Falmouth Fuel Company to pay $28K for Oil Spill

Loud Fuel Company, based in Falmouth and its manager Kabraul Tasha, will pay the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection $28,000 in fines per the order of Dukes County Superior Court judge. Tasha spilled 50 gallons of gasoline in Oak Bluffs, and didn't tell anybody about it.

According to an article in the Martha’s Vineyard Times, on Monday, April 23^rd, Tasha plead guilty to failure to report a fuel spill and environmental endangerment.

Judge C.J. Moriarty ordered Loud Fuel to pay $25,000 to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and fined Tasha $3,000.

The event took place on June 19, 2009, when “Tasha delivered gasoline to the pumps at Jim's Package Store. He attached the fuel hose to a tank that was already full by mistake, started pumping fuel, then left the area. Surveillance video showed fuel spraying out of the filler pipe for about six minutes,” reported the Times.

However, it was not until employees at the nearby noticed a strong smell of gasoline four days later that the spill was discovered.

"These defendants failed to immediately report a release of gasoline, causing damage to nearby businesses and also putting customers and employees at risk of a dangerous explosion," Massachusetts attorney general Martha Coakley said in a news release. "It is important to hold those accountable who do not comply with the environmental laws regarding oil spills so that the community and the public are not put at risk."

Judge Moriarty continued the case against Tasha without a finding for two years, and ordered him to get training on spill prevention and reporting.

Loud Fuel was also placed on three years probation by Judge Moriarty and company employees will have to participate in annual spill prevention and reporting training. Loud will also have to pay for annual environmental audits and reimburse Nancy's Restaurant for the property damage caused by the spill.