The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced June 18 the settlement of an administrative enforcement action against Pioneer Interstate Inc. and Dong San Inc. of Knoxville, Tenn., and against F.A. Sims Oil Co. Inc. of Lawrenceville, Ga., for alleged violations of the Underground Storage Tank (UST) provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The administrative complaints allege a range of violations, including failure to comply with tank and piping release detection requirements and failure to notify and register a hazardous substance tank.
Under terms of the consent agreements and consent orders, Pioneer Interstate and Dong San have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $65,000, while F.A. Sims Oil has agreed to pay $25,650. In addition, F.A. Sims will perform detailed tank management procedures and provide leak detection monitoring reports to EPA for six months following the settlement.
EPA developed the UST regulations to prevent leaks and spills, correct problems caused by them and ensure that owners and operators of hazardous substance USTs can pay for correcting any problems created if their USTs leak. Leaking hazardous substance USTs can result in serious consequences, such as fires and explosions, contamination of drinking water and damage to lakes and streams.