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Five eastern Washington gas stations fined over $8,000 for violating federal air rules on tribal land

Release Date: 04/22/2011
Contact Information: Don Dossett, EPA Inspection and Enforcement Management Unit, 206-553-1783, dossett.donald@epa.gov, Hanady Kader, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-0454, kader.hanady@epa.gov

(Seattle—April 22, 2011) Three companies operating five gas stations in eastern Washington will pay over $8,000 for violating federal air rules on tribal land, according to several orders issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Whitley Fuel, LLC; Coleman Oil Company and Jackson’s Service, Inc. failed to register gas stations with the EPA or failed to submit annual registration as required under the Federal Air Rules for Indian Reservations. Owners and operators of an air pollution source are required to register the source with EPA.

“Knowing what sources of air pollutants exist in an area is critical to achieving cleaner, healthier air,” said Jeff KenKnight, manager of the Air and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Compliance Unit at EPA’s Seattle office. “When facilities fail to register with us, it impedes our ability to track emissions and effectively manage air quality.”

Air pollutants including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are tracked routinely across the nation. EPA uses this information to develop and maintain accurate records of air pollution sources and emissions. These records are critical tools in protecting air quality in all communities.

Gas stations are significant sources of volatile organic compounds, which include a variety of chemicals that can have short and long-term health impacts.
The locations of the stations and details of the violations are listed below:

Whitley Fuel, LLC
The company was fined $3,750 for failing to initially register by 2007 two fueling facilities located at 335 N. Van Duyn in Okanogan, Washington and at 340 Dayton Street in Omak, Washington. In addition, the company failed to submit annual registration for its facilities between 2007 and 2009. The company has submitted late registration and updates to correct these violations.

Coleman Oil Company
The company was fined $2,250 for failing to submit annual registration for its facilities located at 327 Van Duyn in Okanogan, Washington and at 116 Omak Ave. in Omak, Washington between 2008 and 2009. The company has submitted late registration and updates to correct these violations.

Jackson’s Service, Inc.
The company was fined $2,150 for failing to initially register by 2007 its fueling facility in Nespelem, Washington. In addition, the company failed to submit annual registration for this facility between 2007 and 2010. The company has submitted late registration and updates to correct these violations.