OCEANVIEW, Hawaiʻi – Hawaii Petroleum, LLC, operator of Kamakani Store, LLC on Hawaiʻi Island, has been cited by the Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) for multiple violations of state underground storage tank (UST) laws. The company faces a $27,500 penalty for failing to obtain necessary permits and provide timely notification for the installation and operation of two UST systems.
The DOH’s Underground Storage Tank (UST) Section issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) after an April 29, 2024 inspection confirmed the operation of a 10,000-gallon tank and a 10,000-gallon compartmentalized tank. These systems were installed at Kamakani Store in December 2023.
According to the DOH, Hawaii Petroleum, LLC failed to apply for or obtain the required UST permits prior to installation and operation. Furthermore, the company did not complete the necessary notification and permitting until August 2024, well after the December 2023 installation.
The $27,500 penalty stems from three specific UST violations:
- Failure to obtain a UST permit from the department prior to the installation and operation of the tank systems.
- Failure to notify the department at least seven days prior to the installation of the tank systems.
- Failure to notify the department within 30 days after the installation of the tank systems.
Hawaii Petroleum, LLC has 20 days from the date of receipt of the NOVO to submit a written request for a hearing. If no hearing request is submitted within this period, the NOVO will become final and enforceable.
The DOH UST Section is responsible for regulating underground storage tanks that store petroleum or hazardous substances. Their routine operational compliance inspections are designed to ensure that USTs and tank systems are properly maintained, preventing releases of regulated substances into the environment.