Attorney General's News Release

July 1, 2005

Attorney General Nixon sues two Texas companies responsible for 2,300-gallon petroleum spill in Kansas City

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon has filed a lawsuit to recover the state's cost from two Texas companies that allegedly caused a 2,300-gallon petroleum leak at a Kansas City, Mo., gas station.

A petition filed in Cole County Circuit Court alleges that KRB Environmental Resources of Irving, Texas, and C.T.T. Environmental Services of Houston were contracted to conduct petroleum line tightness tests in 1998 and 1999 at a Total Petroleum store at 4621 N.E. Vivion Road.

The petition alleges that negligence on the part of the companies caused a hairline crack in a petroleum line's shear valve and that more than 2,300 gallons of petroleum escaped through the crack before the leak was discovered on June 27, 2000. By that time, petroleum had seeped through the soil and into the local storm sewer drainage system.

"Missouri taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for the environmental damage caused by this negligence," Nixon said. "I want to make sure the companies that caused the petroleum spill pay to clean up the land and water they damaged."

Total is a member of the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund (PSTIF), which paid the costs of the cleanup beyond Total's $10,000 deductible. So far, PSTIF has invested $30,396.55, and the PSTIF Board estimates that the fund will have to pay an addition $75,000 to complete the cleanup project.

Nixon is asking to court to order the KRB and C.T.T. to pay for the damages caused by the spill and the costs of bringing the lawsuit.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818