Today, the Eastern District of New York announced it had settled the civil suit against the owner of a conglomerate of New York and New Jersey gas stations for persistent pollution. This was a significant victory by the EDNY’s environmental justice division. Which was launched in June last year.
Unannounced U.S. Environmental Protection Agency visit in 2012 found that the Sunoco gas station at 2664 Route 112, Medford NY was not complying with their gasoline storage. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had previously issued violations to the facility and others similar to it. Over the next few years, this led to a series of exchanges with Adnan Kiscioglu, once known as a “a” owner. King of Gas StationsEPA, that included deficient responses by the fuel provider, that triggered additional inspections, some were thwarted even by the owner, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.
Genesis Petroleum, Inc. and its subsidiaries have been fined $250,000 after violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This law requires underground storage tanks operators to monitor and manage leaks. Prosecutors allege that the companies’ mismanagement of underground tanks caused leaks at 13 gas stations located in disadvantaged communities in New York and New Jersey. Kiriscioglu will also be subject to the judgment. Gothamist reached out to Kiriscioglu’s lawyer for comment but has not received a response.
Genesis will have to be proactive in detecting petroleum products leaks from underground storage tank tanks and implement safety precautions across all of their facilities. They will be subjected for compliance to rigorous inspections of almost 30 of their facilities.
Gas leaks can often occur at gas stations when an underground storage tank overflows. This happens when huge nozzles are removed during refilling, or when overloaded pipes are used. Double-lining underground storage tanks is an additional safeguard. The Genesis facilities had leaking tanks that were not equipped to withstand overspill. Prosecutors claimed that gasoline was improperly stored on the premises, and that there were no legally required records regarding the storage tanks.
Genesis is being sued for a total 10 violations. There are 58 in all. These citations include failures to inspect, detect and notify suspected leaks. According to EDNY, the company also failed to provide records and responses for EPA requests on 13 of its facilities. Genesis could not provide any evidence of financial responsibility in relation to the maintenance of their storage tanks.
The flammability and toxic nature of gasoline is high. It contributes to the formation of air pollution when it evaporates. It can also seep. GroundwaterLeakage of underground storage tanks and pipelines through the soil, mostly via service stations. The benzeneCancer has been linked to the car fuel.
Markus Hilpert, an environmental science professor at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, stated that this is the main health concern. It’s very difficult to fully remediate oil-contaminated sites if gasoline is ingested into the soil and the groundwater.
He also said that it could take years for nature to remediate these spillages.
Because the Genesis gas stations are located in low-income communities of colour, the U.S. Environmental Justice Team was able to intervene. The Attorneys Office became involved in litigation. The team was established in June 2021 and focuses on protecting citizens who live in areas that are disproportionately affected by environmental or health hazards.
President Joe Bidens Executive Order 14008The United States was able to form environmental justice teams by calling for their formation. Attorneys office. Its focus areas are child lead exposure, clean water, and protection of water and habitats across New York City, Long Island, and Long Island. The team has filed three cases to date on behalf of disadvantaged areas.
