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EPA ORDERS TUBA CITY GAS STATIONS TO CONTINUE CLEANUP

Release Date: 4/4/2002
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez

Changes Protect Navajo and Hopi Tribal Springs

     
    SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today amended a 1996 order requiring operators of the Tuba City, Ariz. Thriftway and Superfuels gas stations to continue removing gasoline contamination in soil and groundwater and also requires operators to prevent the contamination from spreading to six local tribal springs.
         
    Currently, Thriftway is voluntarily removing the contamination in soil and groundwater at its site.  Today's action requires the operators to continue the cleanup and gives the EPA explicit authority to require additional cleanup measures.  The order requires expansion of the remediation system to the Superfuels site and implementation of additional cleanup measures at the Tuba City Truckstop Cafe.  

     "The Navajo and Hopi Tribes are justifiably concerned about the contamination spreading to their tribal springs," said Jeff Scott, Waste Management Division director for the EPA's Pacific Southwest office.  "Today's action addresses the tribes' concerns and protects the area's water
supplies."    

     The local springs are a drinking water and irrigation source.  The gas stations are located on Navajo Nation land at the intersection of Highways 160 and 264 and are close to Hopi Tribal land.

      In 1996, the EPA ordered Thriftway and Sunshine Western, the latter which operated what is now the Superfuels station, to investigate underground contamination from leaking fuel tanks and pipes.  Since that time, over 80 monitoring wells have been installed to identify the boundaries of an underground petroleum plume and to determine if there is groundwater contamination beyond the two properties.

     A final site assessment report, due later this month, will identify the extent of the contamination.  The Hopi Environmental Protection Office, the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, and the EPA will provide guidance to Thriftway and Sunshine Western on a final cleanup plan.