Port St. Lucie special magistrate denies lien reduction in oil-spill case, sets compliance deadlines for dozens of properties

Port St. Lucie Special Magistrate Keith Davis denied a request to reduce a certified lien tied to an oil discharge at 450 Southwest Eyerly Avenue and set compliance dates for numerous code-enforcement cases during a hearing on Jan. 21, 2026.

The city’s Code Compliance witness, Rachel Nags, said crews responded after a June 24, 2025 report and found oil had entered the stormwater swale and culvert, prompting extensive emergency remediation that included removing contaminated soil, liner and portions of driveway in the city right of way. The city previously assessed hard costs of $9,509 and a fine that together produced a lien; city staff asked that the lien not be reduced because the discharge was “irreparable or irreversible” and posed a threat to public health and the stormwater system.

Respondent Jeremy Rich, who testified he had changed oil on a camper and said the spill was accidental, asked the magistrate to reduce the lien because of his financial hardship. "It was an accident... I didn't deliberately put it there," Rich said during testimony, adding he has…