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Maine Oil Facility Faces EPA Fine for Lack of Oil Spill Preparedness

Release Date: 03/06/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. - Mar. 6, 2006) – EPA has proposed a penalty of up to $157,500 against a bulk oil storage and distribution company for failing to plan for and guard against oil spills at its bulk oil storage facility in North Bath, Maine.

According to a complaint filed by EPA's New England office, Kaler Oil Company, Inc. did not have a "Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure" (SPCC) plan in place, as required by the federal Clean Water Act. Kaler faces a maximum penalty of $157,500.

An inspector from EPA's New England office inspected the Kaler facility in October and found the company failed to prepare and fully implement the plan.

Because oil spills can cause significant environmental damage to the environment, and particularly to neighboring drinking water wells, EPA's New England Office is very concerned to ensure that facilities handling oils follow established procedures to minimize risks of oil spills. Spill prevention and control laws help ensure that a tank failure or spill does not lead to oil being released into private wells, rivers or streams.

For more information: https://www.epa.gov/oilspill/spcc.htm and https://www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/er/oilstor.htm

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