Firm Agrees to Pay Fines, Clean Up Contaminated Sites : Settlement: World Oil Marketing will start a $1-million program at 3 gas station sites where leaking tanks damaged soil and ground water.

An oil marketing firm agreed Tuesday to pay $150,000 in fines and begin a $1-million environmental cleanup after leaking underground storage tanks at three Orange County gas stations caused soil and ground water contamination.

World Oil Marketing Co. failed to curb contamination at its independent gas stations at 8972 Adams Ave. in Huntington Beach, 3401 Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach and 7491 La Palma Ave. in Buena Park. The Buena Park site has since been sold to new owners.

“As part of the settlement, World Oil is required to determine the extent of contamination and clean it up,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Michelle M. Lyman said. “World Oil is also required to conduct health-risk assessments in the area and determine any potential health risk.”

Representatives for World Oil Marketing Co. could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

There is no indication that the contamination poses a health risk in the area, said Lyman, who said the cleanup is expected to cost at least $1 million. Prosecutors have been pursuing the cleanup issue with the oil company since late 1992 and reached the settlement Tuesday, she said.

Contamination at the Buena Park site is contained to the gas station property, while the contamination in Huntington Beach has spread to nearby properties, causing soil and ground water contamination.

“That’s not ground water that anyone is drinking, but it is important that we keep our ground water pure,” said Lyman, who said the leaking could have been triggered by a variety of causes.

The extent of contamination at the third site is unknown, she said.