Stillwater Holdings Chevron plans to resume gas sales soon

WALLA WALLA – More than a year after a gas leak was found in downtown Walla Walla, Stillwater Holdings Chevron owner Ben Kleban said he’s been able to secure private insurance and plans to restart gas sales within two weeks. He adds that new dispensers are currently being installed at the business located at 7 E. Rose St.

Kleban told Elkhorn Media Group that statements made by the Washington State Department of Ecology that Stillwater has not taken steps to comply with that agency’s enforcement order to complete remedial actions are false. He shared a scope of work he sent to Ecology confirming Stillwater has actively worked towards compliance with the enforcement order by contracting with Clean Harbors to do sump wastewater treatment and disposal, plus vapor intrusion mitigation at the Marcus Whitman Hotel between February and June of this year until the pollution liability insurance policy was exhausted.

The scope of work also states Stillwater contracted with Ultra Northwest to remove and/or permanently decommission the entire underground storage tank system handling regular gasoline, the suspected source of contamination. This, according to Kleban, effectively eliminated the risk of any future leaks from occurring from wherever the original source may have been.

Regarding concerns of contaminated soil, Kleban said Ultra Northwest removed all contaminated soil discovered.

While Ecology has identified Stillwater Holdings Chevron as the source of the Sept. 2023 spill, Kleban contests that claim.

Photo via Stillwater Holdings Chevron

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Elkhorn Media Group

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