Woodland, CA – August 7, 2023 – On July 20, 2023, Judge David W. Rosenberg of the Yolo County Superior Court approved a settlement ordering Defendants Aasim Corporation, Aasim Enterprises, Inc., Ashraf Ali, Yasmin Ali, Samir Ali, Shafique Bhimani, and Mohammed Bilal to pay a combined $1.1 million in civil penalties and investigative costs in an environmental protection action. This judgment settles allegations that defendants failed to follow state laws and regulations governing the operation of retail gas stations at their locations in Napa, Alameda, Lake, San Joaquin, and Yolo Counties. In Yolo County, the defendants own and operate a Chevron station at 1601 Research Park Drive in Davis, and another Chevron station at 999 East Grant Avenue in Winters.
Owners and operators of underground storage tanks (USTs) at retail gas stations in California are subject to fair yet stringent environmental rules and requirements, designed to prevent underground petroleum releases to surface and ground waters. Prosecutors alleged that defendants failed to adequately install, monitor, operate, and calibrate important equipment on-site designed to detect leaks at the earliest possible opportunity, and also failed to comply with laws regulating hazardous wastes and hazardous materials at the gas stations.
The settlement includes a permanent statewide injunction, prohibiting defendants from violating UST and hazardous waste laws and regulations, and requires them to retain an experienced, independent environmental consultant to assist with future compliance at all stations covered by the judgment. Defendants are also required to pay $900,000.00 in civil penalties and $200,000.00 in partial investigative and enforcement costs.
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig praised the collaborative effort on this case. “We would like to thank everyone within the Yolo County Environmental Health Division; Napa County Environmental Health Division; City of San Leandro Environmental Services; Hayward Fire Department; Lake County Division of Environmental Health; and the San Joaquin County Environmental Health Department for their investigative efforts and assistance with this case.”
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