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EPA cites Guam Waterworks for violations
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Posted on Apr 07 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined eight Guam Waterworks Authority facilities for a total of $3,000 for underground storage tank violations.
The citation also included inspection of tanks in the Commonwealth, during which EPA and the Division of Environmental Quality fined one facility $300 for not completely emptying its underground fuel tank, which was supposed to be temporarily closed. The EPA statement did not identify the facility.
The EPA cited the Guam Waterworks Authority for violations that included failing to have overfill protection installed on an operating tank and failure to permanently close or upgrade temporarily closed tank systems after a year.
Norwood Scott, underground tank inspector for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region, said the federal field citation program helps bring underground storage tanks into compliance quickly and reminds a facility that they need to comply with the rules.
He also said given the limited amount of fresh water on Guam and the CNMI, proper operation and maintenance of these tanks are critical to the protection of underground water sources.
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 said the citation.
The EPA citation said the office 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 up to $11,000 per violation per tank per day in addition to the added cleanup costs for leaking tanks.
