| DEP ISSUES
PENALTIES FOR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK VIOLATIONS IN
BERGEN, MORRIS AND PASSAIC COUNTIES
(05/75) TRENTON -- Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
fined eleven facilities in Bergen, Morris and Passaic counties
for violating state hazardous materials storage laws. The facilities,
which include commercial gas retailers, automotive repair shops
and fuel providers, failed to comply with regulations pertaining
to underground storage tanks.
"The enforcement actions announced today reflect DEP's steadfast
commitment to protect water quality by holding tank owners accountable
and ensuring they are complying with laws designed to protect
our water from leaking tanks," said Commissioner Bradley
M. Campbell.
The enforcement actions in these three counties are part of a
statewide compliance inspection program to reduce the number of
leaking underground storage tanks. DEP has established a group
of 18 state and county inspectors to conduct compliance inspections
every three years at each of the 8,000 facilities statewide that
contain regulated underground storage tanks.
Owners and operators of underground storage tanks also must register
their tank systems with DEP on a three-year cycle. Testing and
cleanup work is underway by responsible parties at more than 4,000
sites statewide where underground storage tanks have leaked resulting
in soil or ground water contamination.
Failure to register tanks inhibits DEP's ability to regulate
underground storage, prevent pollution and reduce leaks and contamination.
BERGEN COUNTY
- Captan Auto Repair of Lodi was fined $38,000 for violations
including maintaining a disabled and inoperable overfill device.
Additional violations include failing to properly register its
underground storage tank (UST) system, failing to perform requisite
leak detector and rust protection tests and failing to provide
plans to prevent spills and respond to leaks. Overfill devices
prevent USTs from overflowing while being filled.
- Rutherford Valero of Rutherford was fined $37,750 for failing
to properly insure and register USTs, failing to test the rust
protection system and failing to maintain plans to prevent spills
and respond to leaks.
- DEP fined Acocella Automotive Group of North Arlington $66,000
for failing to properly register and insure its USTs and failing
to provide and test leak detection equipment for USTs and product
piping.
- Prospect Transportation of Carlstadt was fined $35,000 for
delivering fuel to unregistered USTs.
MORRIS COUNTY
- AEZ, Inc. of Denville was fined $36,750 for failing to have
a current UST registration and for intentionally disabling overfill
protection devices on an UST.
- First Oil of Butler was fined $30,000 for failing to register
its USTs and for failing to perform release detection monitoring
on product piping.
- G & N Partnership of Roxbury was fined $45,000 for failing
to perform release detection monitoring of product piping, failing
to conduct testing of line leak detectors and failing to test
corrosion protection equipment for steel tanks.
- G & N Partnership of Ledgewood was fined $31,750 for
failing to register its USTs and failing to provide an acceptable
method of release detection monitoring for both tanks and product
piping.
- Pompton Plains Mobil in Pequannock was fined $30,000 for
failing to perform release detection monitoring on both tanks
and product piping.
- R & R Bulk Transport of Randolph was fined $15,000 for
delivering fuel to unregistered USTs in Roxbury Township.
PASSAIC COUNTY
- DEP imposed penalties of $41,750 at Haskell Gulf Station
in Wanaque for maintaining an inoperable overfill device, failing
to maintain a release detection monitoring system and failing
to test the corrosion protection equipment.
DEP provides compliance assistance to owners and operators of
facilities with underground storage tank systems. State and federal
laws require all owners and operators to maintain leak detection,
corrosion and overfill prevention and other measures to prevent
tank leaks. DEP also will track all inspections and enforcement
actions taken when responsible parties fail to comply with relevant
laws.
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