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EPA Proposes Penalty Against Russell Oil Company for Underground Storage Tank Violations

Release Date: 1/11/2001
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     On January 3, 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an administrative penalty order (Complaint) against Russell Oil Company proposing a $314,558 penalty for 62 alleged underground storage tank violations.  

     The violations were from 18 underground storage tanks owned and/or operated by Russell Oil Company, located at six different facilities in Arkansas (listed below).  The action resulted from joint compliance inspections conducted by EPA and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in April 2000.  

     "The number of these violations is of great concern. Owners and operators of underground storage tanks must maintain their equipment to prevent releases. EPA, in partnership with Arkansas and other states, will continue to enforce all underground storage tank regulations to prevent and detect leaks before they impact our environment and our safety," EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke said.

     EPA cited Russell Oil Company for failure to maintain adequate corrosion protection on tanks and piping, failure to provide adequate release detection for tanks and piping, failure to provide adequate testing of automatic line leak detectors on pressure piping and failure to provide overfill prevention equipment.
 
     Although no releases were observed during the inspection, maintaining corrosion protection and determining each month whether an underground storage tank system is leaking are important requirements.  Without these protections, releases can occur undetected.

     Releases may cause significant contamination to the soil and groundwater and other related hazards such as explosions. Also, the cost of cleanup increases with the duration of an undetected release, which may be billed to taxpayers.

     More than 50 percent of the drinking water in the United States is obtained from groundwater. One gallon of gasoline can contaminate approximately five million gallons of drinking water.

     Russell Oil Company is headquartered at 215 East 9th Street, Rector, Ark. The six facilities cited in the Complaint include:

Name                      Address                          Inspected
1. T&P Express            HWY 49, Marmaduke, Ark.          April 25, 2000  
2. Bobby's PB/Bulk Plant  215 E 9th Street, Rector, Ark.   April 25, 2000
3. Holley Island Station  12505 HWY 90, Rector, Ark.       April 25, 2000
4. Goodman's Grocery      1211 Rector RD, Paragould, Ark.  April 25, 2000
5. T&P Express (Toppers)  HWY 135, Oak Grove, Ark.         April 26, 2000
6. T&P Express            HWY 18, Monette, Ark.            April 26, 2000

     The Complaint is available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/news/russelcomp.pdf