Illinois EPA Refers R2 Retail Fuels d/b/a/ Cuba Fast Stop to Attorney General for Enforcement

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General's office against R2 Retail Fuels, doing business as Cuba Fast Stop, for a gasoline spill from a Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) that resulted in fumes in a neighboring residential basement in Fulton County. The Agency is seeking immediate injunctive relief under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Cuba Fast Stop is located at 500 South 7th Street in Cuba.

The release was discovered on June 6, 2019 and was reported to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency by an environmental consultant on June 7, 2019. The Leaking Underground Storage Tank release from the gas station entered an abandoned field tile and impacted a neighboring residence, resulting in high concentrations of vapors in the basement. The residents were ultimately taken to the hospital due to exposure, the house was evacuated, and the utilities were shut off. Illinois EPA responded at the request of the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

On June 7, 2019, it was determined by OSFM that the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) in the wells surrounding the tank pit area were at 100 percent, indicating the tanks were the cause of the vapors. Illinois EPA requested the consulting firm install a trench on the property between the gas station and affected home. During the installation of the trench, the field tile was noted that appears to run directly from the gas station to the home.

On June 8, the Cuba Fire Department representatives were called to the residence. Upon encountering fumes, the home was evacuated, and the residents were taken to a local medical facility. Emergency remediation was to continue, including:

• venting fumes from the basement;
• extending the original trench to determine if there are additional field tiles; and
• continuing work to remove field tiles in the direction of the home.

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; deposited contaminants upon the land creating a water pollution hazard; and caused or allowed the open dumping of waste. Illinois EPA requested the state seek an order directing the defendant to immediately control the gasoline/diesel release from the site, stop offsite migration, and investigate/remediate contamination. The Agency believes that an injunctive order is necessary so site conditions do not worsen, and the spill is managed in a proper manner so as to not create any additional harm to human health and the environment.