Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Anne Moore, (218) 723-2356 Technical Contact: Steve Leppala, (218) 723-4897 Toll-free (all MPCA staff and TTY): (800) 657-3864 Duluth, Minn. - Edwards Oil Company Inc. agreed to pay a civil penalty and to reimburse cleanup costs related to a 2003 residential fuel-oil spill for a total payment of $95,000, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today. Edwards Oil Company is based in Virginia, Minn., and operates a bulk petroleum business that delivers fuel oil to northeastern Minnesota customers. During a December 2003 delivery to a residence in Gheen, Minn., a significant amount of fuel oil was spilled and not immediately cleaned up. Once notified, MPCA spill-response staff hired a contractor who recovered approximately 190 gallons of liquid fuel oil and melted, oil-stained snow. During the week between the spill and the initial cleanup, fuel oil seeped into soil beneath the home's foundation, threatening well water and emitting strong odors inside the house. As a result, the homeowner and her family were moved to off-site housing. By September 2004, MPCA staff determined the fuel-oil odors made the house permanently uninhabitable and had it demolished. Contractors then recovered 588 cubic yards of fuel oil-contaminated soil beneath the home to prevent pollution of the site's well and water supply. The Sept. 26, 2005 agreement resolves the company's alleged violations of failing to comply with state rules governing proper fuel oil management and spill response. In addition to paying the penalty and reimbursing cleanup costs, the company will also install a new drinking-water well at the spill site and incorporate the spill scenario into its next annual fuel-truck driver training. Agreements such as this are one of the MPCA's many tools used to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, MPCA staff take into account how seriously the violation(s) affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. Staff also attempt to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, refer to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.