Source: https://www.dec.ny.gov/hearings/104933.html
Timestamp: 2018-03-22 10:19:11
Document Index: 607242628

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 17', '§ 612', '§ 17', '§ 612', '§ 17', '§ 612', '§ 17', '§ 612', '§ 622', '§ 17', '§ 612']

﻿ Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. - Order, January 28, 2016 - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Home » Regulations and Enforcement » Hearings and Decisions » Hearing Decisions from M to N » Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. - Order, January 28, 2016
Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. - Order, January 28, 2016
MIGUEL SOSA ESTATES, L.P.,
DEC Case No. 2-601107NJB2
This administrative enforcement proceeding addresses allegations of staff of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ("Department") that Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. ("respondent") violated ECL 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR 612.2(b) by failing to reregister the petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York, within thirty (30) days of the transfer of ownership of the facility to it. Located at the facility is a 3,000-gallon aboveground petroleum bulk storage tank.
As a consequence of respondent's failure to answer or appear in this matter, the ALJ recommends that Department staff's motion for a default judgment be granted (see Default Summary Report at 5). I concur that staff is entitled to a judgment on default pursuant to 6 NYCRR 622.15. Staff's papers submitted in support of its motion for default judgment provide proof of the facts sufficient to support staff's claim that respondent failed to reregister the petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York, within 30 days after it became owner of the facility, in violation of ECL 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR 612.2(b) (see Matter of Queen City Recycle Center, Inc., Decision and Order of the Commissioner, December 12, 2013, at 3).
Staff's requested penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) is in accordance with general penalty guidelines for violations of greater than five years as is the case here (see e.g. Matter of 12 Martense Associates, LLC, Order of the Commissioner, December 19, 2011, at 2).Here, respondent's application to reregister the facility was due within thirty (30) days of June 27, 2000, when respondent became owner of the facility, and respondent has failed to reregister the facility since that time (see Default Summary Report at 3 [Finding of Fact Nos. 4-5]). Based on this record, the requested penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) is authorized and appropriate.
Staff's request that I order respondent to "permanently cease and desist from any and all future violations of the ECL and the Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto" is unnecessary (Exhibit I [Staff's Proposed Order], § III; see also Motion for Default Judgment,
¶ 2). Respondent is required to comply with the ECL and the applicable regulations, and further language to that effect is not needed.
I. Department staff's motion for a default judgment pursuant to 6 NYCRR 622.15 is granted. By failing to answer or appear in this proceeding, respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. waived its right to be heard at the hearing.
II. Moreover, based upon proof of the facts submitted, respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. is adjudged to have violated ECL 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR 612.2(b) for failing to reregister its petroleum storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York within 30 days of becoming owner of the facility.
III. Within fifteen (15) days of the service of this order upon respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P., respondent shall submit to the Department a complete petroleum bulk storage application for the facility, plus applicable registration fees.
IV. Within fifteen (15) days of the service of this order upon respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P., respondent shall pay a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) by certified check, cashier's check or money order made payable to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
V. The facility petroleum bulk storage application, applicable registration fees, and the penalty payment shall be sent to the following address:
VII. The provisions, terms and conditions of this order shall bind respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P., and its agents, successors and assigns, in any and all capacities.
Staff of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ("Department") served respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. ("respondent") with a notice of hearing and complaint, dated June 9, 2015, alleging a violation of ECL § 17-1009 and its implementing regulation, 6 NYCRR § 612.2(b), for failing to reregister its petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York within 30 days after it became owner of the facility. The complaint seeks an order of the Commissioner: (i) finding respondent in violation of ECL § 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR § 612.2(b); (ii) assessing a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000); (iii) directing respondent to reregister its petroleum bulk storage facility within fifteen (15) days of the service of the Commissioner's order, remit the applicable registration fee, and submit a complete registration application; and (iv) granting such other and further relief as the Commissioner may deem just and appropriate.
Inasmuch as respondent is an active domestic limited partnership in the State of New York, service of the notice of hearing and complaint on respondent was made by personally serving the New York State Department of State on June 9, 2015. See Motion for Default Judgment, Exhibit ("Ex.") C. Department staff also provided additional service by sending the notice of hearing and complaint to respondent by mail on June 9, 2015. See id. Respondent failed to file an answer to the complaint, and failed to appear at a pre-hearing conference scheduled for July 7, 2015, as directed in the cover letter served with the notice of hearing and complaint. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. A, at ¶¶ 4-5.
Section 612.2. Registration of Facilities.[1]
Respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. ("respondent") is the owner of a petroleum bulk storage facility having a capacity of over 1,100 gallons located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, NY ("facility"). In particular, petroleum storage tank number 1 at the facility has a capacity of 3,000 gallons and is located above ground. See Motion for Default Judgment, Exs. D, E, F, and G.
Respondent is an active domestic limited partnership in the State of New York. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. H.
On October 23, 1992, the Department issued Petroleum Bulk Storage ("PBS") Registration Certificate No. 2-601107 to the City of New York Department of H.P.D.,[2] owner of the facility at that time. This registration expired on October 22, 1997. At the bottom of the Certificate, in bold capital letters, is the following: "THIS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS NON-TRANSFERABLE." See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. F.
On June 27, 2000, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development conveyed all right, title and interest in the facility to respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. D.
Yvonne M. Ward is an attorney in the Department's Office of General Counsel, and is familiar with the Department's procedures regarding issuance of petroleum bulk storage facility registration certificates. On May 29, 2015, Ms. Ward searched the Department's petroleum bulk storage registration database, which revealed, among other things, that (i) the combined capacity of the tanks at respondent's facility exceeded 1,100 gallons; and (ii) as of the date of Ms. Ward's database search, the PBS registration for PBS facility No. 2-601107 did not reflect the current owner of the facility, and did not reflect that tanks at the facility had been removed or closed in accordance with applicable regulations. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. A, Affirmation of Yvonne M. Ward, Esq. ("Ward Aff."), at ¶¶ 2-10, 12.[3]
As shown by Receipt for Service No. 201506230043 issued by the New York State Department of State, on June 9, 2015, pursuant to section 121-109 of the Revised Limited Partnership Act, Department staff served respondent with a notice of hearing and complaint dated June 9, 2015, alleging a violation of ECL § 17-1009 and its implementing regulation, 6 NYCRR § 612.2(b), together with a cover letter, statement of readiness and supporting affirmation, for failure to reregister its petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York within 30 days after becoming owner of the facility. Consistent with CPLR 3215(g)(4), Department staff also provided additional service by sending the notice of hearing and complaint to respondent by first class mail on June 9, 2015. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. C.
Respondent failed to file an answer to the complaint, failed to appear at a pre-hearing conference scheduled for July 7, 2015, as directed in the cover letter served with the notice of hearing and complaint, and failed to appear for the adjudicatory hearing scheduled in the matter on August 6, 2015, as directed in the notice of hearing. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. B, Affirmation of Deborah Gorman, Esq. dated January 7, 2016 ("Gorman Aff."), at ¶¶ 4-6.
In this case, Department staff's submissions in support of the motion for a default judgment provide proof of the facts sufficient to support staff's claim that respondent failed to reregister the petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York, within 30 days after it became owner of the facility, in violation of ECL § 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR § 612.2(b).
Department staff seeks a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and staff's submissions on the motion for a default judgment elaborate on the requested penalty, discussing the Department's Civil Penalty Policy, DEE-1, and past precedent relating to similar violations. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. A, Complaint, at Wherefore Clause ¶ II; see also Ex. B, Gorman Aff., at ¶¶ 13-18. I find that staff's request for a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) is consistent with the Department's penalty policy as well as applicable provisions of ECL article 71 and administrative precedent. See e.g. Matter of 12 Martense Associates LLC , Order of the Commissioner, December 19, 2011, at 2.[4]
1. Granting Department staff's motion for default judgment, holding respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. in default pursuant to the provisions of 6 NYCRR § 622.15;
2. Holding that respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. violated ECL § 17-1009 and 6 NYCRR § 612.2(b) by failing to reregister its petroleum bulk storage facility located at 867 East 179th Street, Bronx, New York within 30 days after becoming owner of the facility;
3. Directing respondent Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P. to submit to the Department, within fifteen (15) days of service of the Commissioner's order, a complete registration application for the facility, together with the applicable registration fees;
4. Directing respondent to pay a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) within fifteen (15) days of service of the Commissioner's order; and
Matter of Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P.
DEC File No. R2-601107NJB2
1. Cover letter, dated January 7, 2016, addressed to Chief Administrative Law Judge James T. McClymonds of the Department's Office of Hearings and Mediation Services, noting that respondent was served with copies through the NYS Secretary of State and by first class mail
2. Notice of Motion for Default Judgment dated January 7, 2016
3. Motion for Default Judgment, attaching the following exhibits:
A. Cover letter, Notice of Hearing, Complaint, Statement of Readiness, all dated June 9, 2015, and an undated Affirmation of Yvonne M. Ward, Esq.
B. Affirmation of Deborah Gorman, Esq., dated January 7, 2016
C. Affidavit of Service of Kara Paulsen dated January 4, 2016, attaching Department of State Receipt for Service dated June 9, 2015 reflecting service upon respondent pursuant to section 121-109 of the Revised Limited Partnership Act
D. Printout of search on Automated City Register Information System ("ACRIS"), dated January 5, 2016, attaching deed dated June 27, 2000
E. Petroleum Bulk Storage ("PBS") Application, PBS No. 2-601107, dated September 15, 1992
F. PBS Certificate, PBS No. 2-601107, issued October 23, 1992, expired October 22, 1997
G. Facility Information Report, PBS No. 2-601107, printed January 5, 2016
H. NYS Department of State Entity Information Sheet regarding Miguel Sosa Estates, L.P., reflecting information through January 4, 2016
I. Draft Order
[2] The acronym "H.P.D." on the Certificate stands for "Housing Preservation and Development." That is the entity identified in the deed as having sold the property to respondent. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. D.
[3] Ms. Ward states that the Department issued a PBS certificate for respondent's facility on May 11, 2001. See Ward Aff. ¶ 11. The documents submitted on the motion reflect, however, that the certificate for this facility was issued on October 23, 1992 and expired on October 22, 1997. See Motion for Default Judgment, Exs. F, G. The error may be a misreading of Facility Information Report submitted with the motion, which states that the certificate was printed on May 11, 2001. See Motion for Default Judgment, Ex. G. Immediately below that entry, the same document states that the certificate was issued on October 22, 1992. See id.
[4] In its motion for a default judgment, Department staff has also requested that the Commissioner "direct[] Respondents [sic] to permanently cease and desist from any and all future violations of the ECL and the Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto." Motion for Default Judgment, at Wherefore Clause ¶ IV; see also id. Ex. I, Proposed Order, at Ordering Clause ¶ III. This request is unnecessary. Respondent is already required to comply with the ECL and relevant regulations. I therefore recommend that the Commissioner hold that staff's request in this regard is unnecessary.