West Virginia Code 22-30-22 – Imminent and substantial danger
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, upon receipt of evidence that an aboveground storage tank may present an imminent and substantial danger to human health, water resources or the environment, the secretary may bring suit on behalf of the State of West Virginia in the circuit court of the county in which the imminent and substantial danger exists or in the circuit court of Kanawha County against any owner or operator of an aboveground storage tank who has contributed or who is contributing to imminent and substantial danger to public health, safety, water resources or the environment to order the person to take action as may be necessary to abate the situation and protect human health, safety, water resources and the environment from contamination caused by a release of fluid from an aboveground storage tank.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 22-30-22
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Secretary: means the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. See West Virginia Code 22-1-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) Upon receipt of information that there is any aboveground storage tank that presents an imminent and substantial danger to human health, safety, water resources or the environment, the secretary shall require the owner or operator of the tank to provide immediate notice to the appropriate state and local government agencies and any affected public water systems. In addition, the secretary shall require notice of any danger to be promptly posted at the aboveground storage tank facility containing the aboveground storage tank at issue.