NEW YORK-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a legal complaint to the owners and operators of 22 underground storage tanks (USTs) at gas stations in the Buffalo, N.Y., area for violating various federal regulations dealing with groundwater from petroleum contamination.
The complaint, which seeks $582,803 in penalties, was issued to Amerimart Development Co. Inc., Qual-Econ Lease Co. Inc., Commercial Realty Fund II, MJG Enterprises Inc. and Clear Alternative of Western NY Inc. (dba G & G Petroleum). These companies are either past or present owners or operators of stations in Buffalo, Amherst and Tonawanda, N.Y.
In addition to paying penalties, the complaint requires the facilities to all come into full compliance with the regulations.
The complaint alleges that one or more of the companies failed to:
- Test the protection systems for two tanks and two fuel lines
- Meet corrosion protection or other new standards for two tanks and seven fuel lines.
- Conduct release detection every 30 days on 11 tanks.
- Perform annual tests of automatic line leak detector systems for 19 USTs.
- Provide adequate equipment to protect against tank overfills for 13 USTs.
- Conduct an annual line tightness test or conduct monthly monitoring of underground pressurized piping for 17 fuel lines.
- Properly cap off two temporarily closed underground storage tanks.
- Keep adequate records of release detection monitoring for three facilities.
- Respond to a request for information for one facility.
The law authorizes EPA to seek between $11,000 and $16,000 per tank for each day a violation exists.
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