(AKRON, Ohio)—A Summit County Judge has ordered the operators of an Akron gas station to pay civil penalties and attorneys' fees totaling of $44,096 for years of noncompliance with Ohio's air pollution laws, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul J. Gallagher entered a Judgment by Default ordering Gas Express, Inc., and its operators, Ali Kahook, Wafa Kahook, and Nasser Kahook, to pay a civil penalty of $39,860 and attorneys' fees in the amount of $4,236 for their violations. The judge found that the gas dispensing facility operated without passing required testing, failed to properly maintain the facility's vapor control system, failed to keep required records, and operated without a permit.
""It is very important that individual gas station owners take responsibility to properly maintain their systems," said Ohio EPA Director Scott Nally. "Ohio EPA is available to provide assistance to help gas station owners achieve compliance, but we will take action when owners continually fail to comply."
"The Attorney General's Office works with Ohio EPA in our joint roles of enforcing our laws to protect the environment and Ohio families. This judgment shows that repeated failure to follow Ohio's air pollution laws will not be tolerated," said Attorney General DeWine.
Assistant Attorney Generals Chris Kim and Sarah Bloom Anderson of the Attorney General's Office's Environmental Enforcement Section represented the State in the case. The State's witnesses included experts from Ohio EPA and the Akron Regional Air Quality Management District.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney, Attorney General's Office: 614-466-3840
Heidi Griesmer, Ohio EPA: 614-644-2160