NEW YORK — The EPA ordered the owners and operators of four gasoline stations located in Buffalo, N.Y., to pay a total of $287,100 in penalties, according to a press release.

In August 2012 owners and operators of gas stations in Buffalo, Amherst and Tonawanda, were issued a complaint alleging violations of several federal regulations that protect water from petroleum contamination, stated the release.

“Gas station owners will be held accountable if they fail to follow environmental rules that protect our water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “When [groundwater] is not protected from improperly maintained petroleum storage tanks, people and the environment are put at risk. All gas station owners must regularly monitor their underground storage tanks to prevent petroleum leaks.”

You can find the release here.