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EPA fines SuperFuels $55,000 for underground storage tank violations

Release Date: 07/09/2008
Contact Information: Margot Perez-Sullivan, 415.947.4149, [email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix recently fined the former owners and operators of four underground storage tanks at the former SuperFuels gasoline service station in Tuba City, Ariz., for federal underground storage tank violations.

Alleged former owner/operators John B. Knight, Jr., National Petroleum Marketing, Inc., Sunwest Express, Inc. and Navajo Trails, Inc., and alleged former operator Robert D. Brown operated four underground storage tanks containing diesel and unleaded gasoline at station located at the intersection of Highways 160 and 264 in Tuba City on the Navajo Nation, adjacent to the Hopi Tribe.

“It’s essential that service state operators monitor their tanks for leaks and act quickly upon any release,” said Jeff Scott, Director of Waste Programs for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “EPA’s action sends a message that station operators need to take their responsibilities seriously.”

The complaint alleged that, at various times, the owners and/or operators failed to:

· report a suspected release within 24 hours;
· conduct corrosion tests every three years;
· monitor tanks every 30 days;
· use valid release detection methods;
· provide adequate release detection for piping;
· maintain financial responsibility; and
· respond to information request letters.

In the past, more than 13,000 gallons of gasoline leaked into the soil and groundwater from old underground storage tanks at the facility and from another gasoline service station on the northern corner of the same intersection. The old leaking tanks were removed and replaced with new tanks, and cleanup systems were installed to address the soil and groundwater

To submit comments on this settlement, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/2008/July/Day-07/f15220.htm

For more information on the EPA’s underground storage tank program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/OUST