March 18, 2008

The Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office has reached a plea agreement before the Honorable Judge Samuel Durham Jr. of the 10th District Court to resolve criminal charges filed against Cynthia Fadel for allegedly failing to pay registration fees, provide financial responsibility, and properly close abandoned underground storage tanks at a gasoline station located near Marshall. A criminal investigation was initiated by the Department of Environmental Quality when Fadel failed to comply with the law after being notified by DEQ staff on numerous occasions of the violations and the actions required to correct them.

As a result of the plea agreement, Fadel must permanently close the underground tank system within six months, pay $3,000 in delinquent registration fees, and pay fines and costs.

"Owners of underground storage tank systems must take every precaution to ensure our environment is protected," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester.

An owner of a petroleum UST system is required to permanently close the system when it has been temporarily closed for more than 12 months and must provide evidence of financial responsibility, in the form of insurance, to ensure that corrective actions are implemented to clean up a release of petroleum if the owner is liable for the release. An owner is also required to pay an annual registration fee of $100 for each UST. Without the collection of registration fees, the DEQ would not be able to implement the UST regulatory program.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised March 18, 2008 by Pat Watson