Suit filed over former Salem station

STAFF REPORT

LISBON — A lawsuit has been filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court as part of a state effort to clean up problems in 26 Ohio counties, Ted Hart, a spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, said recently.

The lawsuits were filed against Premcor Refining Group, which previously operated as Clark Oil & Refining Corp. Premcor owned and operated the now-closed Clark station at 824 W. State St., Salem. The station had existed at least to 1988.

In November 1991, the state fire marshal received a closure report that indicated that petroleum had leaked from underground storage tanks.

The lawsuit claims the company violated deadlines for complying with the state regulations to fix or prepare plans for improvements at the station in Salem for a total of 638 days.

Each violation could bring up to a $10,000 fine.

Steve Andres, Salem’s service director, said he was unaware of the situation until the lawsuit was announced.

A company representative could not be reached Thursday.