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EPA Takes Action to Protect Ground Water from Petroleum Contamination

Release Date: 05/12/2011
Contact Information: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a complaint to the owners and operators of several upstate New York gasoline stations for violating federal regulations governing seventeen underground storage tanks. The complaint, which seeks $233,000 in penalties, was issued to Andrew B. Chase; Chase Services, Inc.; Chase Convenience Stores, Inc., and Chase Commercial Land Development, Inc. These companies owned or operated gas stations in the towns of Lyon Mountain, Plattsburgh, Peru, Redford and Dannemora in upstate New York with underground storage tank violations.

“Gas station owners have an important role to play in ensuring that ground water is not contaminated with petroleum,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “When underground storage tanks are not properly maintained, they can leak and contaminate ground water, which in many instances in this area of New York is used for drinking water.”

The complaint alleged that the various owners and/or operators failed to:

• Test the protection system that is designed to prevent corrosion, in three underground tanks;
• Perform annual tests of automatic line leak detector systems for sixteen underground tanks;
• Provide adequate overfill prevention equipment for three underground tanks;
• Conduct an annual leak test, or conduct monthly monitoring of five underground pressurized pipes;
• Report, investigate and confirm a suspected release at one facility;
• Properly cap off and permanently close one underground tank; and
• Keep adequate records of release detection monitoring.