News Releases from Region 10

A-1 Petroleum in Washington settles with EPA to resolve spill prevention planning violations, protect local waters

(Seattle - Sept. 30, 2015) A-1 Petroleum and Propane, Inc., located in Ellensburg, Washington, has agreed to settle emergency planning violations with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. A-1 Petroleum is the largest petroleum distributor in Kittitas County, Washington, marketing fuels, lubricants and propane to commercial and residential customers on the eastern slope of the Cascades. The announced settlement includes a $40,000 penalty.

The EPA asserts that the company failed to prepare and implement an adequate Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan for the facility as well as failure to provide appropriate secondary containment for potential spills or uncontrolled releases. The violations were discovered during a routine inspection conducted by EPA at A-1's facility in March 2013.

According to Ed Kowalski, director of EPA's Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle, with SPCC, the emphasis is on prevention and protecting area waters.

"It seems like we're hearing about heartbreaking water pollution disasters on a weekly basis," said EPA's Kowalski. "By writing solid spill prevention plans and building secure facilities, owners and operators can feel confident that they've done the best they can to protect themselves, their workers and cherished local waters like the Yakima River."

EPA's oil spill prevention program includes the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) and the Facility Response Plan (FRP) rules. The SPCC rule helps facilities prevent oil discharge into nearby lakes, streams and rivers or their shores.

Learn more about EPA's SPCC program