Commissioner Simpson releases fuel contamination results, some stations await clearance
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson released investigation results following a fuel contamination issue with the Port of Tampa.
On Aug. 27, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced it identified potential widespread fuel contamination due to human error at the Port of Tampa caused by Citgo.
The investigation clears multiple gas stations while several still pend lab confirmation.
“I am grateful to the hard-working men and women at FDACS who responded to this incident swiftly and thoroughly,” Simpson said Tuesday.
The department said gas stations in the Tampa Bay area and Southwest Florida may have been contaminated with diesel fuel, which can cause damage to certain vehicles.
The findings occurred as Florida braces for Hurricane Idalia. Simpson believes the department’s efforts prevented “what could have been a worse situation.”
“It is never good to have such a catastrophic error for consumers, but particularly during a time when Floridians are evacuating from a potentially dangerous storm,” Simpson said.
“I firmly believe our department was able to mitigate what could have been a worse situation. We stand ready to assist those whose vehicles and equipment were impacted by contaminated fuel,” he said.
17 stations remain under a stop sale order pending laboratory confirmation:
- 7-Eleven: 4325 Lee Boulevard, Lehigh Acres
- 7-Eleven: 12750 South Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers
- 7-Eleven: 290 Lakeland Park Road, Lakeland
- 7-Eleven: 940 S Broad St., Brooksville
- 7-Eleven: 1626 Meadow Road, Lehigh Acres
- 7-Eleven: 2401 James Redman Parkway, Plant City
- BJ’s Wholesale: 1929 Pine Island Road N.E., Cape Coral
- BJ’s Wholesale: 9372 Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort
- Myers BJ’s Wholesale: 13585 NE 86th Path, Lady Lakes
- Handy Foods Store #86: 21321 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva
- Superday CITGO: 1595 South McCall Road, Port Charlotte
- Bolton One LLC: 15434 US Highway 19, Hudson
- JHW #310 – DBA Avenue CITGO: 11867 N. Williams St., Dunellon AL
- Prime – Daytona Beach: 1898 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach
- Choice Food & Gas: 310 N Central Ave., Umatilla
- Perfection Station 5: 9931 N Florida Ave., Tampa
- Rogers Petroleum: 134 N Desoto Ave., Arcadia
Eight stations have been inspected, remediated, and cleared by FDACS for fuel sales:
- 7-Eleven: 720 Chiquita Boulevard, North Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven: 2604 Skyline Boulevard, Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven: 601 Pine Island Rd. S.W., Cape Coral
- 7-Eleven: 6050 Dean Dairy Road, Zephyrhills
- 7-Eleven: 714 Burnt Store Road, Cape Coral
- Handy Foods Store #87: 3205 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres Faulkenburg CITGO: 5320 Faulkenburg Road, Tampa
- PJI LLC: 7977 W Dunnellon Road, Dunnellon (Regular and premium fuel was not contaminated, only diesel fuel)
Six stations did not receive the contaminated fuel shipment:
- Dan’s Car Wash: 39522 US Highway 19 N., Tarpon Springs
- 7-Eleven: 3437 US Highway 19, Holiday
- 7-Eleven: 13411 Fish Hawk Boulevard, Lithia
- Quick & Easy Stop: 4529 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota
- Palmers Easy Stop: 903 Cattleman Rd., Sarasota
- 2K Express 5: 6202 N 40th St., Tampa
