EPA v. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BULK MAIL CENTER, CINCINNATI

Case summary

THIS FACILITY HAD INADEQUATE RELEASE DETECTION FOR BOTH THE TANK AND PIPING FOR A SINGLE DIESEL FUEL STORAGE TANK USED TO PROVIDE FUEL FOR TRACTORS PULLING TRAILERS WITH THE FACILITY. ALTHOUGH THE TANK WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TANK GAUGING SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROVIDING RELEASE DETECTION, IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED TO PROVIDE THIS PROTECTION. FURTHERMORE, A SUPPLEMENTAL RELEASE MONITORING SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE IN ALARM MODE AND HAD BEEN IN SUCH A MODE FOR AT LEASE SIX MONTHS. THE OPERA- TOR OF THE TANK WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE METHODOLOGY FOR PER- FORMING INVENTORY CONTROL ON THE TANK AND LEFT WITH INSTRUC- TIONAL MATERIALS. A SUBSEQUENT INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER SEVERAL MONTHS LATER REVEALED THAT THE INVENTORY CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED AND THAT THE ALARM WAS FROM A SUMP SENSOR WHICH TRIGGERED BY THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE PUMP SUMP. THE INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT LETTERS RAISED THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION THIS FACILITY WAS RECEIVING FROM CENTRAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND RESULTED IN THE INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RELEASE DETECTION MORE RELIABLY WITH THE ABILITY TO CENTRALLY MONI- TOR FOR ALARMS. RCRA SUBTITLE 1 - $300.00 RCRA SUBTITLE 1 - $150.00

Defendants (1)

• U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BULK MAIL CENTERNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• U.S. POSTAL SVC BULK MAIL CTR

  3055 CRESENTVILLE RD, CINCINNATI, OH, 45235

  Registry ID: 110010580148

Statutes cited

• RCRA 9003 — UST Release Detection, Prevention, Correction Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• U.S. POSTAL SERVICE BULK MAIL CENTERentered 2000-04-05

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $450

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1999-10-10Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2000-04-05Final Order Issued
• 2000-04-05Enforcement Action Closed
• 2000-04-13Enforcement Action Data Entered