§ 80.612 - Who is liable for violations of this subpart?

§ 80.612 Who is liable for violations of this subpart?

(a) Persons liable for violations of prohibited acts -

(1) Standard, dye, marker, additives, used motor oil, heating oil, fuel introduction, and other product requirement violations.

(i) Any refiner, importer, distributor, reseller, carrier, retailer, wholesale purchaser-consumer who owned, leased, operated, controlled or supervised a facility where a violation of any provision of § 80.610(a) through (e) occurred, or any other person who violates any provision of § 80.610(a) through (e), is deemed liable for the applicable violation, except that distributors who receive diesel fuel or distillate from the point where it is taxed, dyed or marked, and retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers are not deemed liable for any violation of § 80.610(b).

(ii) Any person who causes another person to violate § 80.610(a) through (e) is liable for a violation of § 80.610(f).

(iii) Any refiner, importer, distributor, reseller, carrier, retailer, or wholesale purchaser-consumer who produced, imported, sold, offered for sale, dispensed, supplied, offered to supply, stored, transported, or caused the transportation or storage of, diesel fuel or distillate that violates § 80.610(a), is deemed in violation of § 80.610(f).

(iv) Any person who produced, imported, sold, offered for sale, dispensed, supplied, offered to supply, stored, transported, or caused the transportation or storage of a diesel fuel additive which is used in motor vehicle diesel fuel or NRLM diesel fuel that is found to violate § 80.610(a), is deemed in violation of § 80.610(f).

(2) Cause violating diesel fuel or additive to be in the distribution system. Any refiner, importer, distributor, reseller, carrier, retailer, or wholesale purchaser-consumer or any other person who owned, leased, operated, controlled or supervised a facility from which distillate fuel or additive was released into the distribution system which does not comply with the applicable standards, marking or dye requirements of this Subpart I is deemed in violation of § 80.610(g).

(3) Branded refiner/importer liability. Any refiner or importer whose corporate, trade, or brand name, or whose marketing subsidiary's corporate, trade, or brand name appeared at a facility where a violation of § 80.610(a) or (b) occurred, is deemed in violation of § 80.610(a) or (b), as applicable.

(4) Carrier causation. In order for a distillate fuel or diesel fuel additive carrier to be liable under paragraph (a)(1)(ii), (a)(1)(iii), or (a)(1)(iv) of this section, as applicable, EPA must demonstrate, by reasonably specific showing by direct or circumstantial evidence, that the carrier caused the violation.

(5) Parent corporation. Any parent corporation is liable for any violations of this subpart that are committed by any subsidiary.

(6) Joint venture. Each partner to a joint venture is jointly and severally liable for any violation of this subpart that occurs at the joint venture facility or is committed by the joint venture operation.

(b) Persons liable for failure to comply with other provisions of this subpart. Any person who:

(1) Fails to comply with the requirements of a provision of this subpart not addressed in paragraph (a) of this section is liable for a violation of that provision; or

(2) Causes another person to fail to comply with the requirements of a provision of this subpart not addressed in paragraph (a) of this section, is liable for causing a violation of that provision.

[66 FR 5136, Jan. 18, 2001, as amended at 69 FR 39204, June 29, 2004; 75 FR 22977, Apr. 30, 2010]