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THOMPSON OIL CO. TO PAY PENALTY FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF OIL SPILL PREVENTION RULES

Release Date: 11/25/1998
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543

WARRENTON, Va. - The U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency announced today that Thompson Oil Co. has agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations at its oil facility in Warrenton, Va.

According to EPA’s May 15, 1998 administrative complaint, the company violated federal regulations requiring owners of oil facilities to implement a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan.  Specifically,  Thompson Oil Co. allegedly failed to prepare and implement an adequate SPCC plan.  The company also failed to provide leak-proof containment for spills from the largest single tank, to correct visible oil leaks and conduct periodic integrity testing of the tanks.  

The facility, which had an above-ground oil storage capacity of 95,000 gallons, ceased operations in August 1997 and is in the process of closing down.

With billions of gallons of oil in storage throughout the U.S., oil spills pose a constant threat to land and water resources.  EPA’s SPCC regulations are designed to reduce the serious health and environmental risks of oil and petroleum product leaks.


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