ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Tangier Island, a small Virginia island in the Chesapeake Bay, has been awarded a $2.3 million grant for environmental protection and mitigation projects.
According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the main project the grant will be used for involves protecting the island’s petroleum storage facility, which the department says is exposed to flooding and will benefit from additional environmental controls to prevent petroleum spills.
The department further explained that “safe, continued operation of this storage facility is necessary to support the island’s fishing fleet and other equipment.”
Tangier is using a portion of the grant to purchase the tank facility from the existing owner. The town will replace the old tanks and infrastructure with new double-walled tanks and associated infrastructure.
These improvements should be completed by the end of 2024, according to the department.
The grant will also fund the purchase of equipment and spare parts for Tangier’s wastewater treatment plant. Funding will also be used for the installation of floodgates around the island in areas that are particularly affected by recurring flooding.