All News Releases By Date

Maine Oil Facility Agrees to Pay Fine to EPA for Lack of Oil Spill Plan

Release Date: 09/06/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Sept. 6, 2006) - To settle claims that it had failed to guard against oil spills at its North Bath, Maine facility, an oil delivery company agreed to pay $35,000 to the federal government.

According to a complaint filed by EPA's New England office in March, Kaler Oil Company, Inc. did not have a "Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure" (SPCC) plan in place, as required by the federal Clean Water Act.

An inspector from EPA's New England office inspected the Kaler facility in October 2005 and found that, in addition to not having a plan, the company failed to construct containment around its oil tanks and loading area, leading to a risk of a spill to surface waters and/or drinking wells should tank or piping fail.

“Oil spills can cause significant environmental damage, and particularly in this case to nearby drinking water wells,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England office. “EPA will continue to ensure that New England facilities storing oil take the measures required by the Clean Water Act to minimize the risk of spills.”

Federal spill prevention and control laws help ensure that a tank failure or spill does not lead to oil being released into private wells, rivers or streams.

More information:
Federal oil spill prevention requirements (epa.gov/oilspill/spcc.htm)
How EPA works in New England to prevent oil spills (epa.gov/ne/superfund/er/oilstor.htm)

# # #