EPA Takes Action against Buffalo Area Gas Station Owner to Protect Ground Water (NY)
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has taken action against Schmitt Sales, Inc. of
Buffalo for improperly managing underground tanks used to store
gasoline and other fuels at two of its facilities in the Buffalo
area and eight other locations throughout the state. Petroleum
releases from underground storage tanks can contaminate ground
water, making it unsafe to drink, pose fire and explosion hazards,
and damage people’s health. EPA cited Schmitt for failing to:
properly test and maintain records of corrosion protection, install
or operate overfill prevention devices, properly close out of
service tanks, and maintain records of leak detection
monitoring.
“Underground petroleum leaks can spread
quickly and contaminate ground water and soil, which is why it is
critical for gas station owners to monitor their tanks,” said
EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “I encourage all
gas station owners to properly maintain their underground fuel
storage tanks and guard against potential
leaks.”
The Buffalo-area gasoline service stations owned
or operated by Schmitt that are named in the complaint are
Tubby’s Corner Quick Stop in Angola and Schmitt’s Robo
Mart in Williamsville. The other Schmitt-owned service stations
are: Brooks Super Duper in Cattaraugus; Dutch Hollow Market in
Avon; Echoes on the Lake in Hammond; Parkview Market in Mayville;
Pine Valley Busy Mart in Pine Valley; T-Burg Foodline, Inc. in
Trumansburg; Cassadaga Supermarket in Cassadaga; and Ducky’s
in Friendship.
EPA’s complaint alleged that the owner
and/or operators failed to:
· Test the
protection system that is designed to prevent corrosion, in twelve
underground tanks;
· Provide
adequate overfill prevention equipment for five underground
tanks;
· Properly cap
off and permanently close two underground tanks; and
· Maintain
adequate records of leak detection monitoring in nine
tanks.
EPA regulations require owners and operators to
maintain underground storage tanks to avoid leaks 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. About 625,000 underground storage tank
systems exist nationwide, and more than 375,000 leaking tanks have
been cleaned up over the last decade.
For more information on underground storage
tanks, visit http://www.epa.gov/oust
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