MTA fined $250K for 2005 diesel fuel leak into Islais Creek
November 2, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — The Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will be fining the Municipal Transit Authority $250,000 for a 2005 fuel leak, in which 39,000 gallons of diesel were released from a storage facility near Islais Creek.
The accident occurred at a refueling facility at 1095 Indiana Street, where a faulty hose ruptured, leaking red dye diesel fuel. The EPA’s fine details a number of procedural mishaps, including failure to maintain a written log of the incident, the disabling of an alarm system intended to alert operators about the refueling, and the failure to timely notify authorities of the leak.
MTA spokesman Judson True said that the department has since taken all the necessary steps to remedy those shortcomings. True said that of the 39,000 gallons of leaked fuel, only about five went into Islais Creek. The rest spilled onto a gravel surface and into storm drains.
The department approved payment for the $250,000 EPA fine in September, True said.
