no further review is needed for planned underground storage tanks at the under construction Town Pump on the south end of Whitefish.

“DEQ determined that the project will not lead to significant adverse effects on the human or physical environment and no further analysis is needed,” DEQ said in its notice.

DEQ released a final environmental assessment related to the six new underground storage tanks planned to be installed at the gas station at the corner of U.S. Highway 93 and Montana 40.

Town Pump is requesting to install six underground tanks at the site to contain gasoline and diesel. The size of the tanks range from 6,000 gallons up to 30,000 gallons.

All the tanks are planned to be Xerxes Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic double-walled brine filled underground storage tanks and about 2,900 feet of double-walled piping is expected to be used. Each tank and piping system will be continuously monitored, according to a notice by DEQ. Monitoring will be accomplished via internal tank probes, interstitial tank sensors, as well as continuous sensor monitoring in all containment sumps and electronic line leak detection with programmed shutdown.

The project includes construction of a 6,900-square-foot convenience store plus canopy with fueling station. Construction of the building was previously approved by the City of Whitefish.

DEQ only received one comment on the proposal.

To view the final EA, visit the DEQ website at: https://deq.mt.gov/land/ust/ea

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