BP Gas Recall Reaches Milwaukee

WHITING, Ind. -- BP's recall of contaminated gasoline has spread further to Milwaukee and it may not be the end of the oil company's problems as the Indiana attorney general said he is seeking more information on the problem.

BP made headlines yesterday when it began recalling 50,000 barrels of off-specification gasoline -- the equivalent of 2.1 million gallons -- shipped to Northwest Indiana distributors last week. The batch of regular grade gasoline was blended at BP's Whiting, Ind., gasoline storage terminal between Aug. 13 and 17. It contained a higher than normal level of polymeric residue and this residue can cause "hard starting" and other drivability issues, as CSNews Online previously reported.

BP has since updated the information revealing the fuel was also sourced from the company's Milwaukee gasoline storage terminal. All total, according to BP's latest release, the company believes approximately 200 retail outlets in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area were supplied with off-specification regular-grade gasoline over the last seven days, along with 20 additional retail sites in the Milwaukee area that received off-specification premium gasoline. The recall originally affected locations in northwest Indiana and stations just across the state's borders in Illinois and Michigan.

And now Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has launched an investigation into the problem to make sure Indiana residents' rights are protected, Fox59.com reported.

 The recall originally affected locations in northwest Indiana and stations just across the state's borders in Illinois and Michigan, but has now spread to include Milwaukee as well, according to media reports. And now Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has launched an investigation into the problem to make sure Indiana residents' rights are protected, Fox59.com reported.

"Our office opened an investigation regarding the BP gasoline recall in order to protect the significant number of consumers impacted," Zoeller said. "We are closely monitoring the response by BP and will be reviewing their claims and reimbursement processes. As the watchdog for Indiana consumers, my office has a duty to ensure consumer's rights are protected and that there is no undue delay in appropriate reimbursements."

Zoeller said consumers who purchased fuel in northwest Indiana at BP and other retail outlets during the past week could be affected.

The company has set up a dedicated website to handle inquiries from consumers who may have been affected by the fuel quality issue this week. Consumers can visit www.bpresponse.com to ask questions or get further information on how to file a claim. Affected customers can also contact the customer hotline at (800) 333-3991.

BP said it is going through its shipping records and contacting northwest Indiana customers who may have loaded tanker trucks at the storage terminal during this period and is replacing the contaminated fuel with fresh product.

 

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