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EPA cites Ohio company for two oil spill containment plan violations; proposed fines total $218,000

Release Date: 8/17/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254
Mick Hans, (312) 353-5050

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA149

CHICAGO (Aug. 17, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recently filed an administrative complaint against Stoneco Inc. facilities in Maumee and Stony Ridge, Ohio, for violations of the Clean Water Act's oil spill prevention regulations. Proposed fines for the two cases total $218,000.

A formal 30-day public comment period on both violations begins Aug. 18. An online public notice with information on how to provide comments is at www.epa.gov/region5/publicnotices/.

In the Maumee case, EPA alleges that on April 25, 2004, Stoneco, a paving materials company, spilled about 6,000 gallons of fuel oil from an above-ground storage tank into the combined Maumee and Toledo storm sewer system, which leads to Heilman Ditch. The ditch flows into Swan Creek, which leads to the Maumee River and ultimately, Lake Erie. EPA's follow-up investigation determined that the facility failed to provide a secondary means of containment, such as a concrete dike, for the oil in the tank, as required by the oil spill prevention regulations. EPA's investigation also found that Stoneco had never revised its spill prevention plan to account for the storage tank, which was first placed in service in the fall of 2003. For this violation, EPA has proposed a $148,000 fine.

Spill prevention plans are required for facilities that store more than 1,320 gallons of oil and have the potential of discharging into adjoining waters.

In the second case, EPA alleges that on May 3, 2004, Stoneco's facility in Stony Ridge released 1,600 gallons of fuel oil from a 10,000-gallon above-ground storage tank. The spill flowed into a drainage ditch, then into a tributary of Henry Creek, which then leads into Crane Creek and Lake Erie. EPA's follow-up investigation determined that the company had also failed to provide a secondary means of containment for two 1,000 gallon storage tanks. For this violation, EPA has proposed a $70,000 fine.

Under EPA regulations, the company has 30 days to respond to the complaints and to request a hearing on the alleged violations.