In a series of enforcement actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AT&T Transoceanic Comm. LLC along with several other companies in New Jersey, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been penalized for failing to comply with federal regulations on the operation and maintenance of underground petroleum storage tanks (USTs).
The EPA has mandated that the implicated companies, including AT&T, must pay fines and adhere to compliance measures due to allegations of neglecting federal laws designed to prevent environmental contamination and protect public welfare.
"Owners will face penalties if they do not comply with the EPA’s requirements, which are designed to ensure proper maintenance of underground storage tanks," stated EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
AT&T Transoceanic Comm. LLC, with USTs at 28 locations, has been fined $40,000 for violations in the U.S. Virgin Islands facilities. The EPA said AT&T "violated federal rules on spill prevention, inspections, and operator training at three of its facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands," which EPA inspected in 2022. The company is also expected to conduct an extensive audit of its UST compliance in New York and New Jersey facilities.
USTs, when poorly managed, can leak hazardous substances, thereby jeopardizing soil and water resources. The federal regulations are aimed at thwarting and identifying fuel releases that might pollute groundwater, posing threats to human health and the environment.
In New Jersey, ADPP Enterprises, Inc., and APM Management, Inc., operators of 13 gas stations, have settled for a fine of $175,000. Wawa, Inc., with nine facilities, will pay $26,500 in civil penalties. These settlements arose from failures to meet a variety of UST regulations, including spill prevention and leak detection.
New York-based companies Dutchess Terminals, Inc., ANK Realty Inc., and Fair Oak, Inc. have also been fined $150,000 for not meeting standards ranging from financial responsibility to UST inspection requirements.
The EPA, in partnership with states, territories, and tribes, continues to work alongside the industry to mitigate risks associated with approximately 542,000 USTs nationwide that store petroleum or hazardous substances.
For detailed information on USTs and the EPA’s efforts, the public can visit the official EPA website dedicated to underground storage tanks at EPA's UST Website.
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