Sears Will Clean Tainted Water, Pay Advertising Fine

Sears, Roebuck & Co. has agreed to clean up contaminated ground water and pay $200,000 to the Orange County district attorney’s office to settle a civil suit alleging that the company violated state pollution laws and used “false and misleading” advertising.

In 1988, Sears removed seven leaking underground fuel tanks from its auto repair shop at South Coast Plaza but repeatedly failed to follow county orders that it clean up the contaminated water and soil, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Michelle Lyman. County health officials estimate that the cleanup will cost $750,000 to $1 million.

The leaking tanks have contaminated ground water in the area, but have not affected drinking-water wells in the area.

Since 1983, state law has required owners of underground fuel tanks to monitor them, remove defective containers and clean up contamination. Leaking gasoline tanks are considered a major threat to local water supplies.

The civil complaint filed by the district attorney’s office also alleged that Sears violated consumer protection laws by advertising that some merchandise would be available at sale prices for a limited period of time when the merchandise was actually available at that price after the sale.