Kapunakea Partners Cited by Department of Health

By Wendy Osher

Shell. Maui Now file photo.

Kapunakea Partners, the registered owner and operator of West Maui Shell in Lahaina has been assessed an $85,750 fine by the state Department of Health (DOH).

The Underground Storage Tank (UST) Section at the DOH issued a Notice of Violation and Order against the company for alleged violations including:

• Failure to provide adequate spill prevention equipment;
• Failure to maintain release detection records for the tanks and piping; and
• Failure to conduct maintenance and /or testing of operability of all release detection equipment.

The alleged violations were discovered during a routine inspection conducted on May 11, 2010.

Kapunakea Partners has 20 days in which they may contest the Notice of Violation and Order and request a hearing.

DOH officials say the routine maintenance and testing of release prevention and detection equipment is essential to avoiding an accidental, but potentially catastrophic, release of petroleum product, such as gasoline or diesel, into the environment.

The inspections help to determine if proper maintenance is being followed to prevent environmental damage.