All News Releases By Date

EPA CITES HONOKOHAU MARINA AND ICE HOUSE FOR FUEL TANK VIOLATIONS

Release Date: 10/18/1999
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, 415-744-1588

     Facility on island of Hawaii was fined $3,000

     SAN FRANCISCO -- Honokohau Marina and Ice House in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii was fined $3,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health for violations of underground storage tank rules.

     The EPA found that the facility, which fuels boats at the Honokohau Marina, did not have leak detection devices on its tanks or piping and failed to upgrade or close its substandard underground storage tanks by a 1998 deadline. It is not known if a fuel release occurred as a result of these violations.

      Leak prevention is critical for underground fuel storage tanks because unseen leaks caused by corrosion, overfills or spills can pollute underground water supplies.  A hole the size of a pin can release 400 gallons of fuel in a year's time, enough to foul millions of gallons of fresh water. Given the limited amount of fresh surface water in Hawaii, the protection of underground water sources is vital.  To prevent releases, federal law required all regulated underground storage tanks to have spill and overfill equipment, corrosion protection, and release detection methods by December 1998.

     Now that the deadline has passed, owners and operators of substandard tanks face penalties of up to $11,000 a day per tank in addition to cleanup costs for leaking tanks. In the future the EPA plans to conduct unannounced inspections in Hawaii.

     If the Honokohau Marina and Ice House does not comply with underground storage rules by October 29, it may face further enforcement action.