The state Department of Health Underground Storage Tank Section has issued a Notice of Violation against Aloha Petroleum Ltd., the registered owner and operator of Island Mini Mart, a fuel service station in Kailua-Kona.
Aloha Petroleum was assessed a $32,500 penalty and cited for the following alleged violations identified during a DOH routine inspection on May 17, 2011, and subsequent review of Aloha Petroleum documents:
c Failure to monitor five underground storage tanks that routinely contained product at least every 30 days between June 2010 and August 2010.
c Failure to notify the DOH that the underground storage tanks were temporarily out of use within 30 days after the change in status.
The underground storage tanks were reportedly placed on temporary out-of-use status between May 17 and Aug. 18, 2010.
c Failure to notify the DOH that the underground storage tanks were put back into service. DOH said it received notification only on June 23, 2011.
State law requires owners/operators of underground storage tanks or tank systems to provide a method, or combination of methods of release detection, that can detect a release from any portion of the tank and the connected underground piping that routinely contains product, according to the DOH.
In addition, to avoid accidental but possibly catastrophic release of regulated substances into the environment, the tanks must be monitored at least every 30 days for releases.
The regulations also require notification to the DOH when there is a change in the status.
Aloha Petroleum may request a hearing to contest the allegations and order. — WHT
