DANVERS — Selectmen last night approved North Atlantic Air Inc.'s bid to store 20,000 gallons of less-volatile, diesel-like Jet A fuel at its operation on the West Side of Beverly Airport.
The move, a change of license terms, means the fixed base operation for corporate aviation off Old Burley Street will move all its storage of the other fuel it sells, the more volatile aviation gasoline, to the Beverly side of the airport.
The operator has also agreed to give up the right to store 2,000 gallons of heating oil in Danvers, after abandoning the use of underground storage tanks for fuel to heat the operation five years ago.
"Basically, we have eliminated the storage of the aviation gas and want to store jet fuel," said Kenneth Robinson, owner and president of North Atlantic Air.
The license change lessens the quantity of fuel stored in town by 2,000 gallons. Through a paperwork oversight, the operator had not formally abandoned the right to store heating oil in town.
Previously, the town had licensed North Atlantic Air to store 2,000 gallons of heating oil, 10,000 gallons of Jet A fuel, which is used by planes with turbine engines, and 10,000 gallons of aviation gas, which is used by planes with piston engines, like those found in most cars. Robinson said the jet fuel is in demand on the West Side of the airport where many corporate jets are housed.
Selectman Mike Powers asked Robinson if this was a change in business. Robinson said from now on, about 8,000 gallons of aviation gas would be stored in Beverly and only Jet A would be stored in Danvers.
Selectman Bill Clark wondered if the storage in Danvers was close to homes, and Robinson said the nearest one was about 1,000 feet away.
"I would be concerned about it," said Thorpe Circle resident Tony Bettencourt, who wondered if the tanks were secure. He has in the past complained about noise from aircraft over his house.
Deputy fire Chief Kevin Farrell said the Fire Department recently inspected the operation, and he visited the airport Wednesday, saying the tanks holding the fuel were double-walled and tucked behind a security fence.
"I don't have a grave concern about the security of the tanks," Farrell said.
Old Burley Street resident James Lanphear said he had no objection to the jet fuel's storage. Instead, he wanted to make noise about planes that rev their engines on a run-up area 150 feet from his house. Officials said he could come back to the selectmen's meeting June 3, when the airport's commission was scheduled to give an update.
