The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a $250,000 fine against the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for a 2005 diesel spill that entered Islais Creek, a tributary of the San Francisco Bay.
The proposed fine was lodged in U.S. District Court in San Francisco late last week, EPA spokeswoman Mary Simms said.
Muni staff disabled an alarm system to alert operators of a diesel spill and failed to respond to alarm lights or notify authoritiesSFMTA spokesman Judson True said this morning, “We’ve taken steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again, and to respond appropriately if it does.”
Muni’s board of directors has approved payment of the fine, True said.
Approximately 39,000 gallons of diesel fuel was released from a Muni bus servicing facility at 1095 Indiana St. during late November and December 2005, according to the EPA.
Muni estimates that only 5 gallons actually entered the creek.
The spill was caused by a faulty hose that broke and overflowed underground storage tanks, releasing diesel fuel into a storm drain that overflowed during heavy rains.
Muni was charged with violations of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
According to the EPA, Muni staff disabled an alarm system to alert operators of a diesel spill and failed to respond to alarm lights or notify authorities in a timely manner, among other violations.
Muni has since made repairs and upgraded its facilities and its procedures, the EPA said.
