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EPA Proposes $137,000 Fine for Connecticut Wetlands Oil Spill

Release Date: 06/25/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a proposed a $137,000 fine against Deep River Oil, Inc. of Deep River, Conn. for an oil spill that polluted a wetland last year.

"Deep River didn't take the precautions it should have, and this spill was the result," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "We hope this fine will serve as a warning to companies handling oil and other hazardous substances that every possible precaution must be taken so these kinds of problems don't occur."

The proposed fine stems from an incident last August in which a Deep River Oil employee was transferring oil from a storage tank to a tank truck at its facility off Route 80. The employee left the truck unattended during the transfer and after the truck's tank filled completely, 2,500 gallons of oil spilled on to the ground before flowing about 75 feet into an adjacent wetland. The wetland flows into Platts Reed Pond which connects to the Connecticut River two miles away.

Deep River Oil accepted financial responsibility for the cost of cleanup, which took eight days.

EPA's complaint alleges that at the time of the spill, Deep River Oil did not have an adequate spill prevention, control, and countermeasure plan (SPCC), as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The plan had not been reviewed every three years, it did not meet guidelines set forth for preparation and implementation of an SPCC, and was deficient in the following areas:

• It did not account for the full oil storage capacity of the facility.
• It lacked proper inspection procedures.
• The facility did not have proper containment or diversionary equipment to lessen the effect of an oil spill or prevent it from getting into the wetland.