7-Eleven agrees to monitor gas fumes

Thursday, July 11, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

A convenience store chain has agreed to closely monitor its gasoline pumps throughout the Las Vegas Valley for any release of fumes, avoiding large potential pollution fines.

7-Eleven has agreed to test, maintain and if necessary repair pumps at its 90 stations throughout the valley, Clark County Air Quality Hearing Board counsel Mary Anne Miller said Wednesday.

The company had faced fines of up to $740,000 for failing to test the air-pollution performance of its Las Vegas gas pumps in 2000. The agreement goes beyond the legal requirements for pollution control, and the fine was knocked down to $20,000.

"In working with 7-Eleven, we think we have come up with a unique situation that is a benefit for everyone in the valley," Miller said.

She added that the fine reduction was justified because the economic gain for the company was only $2,000, and the size of the fines was mainly due to the time span in which the company did not perform the tests.

Company representatives did not speak at the Air Pollution Control Hearing on Wednesday, but in the past they have said they do not believe their pumps actually released gasoline fumes. The fumes are regulated by local, state and federal law.

Miller predicted that the company will identify problems with some pumps and repair them.

"Many of them have been there for years and years and years, so many of them will have problems," she said. "We know there is going to be cleaner air from these facilities."

Hearing officer Richard Nielsen approved the agreement.

"Hopefully other companies will follow suit," he said. "It'll be very interesting to see how things work out over the course of the next year."

Miller said enforcement officers with Clark County Air Quality Management will closely monitor the performance of the company over the next several years.