Euclid of Virginia to Pay $3M for EPA Violations
BALTIMORE -- Euclid of Virginia Inc., operator of Lowest Price gas stations, was ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) to pay $3.16 million for violations at 23 stations involving 72 tanks in 2002, local television station WCAV reported.
Of the 23 stations involved, 14 were located in Maryland, two in Virginia and seven in Washington D.C., according to the report. The case began when the EPA filed a complaint in September 2002 against the company, which was later appealed by the company in November 2006 and ruled against in March 2007 by the EAB.
The ruling stated that the company failed to maintain required leak detection and control equipment; conduct required leak detection activities; comply with corrosion-prevention standards and conduct cathodic protection testing; properly install or maintain equipment to prevent leaks of gasoline due to overfilling tanks or other spills; and maintain financial assurances, according to a report in the Frederick News Post.
The multi-million dollar fine was due to the large number of stations and tanks, along with Euclid's repeated noncompliance with the same regulations over a time period that often lasted several years, according to the report, which cited the EPA.
Euclid may appeal the verdict in federal court, the report stated.
Of the 23 stations involved, 14 were located in Maryland, two in Virginia and seven in Washington D.C., according to the report. The case began when the EPA filed a complaint in September 2002 against the company, which was later appealed by the company in November 2006 and ruled against in March 2007 by the EAB.
The ruling stated that the company failed to maintain required leak detection and control equipment; conduct required leak detection activities; comply with corrosion-prevention standards and conduct cathodic protection testing; properly install or maintain equipment to prevent leaks of gasoline due to overfilling tanks or other spills; and maintain financial assurances, according to a report in the Frederick News Post.
The multi-million dollar fine was due to the large number of stations and tanks, along with Euclid's repeated noncompliance with the same regulations over a time period that often lasted several years, according to the report, which cited the EPA.
Euclid may appeal the verdict in federal court, the report stated.