WEST FARGO, N.D. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 in Denver has announced that a federal environmental administrative law judge has ruled for the EPA in a clean water enforcement case against Service Oil Inc., a gasoline and diesel fuel retailer headquartered in West Fargo, N.D.
In an initial decision, Chief Administrative Law Judge Susan L. Biro ordered the company to pay a civil penalty of $35,640. The EPA had sought a penalty of $40,000.
Service Oil has 30 days from Aug. 3, 2007 to appeal.
Judge Biro found that Service Oil failed to acquire an applicable discharge permit for construction activities and discharged pollutants without a permit, both in violation of the federal Clean Water Act.
The case stems from an EPA inspection in 2002.
Service Oil operates Stamart travel centers and convenience stores. The company has 10 locations in North Dakota and two in Minnesota.
Service Oil has until September 2 to appeal the penalty.
Owner Dirk Lenthe told The Forum newspaper that he had to review the ruling first before commenting.
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