Petaluma gas station owner fined $50,000 for violations

The owner of a North Coast gas station chain will pay almost $50,000 in civil penalties for violations of underground storage tank laws at his Petaluma station, the District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

The violations against Arash Salkhi, who owns Santa Rosa Grand Petroleum, were found in a December inspection of his Valero station at 532 E. Washington Blvd., prosecutor Ann Gallagher White said.

Inspectors from the Petaluma Fire Department determined he did not have records showing he was monitoring tank alarms and the tanks were not working properly, White said.

Also, Salkhi failed to test secondary containment systems that would protect groundwater, she said.

The station was red-tagged and closed until necessary repairs could be made. White, who is part of a consumer and environmental law prosecution team, brought civil enforcement proceedings.

Of the total penalty, about $36,000 will go to Petaluma fire for investigative costs and training. The balance will go to the District Attorney’s Office and the county’s general fund, White said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.