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EPA FILES COMPLAINTS, SEEKS FINES FROM OIL FACILITIES ON NAVAJO LANDS

Release Date: 10/9/1998
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1588

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

     (San Francisco)--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has filed complaints against Speedy's Convenience Inc., Indian County Petroleum Inc. (ICP), and Giant Industries Arizona Inc. for failure to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan for their facilities on the Navajo Nation, a violation of the Clean Water Act's oil pollution prevention regulations. The regulations are designed to prevent and control possible oil spills which could enter waterways. The complaints are the result of routine facility inspections conducted in June 1997 by  EPA at the request of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency. At that time, a total of 19 facilities were inspected to determine if facilities on the Navajo Nation were complying with the federal oil spill prevention regulations.  During the inspections, the facilities were provided with information on how to come into compliance, including regulations, guidance, and a sample SPCC plan. The complaint against Speedy's truck stop seeks penalties up to $137,500 because a follow up inspection in June 1998 revealed the facility did not prepare an SPCC plan. Oil spills from Speedy's 720,000 gallon oil storage facility near Lupton, Ariz. could impact the Puerco River. Penalties of $22,093 are also being sought against ICP because the facility has not prepared an SPCC plan for its gas station in Shiprock, New Mexico. The ICP facility has 168,000 gallons of oil storage and the potential to impact the San Juan River. The complaint against Giant is for failure to prepare and implement an SPCC plan from 1993 to 1997 for its crude storage and tanker transfer facility in Montezuma Creek, Utah. The 195,000 gallon aboveground storage facility has the potential to impact Montezuma Creek and the San Juan River. The complaint seeks penalties of $21,948.  EPA is accepting public comments on the Speedy's proposed settlement, which should be submitted in writing to: Danielle Carr, Regional Hearing Clerk (ORC-1), U.S. EPA, Region 9, 75 Hawthorne St., San Francisco, CA 94105. Further information on oil spill prevention and the EPA Oil Program may be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA's toll-free hotline at (800) 424-8802 or by logging onto www.epa.gov/oilspill.

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