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EPA Files $303,787 Complaint Against Poole Oil for Petroleum Storage Violations

Release Date: 7/30/2002
Contact Information: Bill Dunbar
[email protected]
(206) 553-1203

July 30, 2002 The Northwest office of the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it has filed a complaint and compliance order against Norm Poole Oil, Inc. of Ontario, Oregon, for systematic violations of federal regulations governing underground storage tanks (USTs) containing gasoline and diesel, and for failing to report a suspected gasoline leak from one of its tanks. Historically, leaking USTs have been the nation=s leading cause of contaminated drinking water supplies.

EPA inspections of Freeway Cardlock and Poole = s Country Store #2 in Ontario, and Poole = s Country Store #3 in Payette, Idaho, uncovered extensive violations of federal laws meant to prevent and detect potentially hazardous leaks from USTs. The violations center around failure to conduct adequate leak detection for underground storage tanks and lines at all three facilities. Additional violations deal with failure to upgrade equipment by the 1998 deadline, and failure to report a suspected gasoline leak from one of the company = s tanks.

Specifically, the EPA complaint alleges the following violations:

• Failure to upgrade piping at one facility (one count);
• Failure to protect tanks and piping from corrosion (four counts);
• Failure to monitor tanks for leaks (four counts);
• Failure to monitor piping for leaks (three counts); and
• Failure to report a suspected leak (one count).

AThese laws are meant to protect our drinking water supplies -- and to disobey them puts our water and communities at risk, @ said EPA Regional Administrator John Iani. AComplying with the tank laws is a fundamental part of being a good neighbor. @
Contact: Todd Bender
800/424-4372 ext. 0344
Bill Dunbar
800/424-4372 ext. 1203