BALTIMORE – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain on Wednesday announced the settlement of a lawsuit against an Eastern Shore fuel storage facility, including a $600,000 penalty for pollution to groundwater and a nearby creek. The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought against Tri-Gas & Oil Co., Inc. last year by the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and requires the company to continue work to clean up the fuel that leaked from storage tanks at its Federalsburg location.
“Marylanders have an expectation that the water they use will be safe no matter where they live,” said Attorney General Brown. “Businesses must follow regulations designed to protect our people and the environment, and I will hold every company doing business in Maryland accountable for its impact on our communities and the people who live here.”
“The significant financial penalty and the required cleanup actions contained in this settlement reflect how serious it is to ignore environmental regulations and pollute our waterways,” said Secretary McIlwain. “Overburdened and underserved communities disproportionately bear the burden of environmental hazards. We will hold those entities accountable who are found to be non-compliant with the applicable environmental laws and regulations.”