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Legal Proceedings
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Legal Proceedings  
Legal Proceedings

Note 24. Legal Proceedings

General

Although the Partnership may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business, the Partnership does not believe that it is a party to any litigation that will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition or results of operations. Except as described below and in Note 15 included herein, the Partnership is not aware of any significant legal or governmental proceedings against it or contemplated to be brought against it. The Partnership maintains insurance policies with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles as its general partner believes are reasonable and prudent. However, the Partnership can provide no assurance that this insurance will be adequate to protect it from all material expenses related to potential future claims or that these levels of insurance will be available in the future at economically acceptable prices.

Other

In January 2022, the Partnership was served with a complaint filed in the Middlesex County Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts against the Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Companies LLC (“Global Companies”) and Alliance Energy LLC (“Alliance”), alleging, among other things, that a plaintiff truck driver, while (1) loading gasoline and diesel fuel at terminals owned and operated by the Partnership located in Albany, New York and Revere, Massachusetts and (2) unloading gasoline and diesel fuel at gasoline stations owned and/or operated by the Partnership throughout New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, contracted aplastic anemia as a result of exposure to benzene-containing products and/or vapors therefrom. The Partnership, Global Companies and Alliance have meritorious defenses to the allegations in the complaint and will vigorously contest the actions taken by the plaintiff.

In October 2020, the Partnership was served with a complaint filed against the Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiary, Global Companies alleging, among other things, wrongful death and loss of consortium. The complaint, filed in the Middlesex County Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, alleges, among other things, that a

truck driver (whose estate is a co-plaintiff), while loading gasoline and diesel fuel at terminals owned and operated by the Partnership located in Albany, New York and Burlington, Vermont, was exposed to benzene-containing products and/or vapors therefrom. The Partnership and Global Companies have meritorious defenses to the allegations in the complaint and will vigorously contest the actions taken by the plaintiffs.

By letter dated January 25, 2017, the Partnership received a notice of intent to sue (the “2017 NOI”) from Earthjustice related to alleged violations of the CAA; specifically alleging that the Partnership was operating the Albany Terminal without a valid CAA Title V Permit. On February 9, 2017, the Partnership responded to Earthjustice advising that the 2017 NOI was without factual or legal merit and that the Partnership would move to dismiss any action commenced by Earthjustice. No action was taken by either the EPA or the NYSDEC with regard to the Earthjustice allegations. At this time, there has been no further action taken by Earthjustice. Neither the EPA nor the NYSDEC has followed up on the 2017 NOI. The Albany Terminal is currently operating pursuant to its Title V Permit, which has been extended in accordance with the State Administrative Procedures Act. Additionally, the Partnership has submitted a Title V Permit renewal and a request for modifications to its existing Title V Permit. The Partnership believes that it has meritorious defenses against all allegations.

The Partnership received letters from the EPA dated November 2, 2011 and March 29, 2012, containing requirements and testing orders (collectively, the “Requests for Information”) for information under the CAA. The Requests for Information were part of an EPA investigation to determine whether the Partnership has violated sections of the CAA at certain of its terminal locations in New England with respect to residual oil and asphalt. On June 6, 2014, a NOV was received from the EPA, alleging certain violations of its Air Emissions License issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, based upon the test results at the South Portland, Maine terminal. The Partnership met with and provided additional information to the EPA with respect to the alleged violations. On April 7, 2015, the EPA issued a Supplemental Notice of Violation modifying the allegations of violations of the terminal’s Air Emissions License. The Partnership has entered into a consent decree (the “Consent Decree”) with the EPA and the United States Department of Justice (the “Department of Justice”), which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (the “Court”) on March 25, 2019. The Consent Decree was entered by the Court on December 19, 2019. The Partnership believes that compliance with the Consent Decree and implementation of the requirements of the Consent Decree will have no material impact on its operations.

The Partnership received a Subpoena Duces Tecum dated May 13, 2022 from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (“NY AG”) requesting information regarding charges paid by retailers, distributors, or consumers for oil and gas products in or within the proximity of the State of New York during the disruption of the market triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Partnership has been advised that the NY AG’s office sent similar subpoena requests for information to market participants across the petroleum industry. The Partnership made an initial submission of information to the NY AG’s office and continues to cooperate with the NY AG’s office to satisfy its obligations under the subpoena.

The Partnership received a letter from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut (“CT AG”) dated June 28, 2022 seeking information from the Partnership related to its sales of motor fuel to retailers within the State of Connecticut from February 3, 2022 through June 28, 2022. The Partnership has been advised that the CT AG’s office sent similar requests for information to market participants across the petroleum industry. The Partnership has complied with the CT AG’s request and submitted information responsive thereto.