2:05pm | See, this is why we can’t have nice things. The Los Angeles Times reports today that the city of Long Beach is being ordered to pay $6.2 million in a settlement reached with the State Water Board after the city violated regulations by failing to install leak prevention systems at toxic underground storage facilities.

3:35pm UPDATE | The San Jose Mercury News reports that the city will pay $1.7 million immediately and as much as $2.5 million if future violations occur. It is not immediately clear how the Los Angeles Times came to their $6.2 million figure.

A settlement for violations of this kind is unprecedented.

From the LATimes.com article, here:

The prevention systems are designed to ensure that toxic substances stored in the tanks do not leak and pollute groundwater resources. The city did not deny responsibility for the violations, Sato said.

The matter was brought before the Long Beach City Council during their January 12 meeting, and voted 8-0 (Andrews absent) to increase General Fund appropriations by $1.7 million; the immediate amount that the city is ordered to pay. The City will have to pay $2.5 million if future violations occur.

The article does not mention whether any ill effects were caused by the violations and failures. Calls placed to the Long Beach City Attorney’s office were not immediately returned. More information coming soon.