U.S. OIL COMPANY, INC. WILL PAY $450,000 TO SETTLE STATE AIR POLLUTION ENFORCEMENT ACTION
Friday, November 16, 2007
Payment Settles State's Lawsuit Alleging Company's Environmental Law Violations In Connection With Operation Of Plants in Milwaukee, Brown, and Dane Counties
MADISON - Under a settlement announced today by Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen, U.S. Oil Company, Inc., of Combined Locks, Wisconsin, will pay $450,000 for violating state air pollution control laws at petroleum bulk storage tanks its operates in Milwaukee, Brown and Dane Counties. The settlement was approved this afternoon by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi.
According to complaint filed earlier this year at the request of the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Oil's fuel storage terminals emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are air contaminants under state law. The Milwaukee facility and one of the Green Bay terminals are considered major sources of VOC emissions as the potential VOC emissions at each of these facilities are greater than 100 tons/year.
The company's permits and state regulations require that it conduct regular inspections of the roofs and seals on the tanks to make sure they are not leaking VOC's into the air. According to the complaint, U.S. Oil failed to conduct the required inspections on numerous occasions, and failed to report deficiencies to DNR and correct them in a timely fashion when they were identified. The complaint also alleges that U.S. Oil failed to conduct timely tests of the emissions from its truck loading operation in Green Bay, which were found to be unlawfully high when the required test was conducted.
The company has already implemented corrective actions to bring its facilities into compliance.
"We will continue to work with DNR to ensure the state's environmental laws are followed," Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said. "We are hopeful that the company's corrective actions will eliminate any future violations."
The State was represented by Assistant Attorney General Shari Eggleson.
