December 15, 2006

Donald Steckman, a manager for Ferrellgas, was recently sentenced by Judge Roger Kangas of the 96th District Court in Marquette County to a four-month Delay of Sentence and court-assessed costs and fees after pleading guilty to criminal charges of violating the state's Fire Prevention Code. The charges arose after an investigation by the Department of Environmental Quality determined that Mr. Steckman had allegedly directed an employee of Ferrellgas to fill three LPG tanks that were affixed with "red-tags," despite being informed by DEQ staff that the tanks could not lawfully be filled.

The DEQ uses red-tags to prohibit delivery of fuel to tank systems that are in violation of the law and when efforts by DEQ staff to achieve voluntary compliance have failed. Red-tags were affixed to the LPG tank systems because Ferrellgas had operated and maintained the tanks in violation of the law in a manner that posed a potential fire or explosion hazard.

"Owners and operators must be aware that the DEQ will take action against those who would ignore the placement of the red tags," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "The DEQ's use of ‘red-tags' is designed to ensure violations are corrected while avoiding the risk of fire or damage to the environment."

 In Fiscal Year 2006 the DEQ "red-tagged" 51 tanks that were being operated and maintained in violation of the law.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"