The Office of the State Fire Marshal recently announced that a DeKalb County Circuit Court issued a Default Judgment Order against an Illinois corporation and its president.
The order totals over $1.3 million for violations of the Gasoline Storage Act at a closed DeKalb gas station operated by the corporation. A spokesperson says the address is 1101 N. First Street.
The order says the company failed to remove four abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks, including one that was a 32-year-old condemned tank.
The Court ordered that Sultan Petroleum of Illinois, Inc. must pay $681,000 in civil fines and penalties for the infractions.
The company president and site landowner SaadSindhu must also pay $681,000 in civil fines and penalties.
State Fire Marshal Matt Perez says leaving tanks unattended is risky to the public and to the environment.
His office requested the Attorney General file a lawsuit against the defendants last year. The defendants failed to enter notices of appearance -- leading to the fines.
The abandoned station was last in operation in July 2011.