EPA Settlement With Ryder Truck Rental Protects Soil And Groundwater From Contamination

Ryder Truck Rental Inc. has agreed to pay a $22,500 penalty to settle alleged violations of underground storage tank (UST) regulations at the company’s facility located at 6605 Governor Printz Boulevard in Wilmington, Del., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced recently.

EPA cited the company for not complying with safeguards designed to prevent, detect, and control leaks of petroleum and other hazardous substances from USTs. The alleged violations involved two diesel fuel USTs, each with a 12,000 gallon capacity.

According to EPA, the company failed to conduct required leak detection measures for various periods totaling more than six months, and failed to respond in a timely manner to a suspected fuel leak in 2009. These alleged violations were documented in an EPA inspection in April 2012 as well as subsequent document requests.

As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the alleged violations. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s cooperation with EPA in correcting the alleged non-compliance and resolving this matter.

With millions of gallons of petroleum products and hazardous substances stored in USTs throughout the U.S., leaking tanks are a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. EPA and state UST regulations are designed to reduce the risk of underground leaks and to promptly detect and properly address leaks thus minimizing environmental harm and avoiding the costs of major cleanups.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/oust/index.htm.