Kentucky environmental attorney Sanders says US EPA goes after Magellan Pipeline for 5,000 gallon spill as BP continues to foul Gulf of Mexico and beaches with bizillion gallons of crude oil.

US EPA and Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P., agreed to settle a federal Clean Water Act violations related to a March oil spill at its pipeline terminal in Milford, Iowa, and an unrelated issue involving a May 2009 emergency response drill at its bulk oil storage facility near Wichita, Kansas. Magellan Pipeline Company, of Tulsa, Okla., has certified under terms of the settlement that it has taken steps to address the violations and is now in compliance with the Clean Water Act and its regulations, according to an administrative consent agreement and final order filed in Kansas City, Kan.

On March 14, 2010, Magellan reported a spill of diesel oil from its pipeline terminal near 2451 Highway 71, Milford, Iowa. An estimated 5,000 gallons of oil spilled into a nearby unnamed creek, which is a tributary of the Little Sioux River. On May 7, 2009, EPA Region 7 staff conducted an unannounced inspection of Magellan’s bulk oil storage facility at 1120 S. Meridian, Valley Center, Kan., near Wichita. The purpose of the inspection was to require Magellan to perform a field deployment drill of its Facility Response Plan. During the exercise, Magellan was unable to effectively deploy a containment boom within a one-hour response time, as required by federal regulations.

 The administrative consent agreement is subject to a 30-day public comment period before it becomes final. Magellan will also pay a $46,000 civil penalty.

Hey EPA! What about BP! The clock is continuing to run as EPA sits on its proverbial ass and watches millions of gallons of crude oil foul the ocean, beaches and nature preserves. It is a crying shame what is going on in Washington and London with BP.