Chevron Puerto Rico LLC, Environmental Violations, Puerto Rico 2023

WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, Chevron Puerto Rico LLC has agreed to improve leak detection at approximately 100 of its underground storage tank facilities in Puerto Rico. The settlement, announced today, resolves Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) violations at these Chevron-owned, “Texaco” branded service stations.

Under the terms of the settlement, Chevron has agreed to spend approximately $5.2 million to improve its leak detection methods and operations at these facilities. In addition, Chevron will pay a $600,000 penalty.

Petroleum releases from underground storage tanks can contaminate water, making it unsafe to drink, pose fire and explosion hazards, and can have short and long-term effects on people’s health. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require owners and operators to maintain underground storage tanks to avoid releases into the environment.

Among the violations alleged in the complaint filed yesterday by the United States against Chevron were failure to: provide release detection for tanks and piping, provide adequate overfill protection equipment, perform annual tests of automatic line leak detector systems and maintain adequate records of release detection for tanks and piping.

“To identify potential or actual leaks, Chevron will install advanced leak detection, monitoring and alarm systems that will improve response time and help prevent the contamination of groundwater in Puerto Rico,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Under the settlement, Chevron will install fully automated Veeder-Root leak detection systems on underground storage tanks at all of its Puerto Rico facilities by March 31, 2013, and will continue operating these systems at its facilities for a minimum of five years. This automated system, which detects contaminants before they enter the environment, provides a more protective method of release detection than other methods, such as the ground water or vapor monitoring currently employed by Chevron.

Chevron has further agreed to implement two supplemental environmental projects. The first requires Chevron to install a centralized monitoring system at approximately 155 Chevron owned, “Texaco” branded service stations containing underground storage tanks by March 31, 2013. This monitoring system will contain audible and visible alarms that will alert station personnel of leaks and other potentially dangerous events. The second requires Chevron to install liquid sensors under dispenser pans for all of its facilities by March 31, 2013, and to also connect these sensors to a centralized monitoring system.

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