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EPA Cites West Virginia Truck Stop for Violating Underground Fuel Tank Safeguards

Release Date: 1/13/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited John Skidmore Truck Stop, Inc. in Sutton, West Virginia for failing to take appropriate measures to detect potential petroleum releases from its underground storage tanks.

The John Skidmore Truck Stop, located near Exit 67 of Interstate 79, has five underground storage tanks: two 8,000-gallon gasoline tanks and three 10,000-gallon diesel fuel tanks. EPA’s complaint alleges the facility failed take appropriate measures to detect potential leaks in its tanks. EPA also cited the company for inadequate corrosion prevention in three of the tanks.

EPA seeks a $47,692 penalty for these alleged violations and has ordered the facility to comply immediately with applicable underground storage tank regulations.

The facility has the right to a hearing to contest the alleged violations and proposed penalty.

No actual leaks were detected, but with millions of gallons of gasoline, oil, and other petroleum products stored in underground storage tanks throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination.

EPA and state underground storage tank regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks, and thus avoid the costs of major cleanups. For more information on EPA’s Underground Storage Tank program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/swerust1/.