Rock Island County Court Imposes Penalty on Individual owner

SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today that on July 14, 2015, a Rock Island County Circuit Court issued a Default Judgment Order against Baldev Singh for $610,000. The order came in response to Singh’s failure to empty and secure an abandoned underground petroleum storage tank at a closed gasoline station, along with other violations of the Gasoline Storage Act. This judgment is the largest ever awarded to the OSFM against an individual owner of an underground storage tank facility.

“Gasoline tanks left unattended with remaining fuel pose a significant risk to the public,” said Deputy Director Les Albert. “The Office of the State Fire Marshal remains vigilant in its mission to ensure the protection of lives and property.”

The abandoned gasoline station is located in Silvis, Illinois, and was last in operation sometime in late 2011. At the time of the judgment the unsecured underground storage tank still contained a significant amount of fuel, with the potential to cause soil and water contamination, posing a threat to human health and the environment. Singh failed to respond to multiple OSFM enforcement notices directing him to empty and maintain the underground storage tank, as well as provide the required documentation for the underground storage tank and facility.

The OSFM requested that the Office of the Attorney General file a civil lawsuit against Baldev Singh in May 2014. A lawsuit was filed and Singh failed to file an appearance notice. A Default Judgment Order was subsequently entered, imposing $610,000 in penalties and fines against Singh as the owner of record. The penalties and fines were assessed for the ongoing violations of OFSM rules concerning technical and safety requirements for the operation and proper temporary closure of underground storage tanks.

A copy of the Default Judgment Order is available upon request.