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U.S. EPA orders businessman to stop jet fuel discharge and clean up spill in Corona

Release Date: 2/1/2005
Contact Information: Contact: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815 Cell: (213) 798-1404

Faces potential fines of $32,000 per day


SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently ordered Grover Moss of Riverside, Calif., to immediately stop jet fuel discharges and clean up contamination from a spill that happened earlier this month that reached the city of Corona storm drain system, which eventually leads to the Santa Ana River.

On Jan. 4, the EPA responded to a jet fuel spill from several leaking tanker trucks that were being stored at an industrial site owned by Moss at 1451 Magnolia Ave. in Corona. The EPA reported that a portion of the spill -- estimated to be between 5,000 to 20,000 gallons of jet fuel -- reached a storm drain that flows into the Santa Ana River. However, no sheen was observed in the Santa Ana River. Officials from EPA's Pacific Southwest Region oversaw the cleanup and response actions.

"Oil spills can cause serious environmental damage -- drinking water can become contaminated and wildlife can be harmed," said Keith Takata, director of the EPA's Superfund Division for the Pacific Southwest. "We urge Mr. Moss to comply with federal and local laws, and begin cleaning up any oil spills he may be responsible for."

Moss is the tenant of site that was formerly operated by Advanced Fuel Filtration Systems, Inc., a manufacturing company that filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2004. Moss recently obtained leave from the bankruptcy court to take possession of the site and sell several fuel tanker trucks formerly used by AFF. At the time of the fuel discharge, Moss maintained control of the fuel tanker trucks at the site.

Moss faces potential fines of $1,100 per barrel (42 U.S. gallons) of oil spilled or $32,500 per day of violation.

Oil spills into waters of the U.S. is a violation of the nation's Clean Water Act. For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/oilspill/opaover.htm
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