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7-Eleven Settles Underground Storage Tank Violations at Two Western Pennsylvania Locations

Release Date: 06/12/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / [email protected]

PHILADELPHIA (June 12, 2009) – Handee Marts, Inc., doing business as 7-Eleven and owner of two 7-Eleven locations in Pittsburgh and Cranberry Township, Pa., has settled alleged violations of underground fuel storage tank regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

Handee Marts, Inc., Gibsonia, Pa., the owner and operator of the two locations, has agreed to pay a $22,758 penalty to settle alleged violations of federal regulations designed to prevent, detect, and control fuel leaks from underground storage tanks, or USTs.

At the Cranberry Township location, 1559 Route 228, the company failed to perform automatic line leak detector testing annually on five underground storage tanks (four 8,000-gallon tanks containing gasoline and diesel fuel, and one 5,000-gallon tank containing kerosene) from May 2006 to November 2007. The company also failed to perform automatic line tightness test of underground piping on the five tanks from August 2007 to November 2007.

At the Pittsburgh, Pa. location, 1101 Brookline Blvd., the company failed to perform automatic line leak detector testing annually on five underground storage tanks (five 8,000-gallon tanks containing gasoline and kerosene) from Dec. 1, 2003 to Aug. 22, 2007. The company also failed to perform automatic line tightness test of underground piping on the five tanks from May 16, 2006 to July 18, 2006 and from July 19, 2007 to Aug. 22, 2007, and failed to test the corrosion protection system every three years.

As part of the settlement, the company neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but certified its compliance with applicable UST regulations. The settlement reflects the company’s cooperation with EPA’s investigation, and good faith compliance efforts.

With millions of gallons of gasoline, oil, and other petroleum products stored in USTs throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks which do occur, thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups. For more information on EPAs Underground Storage Tank program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/oust/