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TCEQ considering shut down order for Shepherd gas station
By ALEX WUKMAN
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is scheduled to consider a shutdown order for Shepherd gas station Stop N Drive 2’s underground petroleum storage tanks at the commission’s September 10 meeting.
According to the TCEQ agenda back-up documents Stop N Drive 2, located at 7431 Hwy 59, is facing the loss of its gas tanks because they “may constitute an immediate peril to public health, safety and welfare.” The problem comes from the fact that SAO Traders, the parent company of Stop N Drive 2, never installed a release detection system as required by the Texas Administration and Texas Water Codes.
The back-up documents state that without this system Stop N Drive 2’s tanks “may be releasing to the environment without the knowledge of the tank owner or operator.” The release detection system is one of the two things that SAO Traders failed to do after receiving notice from the TCEQ in 2005 of six violations and a $9,500 administrative penalty.
The violations ranged from failing to ensure that a valid current TCEQ delivery certificate was posted in a clearly visible location at all times to failing to test line leak detectors at least once a year. The majority of the violations were corrected within 30 days after receiving notice; however the leak detection system was never installed and no arrangements were made to pay the fine.
The documents state that despite repeated attempts at contact Stop N Drive 2’s parent company “failed to request a hearing, and failed to schedule a settlement conference” with the TCEQ. While the TCEQ report was winding its way through the bureaucracy Stop N Drive 2 received another violation from a different agency.
In August 2007 The Texas Department of Agriculture took the gas pumps at Stop N Drive 2 out of service because the LED was not working.
According to the TCEQ agenda back-up documents Stop N Drive 2, located at 7431 Hwy 59, is facing the loss of its gas tanks because they “may constitute an immediate peril to public health, safety and welfare.” The problem comes from the fact that SAO Traders, the parent company of Stop N Drive 2, never installed a release detection system as required by the Texas Administration and Texas Water Codes.
The back-up documents state that without this system Stop N Drive 2’s tanks “may be releasing to the environment without the knowledge of the tank owner or operator.” The release detection system is one of the two things that SAO Traders failed to do after receiving notice from the TCEQ in 2005 of six violations and a $9,500 administrative penalty.
The violations ranged from failing to ensure that a valid current TCEQ delivery certificate was posted in a clearly visible location at all times to failing to test line leak detectors at least once a year. The majority of the violations were corrected within 30 days after receiving notice; however the leak detection system was never installed and no arrangements were made to pay the fine.
The documents state that despite repeated attempts at contact Stop N Drive 2’s parent company “failed to request a hearing, and failed to schedule a settlement conference” with the TCEQ. While the TCEQ report was winding its way through the bureaucracy Stop N Drive 2 received another violation from a different agency.
In August 2007 The Texas Department of Agriculture took the gas pumps at Stop N Drive 2 out of service because the LED was not working.
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