Standardize tank inspections
Temporary tanks were installed in Shirley after a propane leak on Jan. 1. Credit: James Carbone
The large propane leak on New Year's Day in Shirley led to the mass evacuation of residents near a shopping center. Now the incident should lead to serious discussions about standardizing the way municipalities handle inspections of the tanks.
It inconvenienced 2,000 evacuees, but the result could have been far worse. The bravery and quick thinking of Dwight Blankenship, chief of the Mastic Fire Department, helped avert what could have been a catastrophic fireball. In other silver-lining news, the Town of Brookhaven's Division of Fire Prevention rendered its report speedily: A deliveryman failed to assess the key valves properly. And the town plans to increase its inspections of large commercial propane tanks. So does the Town of Islip.
But Newsday's reporting revealed a wide variety of approaches by Long Island municipalities to inspections and permits to ensure the safety of the large tanks.
This is yet another example of the fragmentation of our Island's governance. Recently, there have been some efforts, notably by the Suffolk County Planning Commission, to standardize land-use processes across its towns. So why can't we come up with islandwide standards for propane safety inspections?
Someone, probably emergency-response officials in both counties, should start that ball rolling, compare best practices, and figure out how to avoid a repeat of the Shirley event. hN
