&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
5403W
EPA510-F-94-008
August 1994
UST Program Facts
Overview Of The UST
Program
What's an "UST"?
An underground storage tank system (UST) is a
tank and any underground piping connected to the
tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined
volume underground. The federal UST regulations
apply only to underground tanks and piping storing
either petroleum or certain hazardous substances.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
estimates that there are about 1.2 million federally
regulated USTs buried at over 500,000 sites
nationwide. Nearly all USTs at these sites contain
petroleum. These sites include marketers who sell
gasoline to the public (such as service stations and
convenience stores) and nonmarketers who use
tanks solely for their own needs (such as fleet
service operators and local governments). Only
about 30,000 tanks hold hazardous substances
covered by the UST regulations.
Why be concerned about USlfc?
Until the mid-1980s, most USTs were made of
bare steel, which is likely to corrode over time and
allow UST contents to leak into the environment.
Faulty installation or inadequate operating and
maintenance procedures also can cause USTs to
release their contents into the environment.
The greatest potential hazard from a leaking UST is
that die petroleum or other hazardous substance can
seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, the
source of drinking water for nearly half of all
Americans. A leaking UST can present other
health and environmental risks, including the
potential for fire and explosion.
How have Congress and EPA responded to
concerns about USTfe?
In 1984, Congress responded to the increasing
threat to groundwater posed by leaking USTs by
adding Subtitle I to the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA). Subtitle I required EPA to
develop a comprehensive regulatory program for
USTs storing petroleum or certain hazardous
substances.
Congress directed EPA to publish regulations that
would require owners and operators of new tanks
and tanks already in the ground to prevent, detect,
and clean up releases. At the same time, Congress
banned the installation of unprotected steel tanks
and piping beginning in 1985.
In 1986, Congress amended Subtitle I of RCRA
and created the Leaking Underground Storage
Tank Trust Fund, which is to be used for two
purposes:
• To oversee cleanups by responsible parties.
• To pay for cleanups at sites where the owner
or operator is unknown, unwilling, or unable to
respond, or which require emergency action.
The 1986 amendments also established financial
responsibility requirements. Congress directed EPA
to publish regulations that would require UST
owners and operators to demonstrate they are
financially capable of cleaning up releases and
compensating third parties for resulting damages.
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Do all tanks have to meet EPA
regulations?
The following USTs are excluded from regulation
and, therefore, do not need to meet federal
requirements for USTs:
• Farm and residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or
less capacity holding motor fuel used for
noncommercial purposes;
• Tanks storing heating oil used on the premises
where it is stored;
• Tanks on or above the floor of underground
areas, such as basements or tunnels;
• Septic tanks and systems for collecting storm
water and wastewater;
• Flow-through process tanks;
• Tanks of 110 gallons or less capacity; and
• Emergency spill and overfill tanks.
What are the federal requirements for
USTs?
In 1988, EPA issued regulations setting minimum
standards for new tanks and requiring owners of
existing tanks to upgrade, replace, or close them.
The UST regulations are divided into three
sections: technical requirements, financial
responsibility requirements, and state program
approval objectives.
technical requirements
EPA's technical regulations for USTs are
designed to reduce the chance of releases from
USTs, detect leaks and spills when they do
occur, and secure a prompt cleanup. To meet the
requirements, owners must upgrade, replace, or
close existing UST systems by 1998. Tanks
remaining in operation must have leak detection
and leak prevention components. UST owners
and operators are responsible for reporting and
cleaning up any releases. (See the other fact sheets
in this series on "Preventing Releases," "Detecting
Releases," and "Cleaning Up Releases.")
Financial responsibility regulations
The financial responsibility regulations ensure that,
in the event of a leak or spill, an owner or operator
will have the resources to pay for costs associated
with cleaning up releases and compensating third
parties. (Seethe "Financial Responsibility "fact
sheet in this series.)
State program approval objectives
EPA recognizes that, because of the large size and
great diversity of the regulated community, state
and local governments are in the best position to
oversee USTs. Subtitle I of RCRA allows state
UST programs approved by EPA to operate in lieu
of the federal program, and EPA's state program
approval regulations set standards for state
programs to meet. (See the "State UST Programs"
fact sheet in this series.)
States may have more stringent regulations than the
federal requirements. People who are interested in
requirements for USTs should contact their state UST
program for information on state requirements.
"Overview of the UST Program" is one in a series of
fact sheets about underground storage tanks (USTs) and
leaking USTs. The series is designed to help EPA, other
federal officials, and state authorities answer the most
frequently asked questions about USTs with consistent,
accurate information in plain language. Keep the fact
sheets handy as a resource. This fact sheet addresses
federal regulations. You may need to refer to applicable
state or local regulations, as well. For more
information on UST publications, call the
RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 800 424-9346.
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canda Ink on paper that
contains at least 50% post-consumer recycled fiber
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