Whiting WaWa Approved for Diesel Fuel Pumps

Diesel fuel could be for sale at the  this summer, now that the township's planning board approved an amendment to the site plan that replaces two pumps. 

The change comes as WaWa looks ahead to changes in the automobile market, said Duncan Prime, an attorney for the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain. 

"The market here they're trying to capture is two years down the road — the higher end Mercedes and BMWs that are going with cleaner diesel fuel," he said before Manchester's Planning Board Monday night.

Though the station, located at 1180 Route 70, will serve certain diesel trucks and recreational vehicles, the addition is mostly to "get ahead of the curve" as more cars begin to use diesel fuel, Prime said.

As a condition of approval, the board stipulated that tractor trailers are not permitted to enter or fill up at the station. Prime agreed, saying that WaWa does not want those vehicles at its store.

"We don't want tractor trailers pulling in there," Prime said. "We're not looking to make this a truck stop."

Two of the station's eight fuel dispensers on the south end of the property will be removed and replaced with self-service diesel pumps, said engineer Ronald Klos. A 15,000 gallon underground tank that meets federal and state environmental standards will be added adjacent to the existing gas tank.

"Nothing is proposed to change" at the store, Prime said. "No driveways, the footprint of the building, none of that is changing. It's just converting two pumps from regular gas to diesel."

Though it will not be altered in size, the store's street sign will be changed to list the price for regular gas and diesel fuel — the prices for plus and premium gas will be removed from the sign, Klos said. 

Signage above the new pumps will state that tractor trailers are not permitted on the site, Klos said. 

WaWa employees will not pump diesel for customers, Prime said, as that is not permitted under New Jersey law. Employees will be able to offer assistance, however.

"They'd be at least able to guide them through the whole process," Prime said. 

Before the board unanimously approved the amendments to the site, Chairman James Vaccaro asked whether patrons pumping their own diesel fuel may lead to spillage.

Pumps will be outfitted with an assistance button and intercom, Klos said, and trained employees will be permitted to guide customers through the process should they need help.

Depending on the permitting process with the township, the project could begin near the end of May or June, said Kristen Ritz, Project Manager for Wawa. 

Locally, the Quick Chek on Route 70 in Manchester sells diesel fuel.