Wal-Mart ordered to pay $765,000 for breaking fuel storage laws

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GAINESVILLE - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was ordered to pay $765,000 in fines for violating state petroleum storage tank laws at its automobile service centers in Florida.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday that the world's largest retailer failed to register its aboveground fuel tanks with the state and didn't install devices that prevent overflows, among other problems.

All 75 of the company's Tire & Lube Express service centers in Florida have tanks to store fuel and used oil. But none of them were registered with the state, according to a consent order.
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According to the consent order, Wal-Mart also did not perform monthly monitoring; lacked current technologies to prevent overflows; blocked state inspectors from reviewing maintenance records; and failed to submit proper insurance documentation.
http://www.wfts.com/stories/2004/11/041118walmart.shtml

[jus_the_facts]

1. I called and got 'em BUSTED for throwin' used OIL and oil filters.....

....in their DUMPSTERS....which was leakin' and runnin' off into a WETLAND!!! :grr:

[natrat]

6. omg that alone

should have caused their auto service outlets to be on some kind of probation

[Az_lefty]

7. Good for You !!!!

[napi21]

2. That's pocket change to Walmart!

I heard a quite yesterday from some Walmart exec responding to the question "What do you think about the merger of Kmart & Sears? Does this new competition worry you?" His response was, "Walmart could make deals like that every day. They're still way to small to worry us." Obviously I'm paraphrasing, but that's close to what was said.

All the companies I've every worked for made decisions like that all the time, based upon the cost of compliance v/s cost of a possible fine.

[dArKeR]

3. How come I don't see the word 'morality' used in this thread?

[gratuitous]

4. Gee, now if you or I did that . . .

How long do you suppose we'd be in jail? But a privately-held corporation pays out the equivalent of two hours' profit (or whatever obscene amounts of money Wal-Mart makes) and it goes on its merry way.

[hatrack]

5. And if this happened in Florida, how bad must it have been?

Pretty frickin' bad would be my guess.