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D.C. Taxi Company Settles Underground Storage Tank Violations

Release Date: 1/25/2005
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The Yellow Cab Company of D.C., Inc. has settled a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency complaint alleging violations of environmental regulations designed to prevent fuel leaks from underground storage tanks. In a consent agreement with EPA, Yellow Cab agreed to pay a $34,190 penalty. The alleged violations involved three 12,000-gallon underground storage tanks at the company’s facility at 1636 Bladensburg Road, N.E., Washington, D.C.

EPA’s complaint cited Yellow Cab for not adequately being able to detect fuel tank releases, not providing corrosion protection on metal piping, and not demonstrating its financial responsibility for cleanup and compensation if there was a fuel leak. The violations were discovered in an October 8, 2003 EPA inspection, and through the company’s responses to followup information requests.

Yellow Cab removed and permanently closed the three tanks at its facility. The District of Columbia’s underground storage tank management division issued a letter of permanent closure to Yellow Cab on August 31, 2004.

As part of the settlement, Yellow Cab neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but it has certified that it has removed and permanently closed the three tanks at the facility, in accordance with the federal and District requirements.

With millions of gallons of gasoline, oil, and other petroleum products stored in underground storage tanks throughout the United States, leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state underground storage tank regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks, and thus avoid the costs of major cleanups. For more information on EPA’s underground storage tank program, visit https://www.epa.gov/swerust1/.