HARRISBURG –  Pennsylvania is applying for $6.1 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to clean up 71 leaking underground storage tanks in 40 counties.

The list includes five properties in the Poconos:

Monroe County

• Pocono Township -- Scotrun Texaco
• Stroud Township -- North Fifth Street Texaco
• Stroud Township -- Weaver Property

Wayne County

• Salem Township -- Don Frick Sheds
• Salem Township -- Grason's Service Station

“We are applying for the maximum grant amount available and will target these funds to sites where historic abandoned underground storage tanks are delaying redevelopment efforts because of possible contamination and cleanup costs,” Governor Edware Rendell said. “The benefits from this influx of funding will go far beyond creating jobs and opportunities for cleanup contractors; the money will help remove roadblocks to development at abandoned sites in communities across the state.”

The funds will be distributed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and must be directed to the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks where the responsible party is unknown or the owner is unable or unwilling to remove the tanks and remediate the site. In the case where a responsible party is unwilling or partially able to conduct the work, the state Department of Environmental Protection will perform the work and may take actions to recover cleanup costs.