Irving Oil, Global Petroleum Settles for $315,500

Posted on October 25, 2008
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BOSTON (UsMaritimeLaw.org) – On March 8, 2006, contractors allegedly removed at least one check-valve from an oil fuel loading dock jointly owned by New Hampshire-based Irving Oil, Irving Oil Terminals and Global Petroleum Corp. This created a one- to two-foot gap in the pipeline. Global then attempted to transfer fuel oil through the pipeline, releasing 20,000 gallons of oil, 18,000 of which went into the Chelsea River and upstream into Mill Creek.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that the three companies have agreed on a settlement of $312,500 to an environmental restoration fund known as the “Natural Resource Damages Trust“.

Coakley said;

“This harmful spill could have been avoided had the companies simply communicated with each other ahead of the repair work and closed a few valves… We hope this settlement will prompt all companies to implement better preventative measures so our valuable resources can be protected.”

An Irving Oil spokesman said that since the incident, the company has made changes to the operating procedures at the dock to prevent something similar from happening. Poitras said;

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously, as demonstrated by our quick response to the spill and the tireless efforts of our employees, working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Revere Fire Department, to minimize the spill’s impact,”

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