PHOENIX -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) late last month fined 13 underground fuel tank owners or operators a total of $9,800 for violating underground storage tank laws in the Phoenix area.
The EPA and ADEQ inspected 24 sites to increase compliance and prevent petroleum releases to the environment in the Phoenix metropolitan area. ADEQ does not have authority to issue citations.
The following owners and/or operators were cited and fined:
B.J.'s Autospa, [image-nocss] Phoenix, $1,800. Filling Station, Casa Grande, $450. Vija Truck Stop, Stanfield, $1,000. U.S. Postal Service, Cactus Station in Phoenix, $800. Two Brothers, Mesa, $650. Danny's Family Car Wash, Phoenix, $200. The Motorworks, Phoenix, $450. Fiesta Gas, Phoenix, $1,650. Happy Food Mart, Phoenix, $300. Hertz Rent A Car, Phoenix, $300. C & T Oil, Inc, Tucson, $1,300.Twelve facilities were inspected in January, where two were cited and fined:
Simon's Express- Fast Track, $600. Fuelco #104, $300.Most facilities have since complied with the regulations. For facilities that do not comply, the EPA may assess fines of up to $11,000 per day per tank.
The recently passed Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires state agencies to inspect each underground storage tank every three years. The EPA plans to continue joint inspections with the state in 2006.
To prevent releases, federal law required all regulated USTs to have spill and overfill equipment and corrosion protection in place by Dec. 22, 1998. Although the compliance date has long since passed, regulatory agencies still find violations, they said.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.