The United States Environmental Protect Agency reached a settlement recently with Puerto Rico-based To-Go Stores LLC that includes paying a $125,000 civil penalty and other measures to resolve alleged violations of federal environmental laws at multiple locations.
The company, which operates convenience stores across Puerto RIco, violated the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Puerto Rico Underground Storage Tank Control Regulations "in numerous ways," the EPA stated in the Jan. 24 announcement. Violations include failures to use proper equipment for underground storage tanks, to conduct mandatory maintenance, and to investigate and report suspected releases that 15 facilities in Puerto Rico.
"Underground storage tanks (USTs) owned and/or operated by To Go Stores, typically hold large quantities of gasoline and can cause significant environmental damage if they leak," the EPA stated in the announcement, "including contaminating groundwater with pollutants like benzene, which is known to cause cancer."
The EPA reports that in addition to paying the civil penalty, To-Go Stores LLC must inspect tank sites and replace tanks as needed, install or upgrade automatic release-detection systems and install a centralized monitoring system at 43 gas stations on in the island.
"This settlement protects communities across Puerto Rico by significantly improving how To Go manages gasoline underground storage tanks," EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in the announcement.
"The centralized monitoring system required by this settlement will particularly protect vital groundwater resources by ensuring that the underground tanks at dozens of gas stations will now be properly monitored and maintained," Garcia said.
