On 4/14/14 OSC Lippert received a phone call from the City of Southgate Fire Chief regarding the resident at 12753 Kerr Street. The resident had allegedly dumped old gasoline from his boat behind his garage. The gasoline had seeped into the soil and entered the storm sewer system. Gasoline vapors from the storm sewer were entering the basements of residential homes. OSC Lippert issued a Notice of Federal Interest to Mr. Robert Ritter, the owner of the property, but he refused to sign it.
OSC Lippert responded to the scene and discovered a six foot by six foot dead patch of grass behind the resident’s garage, approximately three feet from where the storm sewer crosses the property. OSC Lippert also observed approximately five gasoline cans on the west side of the garage and the owner’s boat on a trailer.
EPA is conducting a cleanup of the gasoline-saturated soils and installing drain plugs in homes with vapor issues. EPA is conducting air monitoring in the affected homes and although readings have been below action levels, the odor of gasoline is present in the homes. The City of Southgate is cleaning and jet-rodding the storm sewer.
