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Town of Williamstown, MA
Berkshire County
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[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Williamstown 10-7-1974. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Hazardous materials — See Ch. 29.
Installation of underground storage of gasoline and diesel tanks in town will not be discouraged during the energy crisis because the total storage capacity from all sources is a most important factor to the community in a petroleum-short economy. The greater the capacity to store, the greater the community ability to adjust to interrupted or delayed deliveries.
Regarding the Board's powers and power to delegate responsibilities through the office of the Town Manager, the following is governing:
A. 
MGL C. 148, §§ 13 and 14: These are the major and controlling statutes governing application for such storage and guiding all town officials on necessary details of administration.
B. 
Application forms as presently used should be reprinted to provide a sketch or diagram on the reverse side showing:
(1) 
Location of closest private and/or public water supply.
(2) 
Notation by the Inspector of Buildings as to the tank's proposed location in relationship to aquifer recharge areas.
The Board will not approve any aboveground storage during the energy crisis and thereafter. Such tanks are subject to upset, flood, wind, vandalism, impact rupture, etc. Dangers to neighbors' homes and property are a concern.
The Board will set expiration dates for licensed tanks (except fiber glass). That is, all licenses will expire after 15 years from the time of issuance, together with the stipulation that the tank is to be removed at expiration. (Tanks of 500 United States gallon size are required to be constructed of a minimum of 12 USS garage steel, and the normal life expectancy of 20 years should be reduced to 15 years in order to provide a safety factor of 25% regarding pollution concern. Licenses for fiberglass tanks need have no end term; they should outlast world petroleum supplies. However, in all cases, the gauge steel should meet State of Massachusetts specifications for underground storage.)
The Board will encourage the policy that all tanks of 4,000 United States gallons or greater be of fiberglass construction.
Applications for underground storage shall be referred to the Fire Chief and the Inspector of Buildings for approval or disapproval before being submitted to the Selectmen.