San Diego County's top prosecutor on Thursday hailed a $14-million settlement with British Petroleum West Coast Products, BP Products North America and Arco over allegations that the companies violated state laws regarding the operation and maintenance of motor vehicle fuel underground storage tanks.
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the California Attorney General's Office and eight other district attorneys across the state alleged that BP failed to properly inspect and maintain underground tanks used to store gasoline for sale at about 780 BP-owned Arco gas stations in California over a period of 10 years and violated other hazardous material and hazardous waste laws.
The state sued after the company failed to make timely corrections.
"When there are violations of this nature, the first resort is not litigation, it's to try to work with the gas station and its owner. And to get them to fix the violations, to address the issues, whether its paperwork, or sensors, or testing," said San Diego Deputy District Attorney Mike Still.
British Petroleum wasn't responsive when state and local officials were asked to fix the problems.
"Once these gas tanks leak or the dispensers leak it just ends up getting into our groundwater, which infiltrates drinking water systems. It's really a danger and hazard to the health of all Californians," Still said.
San Diego County is getting $750,000 as part of the multimillion-dollar settlement.
BP has since sold 90 percent of the stations it owned. All 74 BP-owned Arco stations in San Diego County have new owners and are in compliance with state and local rules.
