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EPA recommends financial penalty for oil-spill violations

The Environmental Protection Agency has recommended a $29,989 fine against the University for violating environmental regulations on oil-spill prevention plans.

The EPA announcement, which came Wednesday, also cited Lincoln University and Villanova University for similar violations.

The University has 20 aboveground oil and gasoline tanks on Grounds used for heating and various other services.

Ralph Allen, director of the University's Environmental Health and Safety office, said the EPA's fine occurred because the University's oil spill prevention plans are not specific enough for the EPA's requirements.

Facilities Management and Allen's office will work together in drawing up a plan that will comply with the law.

But this is not an easy task, Allen said, and "will take significant time and effort."

The EPA's enforcement office for Region III has made it a goal to examine institutions of higher education and see whether they follow environmental laws, EPA spokeswoman Ruth Podems said.

"Usually we target inspections at different sectors," such as industrial corporations, Podems said, but the EPA has "never targeted universities before."

The figure of $29,989 is the estimated benefit the University has accrued by not having the proper plans required by the EPA, she said.

Podems stressed that the fine is only a proposal, as the University and the EPA could agree on a settlement amount that is lower than the original amount.

The regulations calling for specific oil spill prevention plans are not new ones. Such environmental laws can be traced back to about 1975, Allen said.

One of the reasons the University does not have specific prevention plans in place is because it has not analyzed the issue thoroughly enough, he said.

"Are we the only ones guilty of this? No, not by a long shot," he added.

Unfortunately, small oil spills are not uncommon, and as a result the University knows how to handle them, Allen said.

For example, there was a spill of about 25 gallons of oil at a loading dock near the hospital Wednesday, he said.

Podems said it is imperative to have proper prevention plans, because oil spillage greatly affects the community.

"If and when these tanks leak, our water source is at risk - one drop of oil can contaminate a whole community's water supply," she said.

Arthur Petrini, executive director for the Rivana Sewer and Water Authority - which supplies water to Charlottesville and Albemarle County - said oil spills on Grounds probably will not affect the water supply for the area.

The University's land is not in the water supply area and is downstream of Rivana's water intake location, Petrini said.

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