Peter Schorsch
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has identified potentially widespread fuel contamination at Port Tampa Bay, which the department says was caused by human error.
Any fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday at stations supplied by Citgo from Port Tampa Bay is likely contaminated with diesel fuel.
UPDATE: The Florida Department of Agriculture has released a list of gas stations affected and whether they have remedied the situation. The following are the department’s findings:
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
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)
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
State law requires Citgo to provide the list of impacted gas stations and, as a result, may update this list. If changes are made, the Department of Agriculture will also update its list.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson posted to X, formerly Twitter, that the department would “keep (consumers) informed as we learn more.”
The department is cautioning consumers who may have purchased contaminated gas. It could cause engine damage or affect a motor vehicle’s operability. Impacted stations have been asked to stop selling contaminated fuel until it is replaced and the tank holding it cleaned.
Drivers who think their car may be impacted can initiate a claim through the CITGO Good Gas Guarantee program https://www.citgo.com/contact-
The Department of Agriculture has opened a consumer hotline to accept complaints from impacted consumers. Those wishing to lodge a complaint can call 1-800-HELP-FLA or file a report online at www.fdacs.gov.
The Department of Agriculture is coordinating with the Division of Emergency Management, including on coordinating with petroleum retailers, ports and all additional stakeholders to limit disruption to fuel supply as the state anticipates landfall early this week from Tropical Storm Idalia, expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it arrives on the Gulf coast.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has already waived size, weight and hour restrictions to ensure resources are able to be delivered within the state quickly and efficiently.
