EPA Board Upholds Penalty against Gas Stations

An Environmental Protection Agency appeals board has upheld a $3 million penalty against a Virginia company that owns gas stations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The Environmental Appeals Board filed a complaint in 2002 against Euclid of Virginia Inc. for violating rules meant to detect and prevent fuel leaks from underground storage tanks.

On March 11, the board in Philadelphia ruled against all appeals filed by Euclid.

The board ordered Euclid to pay a nearly $3.2 million penalty for violations involving 72 underground storage tanks at 23 Lowest Price gas stations.

The violations involved 14 gas stations in Maryland, seven in the District of Columbia, and two in Virginia, in Chantilly and Ruckersville.

The board ruled that Euclid failed to maintain required leak detection and control equipment; failed to perform required leak detection activities; failed to comply with corrosion-prevention standards and conduct cathodic protection testing; failed to properly install or maintain equipment to prevent releases of gasoline due to the overfilling of tanks or other spills when tanks are being filled; and failed to maintain required financial assurances.

Euclid has the right to appeal the decision to the federal circuit court.