SystemThinkers: Compliance and Enforcement News Release (Region 10):

Monday, September 27, 2010

Compliance and Enforcement News Release (Region 10):

Idaho oil distributor pays $15,000 penalty for inadequate spill prevention measures

Contact: Kate Spaulding, EPA Compliance officer, (206) 553-5429, spaulding.kate@epa.gov; Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, (206) 553-0454, brown.anthony@epa.gov

(Seattle – Sept. 27, 2010) John C. Berry & Sons, Inc. agreed to pay a $15,000 fine for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at its oil storage and distribution facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho under an order issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

During an August 2009 inspection of the facility, inspectors noted several violations of Clean Water Act regulations including:

The failure to prepare an adequate spill prevention plan
Inadequate secondary containment structures
The failure to conduct inspections and spill prevention training

The Clean Water Act’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures regulations are designed to ensure that plans and control measures are in place before a spill occurs.

“Preventing and containing oil spills is essential to protecting our rivers, lakes and streams.” said Kimberly Ogle, manager of EPA’s Compliance Unit in Seattle. “The regulations are clear – facilities must show that they have a solid plan in place to deal with spills, or they may face penalties.”

The Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures regulations require that facilities handling or storing a certain volume of oil to have a detailed, written plan detailing the measures in place for preventing and responding to petroleum spills.

Berry & Sons facility is located approximately 800 feet from the Snake River.

For more information about EPA’s SPCC Rule, visit: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/spcc/index.htm

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