The 3,000-gallon diesel tank that fuels the Athens County emergency generator needs to be replaced because it could cause possible environmental problems if it leaks.

Athens County Building Superintendent Charlie Brown said the tank, which was installed in 1979, has an expected life span of 20 years. The tank should be replaced before it starts to leak because a leak would cause many environmental problems and would be expensive.

Ted Jacobson, director of the Athens County Emergency Management Agency, said the agency operates the generator to supply power to 911 and other emergency services in the event of a power outage.

Jacobson added that replacing the tank is simply a precautionary measure.

"There's no reason to think it's leaking," he said.

The tank, which is located underneath the parking lot behind the county government building on Court Street, was built to supply power to the jail during a power

outage. However, the jail is no longer operating, and Brown said the county might be able to use a smaller tank.

When the tank was installed in 1979, the federal government required emergency generators to be able to supply energy to the emergency services for more than

a week.

Because the jail is no longer operating, and the average power outage lasts about 20 minutes, a large tank might not be necessary.

Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan said the tank replacement is in the planning stages, but it definitely will be replaced before it starts to leak.

"If we wait until it starts leaking, we'll be looking at a big, big cost," Sullivan said. He said he does not have an estimate for the cost of replacing the tank.

Jacobson said the county is discussing the topic now because the commissioners will start planning next year's budget in July.

Sullivan said the commissioners are waiting for the results of feasibility studies before deciding how to replace the tank.

"They're going to do it," Brown said. "It's just a matter of how it's going to be done."