State regulators are considering enforcement actions against Sinclair after diesel fuel was distributed instead of regular unleaded gas at several Colorado gas pumps, officials said Monday.
Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety has received more than 400 complaints from consumers who, thinking they were purchasing unleaded gasoline, filled their tanks with diesel fuel at Costco, King Soopers and Murphy Express pumps across the Denver metro area.
As inspectors continue to test fuel at gas stations, the division is looking into the cause of the mix-up. The state has demanded that Sinclair provide a list of retail locations that received the contaminated fuel from between 2 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday. Sinclair has not yet provided such a list, Cher Haavind, deputy executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said in a statement.
A representative of Sinclair did not return a message from The Colorado Sun on Monday asking for a list of affected gas stations and answers to what led to the contamination.
Corinn Smith, a Sinclair spokesperson, said last week the oil company is “conducting a thorough review and taking appropriate action.”
The state’s Division of Oil and Public Safety said it is considering “appropriate enforcement mechanisms.”
“OPS remains committed to protecting consumers and is exploring all options to ensure Sinclair also upholds its commitment to help affected customers,” Haavind said.
The state is encouraging consumers who have been impacted to contact the point of sale to start a reimbursement process. Individual gas stations will work with each customer through their claims process.
Customers should keep all receipts and repair records, the state said. Complaints can be filed with the state online or by calling 303-866-4967.