Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

Department & Agency:     

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Administering Agency:     

Office of Underground Storage Tanks, OSWER

Agency Contacts:                

Bill Lienesch 703-603-7162 lienesch.william@epa.gov
Amanda Halstead 703-603-7156 halstead.amanda@epa.gov
Judy Barrows 703-603-7142 barrows.judy@epa.gov
Lela Bijou 703-603-7145 bijou.lela@epa.gov

Stimulus Funding:             

$200,000,000 (cost share waived)

Eligibility and Type:         

National Program, Tribes are eligible recipients

Program Description:

The underground storage tanks (USTs) program requires owners and operators of USTs to prevent, detect, and cleanup releases. In 1986, the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund was created to pay for the cleanup of releases from USTs as well as oversight and enforcement activities by EPA and states, with the goal of 1) Preventing leaks by requiring owners to close or upgrade old substandard tanks or install new, improved, and safer tanks that will not easily corrode and leak, and 2)  Detecting leaks quickly by requiring owners to put in place one of several leak detection methods, such as automatic tank gauging, interstitial monitoring, and vapor or groundwater monitoring.

EPA is responsible for directly implementing UST regulations in Indian country. EPA works to ensure that UST facilities in Indian country operate in compliance with regulations in order to prevent future leaks and to clean up existing leaks.

Program information at http://www.epa.gov/OUST/tribes/index.htm

General Provisions:

Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 9003(h)

Analysis:

See EPA’s Report To Congress On Implementing And Enforcing The Underground Storage Tank Program In Indian Country at http://www.epa.gov/OUST/fedlaws/rtc_finalblnkpgs.pdf

Funding Notices:

Specific information on stimulus funding for this program is not yet available. General information on funding for this program available at http://www.epa.gov/tribalportal/grantsandfunding/index.htm

Technical Assistance:

General Technical Assistance available at http://www.epa.gov/OUST/tribes/index.htm