Attorney General's News Release

June 27, 2007

St. Clair gas station that violated state law and regulations on underground storage tanks to pay $15,000 penalty

Union, Mo. — The owner of the Gravois Fastop gasoline station and convenience market in St. Clair will pay $15,000 to the state and take corrective action to ensure the safety of three underground storage tanks, under a court order obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon. The station is located at 1277 Gravois.

Nixon had sued David Conder and JCJ Enterprises, which did business as Gravois Fastop, over multiple violations of Missouri’s Underground Storage Tank Law. Those violations included failure for four years to have a financial responsibility mechanism that would ensure the financial resources were available to pay for any damages caused by leaks from the tanks; failure to properly conduct release and leak; failure to conduct line tightness tests; and failure to submit required reports to the state that help ensure the tanks are being properly maintained.

Franklin County Circuit Judge Cynthia M. Eckelkamp ordered the defendants to comply with the Missouri UST Law in all future operations and to cooperate with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in its enforcement of the law. If the financial responsibility mechanism lapses again, the defendants must immediately notify the Attorney General’s Office and the DNR, stop selling or dispensing gasoline, and stop any deliveries of petroleum.

The defendants will pay the civil penalty of $15,000 by July 1, 2007. An additional $20,000 penalty was suspended by the court pending the defendants’ compliance with the Missouri UST Law over the next two years.

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 the Press Secretary.

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