CHEVRON PUERTO RICO, LLC, AGREES TO IMPROVE LEAK DETECTION AT PUERTO RICO GAS STATIONS (PR)
WASHINGTON – A settlement announced
today between the United States and Chevron Puerto Rico, LLC
resolves Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) violations at
approximately 100 of Chevron’s underground storage tank
facilities in Puerto Rico. Under the terms of the settlement,
Chevron has agreed to spend approximately $5.2 million to improve
its leak detection methods and operations at these Chevron-owned,
“Texaco” branded service stations, and will pay a
$600,000 penalty.
Petroleum releases from underground storage
tanks can contaminate water, making it unsafe to drink, pose fire
and explosion hazards, and can have short and long-term effects on
people’s health. EPA regulations require owners and operators
to maintain underground storage tanks to avoid releases into the
environment. In addition, the regulations require owners and
operators to clean up leaks to restore and protect ground water
resources, and provide a safe environment for those who live or
work around these sites.
Among the violations alleged in the complaint
filed yesterday by the United States against Chevron were failure
to: provide release detection for tanks and piping, provide
adequate overfill protection equipment, perform annual tests of
automatic line leak detector systems and maintain adequate records
of release detection for tanks and piping.
“To identify potential or actual leaks,
Chevron will install advanced leak detection, monitoring and alarm
systems that will improve response time and help prevent the
contamination of groundwater in Puerto Rico,” said Ignacia S.
Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural
Resources Division. “This state of the art, system-wide
solution should serve as a model for owners and operators of
underground storage tanks."
“Under the terms of this agreement, the
health of people living in communities across Puerto Rico will be
better protected from the threat of ground water contamination due
to potential leaking underground tanks,” said EPA Regional
Administrator Judith A. Enck. “I am hopeful that other owners
of underground storage tanks throughout the Commonwealth will work
to maintain their underground tanks to prevent future
leaks.”
Under the settlement, Chevron will install fully
automated Veeder-Root leak detection systems on underground storage
tanks at all of its Puerto Rico facilities by March 31, 2013 and
will continue operating these systems at its facilities for a
minimum of five years. This automated system, which detects
contaminants before they enter the environment, provides a more
protective method of release detection than other methods, such as
the ground water or vapor monitoring currently employed by Chevron.
Chevron estimates that the automated systems will cost
approximately $1.8 million. In addition, Chevron will provide
quarterly reports to EPA regarding its operation of these systems,
and will be required to provide information regarding
Chevron’s operation of the systems upon EPA’s
request.
Chevron has further agreed to implement two
supplemental environmental projects that will benefit the affected
communities. The first requires Chevron to install a centralized
monitoring system at approximately 155 Chevron owned,
“Texaco” branded service stations containing
underground storage tanks by March 31, 2013. This monitoring system
will contain audible and visible alarms that will alert station
personnel of leaks and other potentially dangerous events. The
second requires Chevron to install liquid sensors under dispenser
pans for all of its facilities by March 31, 2013, and to also
connect these sensors to a centralized monitoring system. Both
supplemental environmental projects require regular reporting by
Chevron to EPA. Combined, the two projects will cost Chevron
approximately $3.4 million.
RCRA gives EPA the authority to control
hazardous waste from the “cradle-to-grave.” This
includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and
disposal of hazardous waste. The 1986 amendments to RCRA enabled
EPA to address environmental problems that could result from
underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous
substances.
For more information on underground storage
tanks, visit http://www.epa.gov/oust.
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