State Files Lawsuit To Recover Environmental Clean Up Costs

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection filed suit against former owners and operators of the St. Marks Refinery to recover the more than $12 million incurred by Florida to clean up pollution at the industrial site. In a civil complaint filed with the Leon County Circuit Court, DEP is also seeking penalties for environmental violations and financial compensation to restore damage to natural resources.

The site previously was an oil recycling and reprocessing facility.

The EPA is seeking reimbursement from more than 1,400 businesses and local governments for the cleanup. “The Department is cleaning up the site to protect the environment and public health,” said David Struhs, DEP secretary. “The companies that caused the pollution should pay for the clean up, not Florida’s taxpayers.”

Along with reimbursement, the lawsuit against American International Petroleum Co., St. Marks Refinery, Inc., Seminole Refining Corp., and James T. Young petitions the court for injunctive relief, which will allow the Department to gain access to an area where the current owner has refused entry and continue clean up of pollution at the 55-acre site.

For half a century, operators produced and stored asphalt, pentachlorophenol and petroleum products at the now defunct facility in Wakulla County. During site evaluations, inspectors discovered runoff from oil lagoons and tar pits contaminating nearby water and soils.

Despite continued negotiation, a string of facility owners failed to make significant progress cleaning up contamination and restoring damaged natural resources. To protect public health and safety, and to minimize environmental damages, DEP assumed responsibility for assessment and clean up at the site. The State has invested over $12 million dismantling tanks, removing contaminated soil and disposing of solid and hazardous waste.