EPA Takes Action to Protect Ground Water from Petroleum Contamination (NY)
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a complaint to the owners and
operators of several upstate New York gasoline stations for
violating federal regulations governing seventeen underground
storage tanks. The complaint, which seeks $233,000 in penalties,
was issued to Andrew B. Chase; Chase Services, Inc.; Chase
Convenience Stores, Inc., and Chase Commercial Land Development,
Inc. These companies owned or operated gas stations in the towns of
Lyon Mountain, Plattsburgh, Peru, Redford and Dannemora in upstate
New York with underground storage tank violations.
“Gas station owners have an important role
to play in ensuring that ground water is not contaminated with
petroleum,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck.
“When underground storage tanks are not properly maintained,
they can leak and contaminate ground water, which in many instances
in this area of New York is used for drinking
water.”
The complaint alleged that the various owners
and/or operators failed to:
- Test the protection system that is designed to prevent corrosion, in three underground tanks;
- Perform annual tests of automatic line leak detector systems for sixteen underground tanks;
- Provide adequate overfill prevention equipment for three underground tanks;
- Conduct an annual leak test, or conduct monthly monitoring of five underground pressurized pipes;
- Report, investigate and confirm a suspected release at one facility;
- Properly cap off and permanently close one underground tank; and
- Keep adequate records of release detection monitoring.
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