Marriott pays settlement in fuel tanks lawsuit

-- Alex Coolman

Marriott Hotels will pay $200,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by county

prosecutors who alleged the company improperly operated underground fuel

tanks, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Several Marriott locations were charged with maintaining underground

diesel storage tanks in a way that posed a risk of leaks and prohibited

proper environmental monitoring.

The problematic tanks were at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites Hotel at 500

Anton Blvd.; the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club at 900

Newport Center Drive; the Newport Beach Marriott Suites Hotel at 500

Bayview Circle; and at locations in Anaheim and Los Alamitos.

Marriott did not admit any wrongdoing, according to a statement released

by the district attorney. There is no evidence that any environmental

contamination was caused by the operation of the tanks, the statement

said.

A spokesperson for Marriott could not be reached late Tuesday.