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U.S. EPA issues citations to underground storage tank facilities in American Samoa

Release Date: 1/25/2005
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, (808) 541-2711

HONOLULU -- Inspectors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency issued fines totalling $2,100 to four facilities during a recent round of underground storage tank inspections.

The inspectors also plan to work with a number of facilities after finding deficiencies with seven above-ground storage tanks during the inspections.

"The inspected facilities must comply with all of the federal requirements or face additional penalties," said Norwood Scott, an EPA underground storage tank inspector for the Pacific Southwest Region. "Compliance with the rules will protect American Samoa's vital groundwater and coastal resources."

A December 1998 federal deadline required regulated underground storage tanks to have spill and overfill equipment, corrosion protection, and release detection methods to prevent releases.

The EPA frequently conducts unannounced tank inspections. Owners and operators who are cited are required to correct the violations, submit documentation, and pay the settlement amount within 30 days. Failure to comply may subject them to penalties of up to $11,000 per violation per tank per day in addition to the added cleanup costs for leaking tanks.

More information on the EPA's underground storage tank program can be obtained at: www.epa.gov/OUST/.
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