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EPA Settles Underground Storage Tank Violations with Washington, D.C. Shopping Center

Release Date: 10/13/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113, heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (October 13, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled a violation of underground fuel storage tank regulations with East River Park Shopping Center, located at 3919 Benning Road, NE, Washington, D.C.

East Park Shopping Center has agreed to pay a $5,142 civil penalty to settle an alleged violation of the federal regulations designed to prevent, detect, and control fuel leaks from underground storage tanks, or USTs.

After a May 2008 inspection of a 5,000-gallon fiberglass reinforced plastic tank used to store diesel fuel, EPA cited the shopping center for failure to provide financial assurance. Owners and operators of petroleum underground storage systems are required to demonstrate financial responsibility for taking corrective action and for compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage caused by accidental releases arising from the operation of the underground storage tanks.

As part of the settlement, East River Park Shopping Center neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but certified its current compliance with applicable UST regulations.

With millions of gallons of gasoline, oil, and other petroleum products stored in USTs throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups. For more information on EPA’s Underground Storage Tank program, visit: www.epa.gov/swerust1/.