Environmental Toxins: Gas Station Linked to MTBE Leak

A West Hempstead, New York gas station is being blamed by state regulators for having contaminated the West Hempstead public water supply last summer with the fuel additive MTBE. OK Petroleum operates the station and the company has long suffered environmental complaints: the president has been convicted of evading federal gasoline taxes and was also convicted of violating New York State's environmental conservation law.

Troubled gas station linked to MTBE leak

The gasoline drip from OK Petroleum's gas station led to the largest MTBE-related public health alert on Long Island to date. The Department of Environmental Conservation seeks reimbursement of cleanup from OK Petroleum, as well as interest and penalties. John Musacchia, OK Petroleum's president denies his company is responsible for the spill and says that "the DEC is a pain in the ass. It's not my spill."