Health inspector's presence raises unanswered questions

Last Wednesday morning a Kansas health department inspector was observed in Mankato checking the pumps, dispensers and tanks associated with the closed Mac’s convenience store. Several months ago the owners locked the doors and posted signs in the windows advising they were closed for vacation.

For a time, for sale signs were posted but they are now gone. Was the inspection part of a sale transaction? Was the business about to reopen?

The inspector had few answers though he had some questions.

He was on the premises doing his job which requires him to inspect all such places in 17 Kansas counties at least once every three years, if not sooner.

As part of the inspection he looks for visible leaks or signs of deteriorating equipment which may lead to leaks.

Unlike a previous time when the state was primarily concerned with accurate measurement of dispensers, Fuel dealers are now required to make monthly reports showing the number of gallons purchased and sold and plumbing must meet strict standards. Tanks and piping must be double walled, the product must be filtered before it is dispensed and the tanks’ fill pipes must extend to the bottom of the tanks. No longer is the fuel just dropped in the top and allowed to agitate all the fuel in the tank.

When a location closes, the state regulators must be notified and all fuel removed from the tanks.

The inspector told of situations where he had found undocumented tanks that had been capped with hundreds of gallons of fuel remaining in the tank.

Kansas rules governing fuel sales and storage locations must comply with Federal Environmental Protection Agency rules.

As to the future of Mac’s? We have nothing new to report.