WASHINGTON -- Sixteen gas stations in the District of Columbia have settled alleged violations of Clean Air Act regulations designed to limit toxic air pollutant emissions from gas stations' underground storage tanks (USTs) and pumps, said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Following EPA inspections in October 2004, the locations were cited for violating the regulations that require stations to install and maintain vapor recovery control systems for their USTs and dispensers.
In settlement agreements with EPA, the [image-nocss] stationsbranded BP/Amoco, Exxon, Shell and Sunocohave agreed to pay $13,500 in civil penalties, with individual station penalties ranging from $250 to $1,250. They have also agreed to correct the cited violations.
These enforcement actions are part of EPA's ongoing commitment to improving public health and helping the District of Columbia come into attainment with EPA's new health standards for ground-level ozone as well as reducing toxic air pollutants, said Donald S. Welsh, administrator for the EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 3) in Philadelphia.
Welsh added that vapor recovery systems are designed to collect 90% of gasoline vapors produced during refueling and return them to the UST to await pickup by gasoline delivery trucks. Being exposed to gasoline fumes can increase health risks, and the chemicals in gasoline vapor contribute to the formation of ozone air pollution.
Vapor recovery systems save millions of gallons of gasoline per year from being released into the air, Welsh said. And this, in turn, reduces the release of air toxic emissions such as benzene and reduces public health risks for cancer and respiratory ailments such as asthma.
Meanwhile, Eastern Petroleum Corp., Annapolis, Md., has settled alleged violations of federal regulations designed to prevent fuel leaks from USTs, EPA Region 3 said. In a consent agreement with EPA, Eastern Petroleum agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty for alleged UST violations at its fuel storage facility in Annapolis.
EPA cited Eastern Petroleum for failing to properly conduct required leak detection monitoring for five 30,000-gallon heating oil tanks and for failing to comply with corrosion protection requirements for the five heating oil tanks. The company was also cited for failing to comply with corrosion protection for five other tanks, including three 30,000-gallon diesel fuel tanks, one 10,000-gallon kerosene tank, and one 2,000-gallon tank for spilled petroleum products.
The settlement reflects the company's cooperation with EPA and good faith efforts to resolve the cited violations. As part of the settlement, Eastern Petroleum neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations. Prior to the settlement Eastern Petroleum significantly upgraded both its release detection system and its corrosion protection system. Eastern Petroleum has certified that it is currently in compliance with applicable underground storage tank regulations.
In other EPA news, EPA Region 7, Kansas City, said earlier this month that it has begun inspecting 100 UST facilities in Missouri to help the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) meet its environmental goals. Regional Administrator Jim Gulliford said, These inspections will help EPA and MDNR identify any potential problems with [UST] systems. [UST] requirements are essential because they represent the front line of defense to prevent gasoline from leaking into the soil and groundwater.
Gulliford said MDNR has obtained federal approval for its UST program that requires that MDNR perform or oversee UST inspections. He said EPA is confident that the state will resume state-lead UST inspections.
The federal inspections will give EPA an opportunity to share operations and maintenance requirements and the latest leak technology information with facility owners and operators, it said. Inspections will take place in Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Springfield, Joplin, Jefferson City, Osage Beach, Cape Girardeau, Mo., and surrounding areas. EPA randomly selected 100 of 3,757 registered UST facilities. Each facility has been notified by mail and advised of information and records that need to be available for review by the inspectors. A need to perform additional inspections in other parts of Missouri will be decided later.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.