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Owner of “Super Soda Center” Stores in Maryland Settles with EPA Over Underground Fuel Tank Violations

Release Date: 03/23/2006
Contact Information: Mike Frankel, 215-814-2665

PHILADELPHIA - The owner of several “Super Soda Center” gasoline and convenience stores located in Maryland has settled alleged violations of regulations to detect and prevent fuel leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

In a consent agreement with EPA, Dover, Delaware-based Duncan Petroleum Corp., which operates locations in Maryland and Delaware, agreed to pay a $65,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of federal and state UST regulations at Duncan’s Super Soda Centers located in Federalsburg, Easton, Preston, Cambridge and Chestertown, Maryland. According to EPA’s complaint, the company failed to properly monitor its gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene USTs for leaks; failed to properly maintain and operate leak control equipment; failed to comply with corrosion-prevention safeguards; and failed to investigate, confirm, and report suspected leaks to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

In addition to the $65,000 penalty, the settlement requires Duncan Petroleum to undertake extensive measures to repair and upgrade the systems it utilizes to prevent and detect fuel leaks, including equipment testing, corrosion prevention safeguards and leak detection monitoring.

With millions of gallons of gasoline, oil, and other petroleum products stored in USTs throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks which do occur, thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups. For more information on EPA’s Underground Storage Tank program, visit https://www.epa.gov/swerust1/.

As part of the settlement, the company neither admitted nor denied EPA's factual allegations.