Illinois EPA Refers Maev LLC to Attorney General for Enforcement

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Lisa Bonnett has referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General’s office against Maev LLC for releasing gasoline into a residential sump in Harwood Heights, Illinois. The Agency is seeking an order requiring the company to immediately control the gasoline release from the site and remediate contamination resulting from the release.

Maev LLC is the owner/operator of E&D Citgo gas station (“Nagle Gas Station”) located in Cook County. The facility is located at 4555 North Nagle, Harwood Heights.

On October 10, 2014, Illinois EPA received notice of a Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) at the gas station which had impacted an on-site sump. Following the initial notification, Illinois EPA received notice that the incident was an emergency LUST as the sump pump at an adjacent apartment building had also been impacted. As a result, the Office of the State Fire Marshall closed the station and the apartment building was evacuated.

Illinois EPA staff have been on site investigating the area, including the apartment building, for the presence of gasoline and/or odors. As of October 14, residents were still not permitted into their homes. Steps were being taken to ventilate the residence. At this time, no sewers have been impacted.

A contractor has been on site since October 10, working to pump and remove fuel/water mixture from the station’s observation well. Approximately 27,000 gallons of fuel/water mix has been removed, relieving pressure on the system. Through the investigation, a gas flex connector hose was found to be leaking. Rubber boots on the tank sumps were also found to be rotted and leaking. In addition to removing product from the observation well, an interceptor trench was completed on October 14 and was drawing off product from the leak.

In the referral, the Agency cited violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, in which the facility caused, threatened or allowed the discharge of contaminants so as to cause or tend to cause water pollution and deposited contaminants upon the land creating a water pollution hazard. Agency representatives will continue to monitor the situation.