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SB 592 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating generally to aboveground storage tanks

This bill exempts small oil and gas-related tanks (210 barrels or less capacity) not located in high-risk "zones of critical concern" from most regulatory requirements, including third-party inspections. It requires owners of tanks in high-risk zones to perform monthly secondary containment inspections and self-certify annually instead of using third-party inspectors. The bill also prevents regulators from mandating physical tank modifications for leak detection without confirmed leaks. These changes primarily affect oil/gas operators and coal mining sites using such tanks.
Issues: ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts small oil/gas tanks from inspections, reducing regulatory burden on fossil fuel infrastructure, favoring fossil fuels over clean energy policies.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts small tanks from third-party inspections and leak detection mandates, reducing regulatory oversight on potential pollution sources and weakening environmental protections.85% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Last action Apr 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from an Introduced Version to a Committee Substitute version, adding a new exemption for small tanks at permitted coal mining sites and clarifying that exempted devices must still meet registration, notice, and signage requirements. The text also incorporates website navigation elements and formatting changes typical of legislative committee revisions.
Scope change
Added a new exemption category (O) for devices of 210 barrels or less located at lawfully permitted coal mining sites that are not in a zone of critical concern, while maintaining registration requirements for exempted devices.
ELIGIBILITY

Added new exemption category (O) for small tanks (210 barrels or less) located at lawfully permitted coal mining sites that are not in a zone of critical concern.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that all devices exempted under paragraphs (M), (N), and the new (O) must still meet registration, notice, and signage requirements in §§22-30-4, 22-30-10, and 22-30-11.

Added new §22-30-5 establishing a tiered regulatory program with specific minimum requirements for design, construction, maintenance, leak detection, recordkeeping, and permit modifications.

Added new §22-30-6 requiring evaluation and certification of regulated tanks by qualified professionals, with self-inspection requirements for exempted tanks in critical zones.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'Temporarily out-of-service' (TOS) tanks, specifying they are emptied tanks with notice given to the department that fluids will not be deposited.

Reorganized and expanded definitions section to include 22 new definitions including 'Regulated level 1/2 tanks', 'Release', 'Secondary containment', 'Source water protection area', 'Zone of critical/peripheral concern', and 'Leak'.

TECHNICAL

Included website navigation elements, bill tracking links, and formatting changes typical of committee substitute versions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

24–7
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 33
Mar 14, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican31
24 Yea 5 Nay 2
77% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
23
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
With amendment, do pass
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
To House Energy and Public Works
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 113)
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
0 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.