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Newark Company Caught Without Adequate Spill Prevention, Pays Penalty

Release Date: 08/17/1999
Contact Information: Rich Cahill (212) 637-3666 / [email protected]

(#99134) New York, New York -- A Newark facility that did not adequately prepare and implement a Spill Prevention Counter measure and Control (SPCC) Plan was caught by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will pay penalties. Hudson Tank Terminals, Corp., of Port Newark, was issued a complaint in March 1999 and has agreed to pay a $38,000 fine for the violations.

"Every year, thousands of gallons of oil spilled from large oil storage facilities foul our waters," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Regional Administrator. "SPCC plans are critical to efforts to prevent these spills. Make no mistake, EPA is out there checking, and facilities without spill prevention will be fined."

According to a complaint, issued to Hudson Tank in March, the company did not have an adequate SPCC plan. An inspection of the property also revealed that there was not adequate secondary containment, a barrier that would contain spills before they can could reach the water, around its oil storage tanks and loading and unloading areas at the facility. Hudson Tank, which has a total oil storage capacity of approximately 35 million gallons, has settled this complaint by installing proper spill prevent structures, updating its plan and paying a $38,000 fine.

Since December 1998, facilities across the region have been issued or paid fines for a total of $210,000 for violations of the SPCC requirements of the Clean Water Act. Any facility that stores more than 1320 gallons of oil or oil derivatives in aboveground storage tanks must develop plans to prevent spills from occurring, and must implement these plans by installing secondary containment around storage tanks and other areas where oil could be spilled. These plans must be certified by a professional engineer and must be reviewed at least once every three years.

For more information contact:
Richard Cahill, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3666 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: [email protected]