Addressing Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
in indian Country With
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Money
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Congress appropriated $200 million to EPA
for cleaning up petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs). This money is being used to create
jobs and to oversee the assessment and cleanup of leaks from federally regulated tanks where the responsible
party is unknown, unwilling, unable, or the clean up is an emergency response. EPA is using $6.3 million of the
total to assess and clean up shovel-ready sites in Indian country. EPA anticipates using this money at over 50
sites, benefitting approximately 20 tribes. States and territories received $190.7 million of the total funding in
the form of cooperative agreements to address shovel-ready sites within their jurisdictions. EPA retained $3
million to oversee this new work.
The appropriated ARRA money is in addition to $2.6 million in LUST money already budgeted for 2009. This
gives EPA the opportunity to substantially increase its investment in addressing LUST sites and allows EPA to
use more of its annual Indian country LUST Trust Fund budget for other types of corrective action work, such
as direct grants to tribes and for training.
EPA is using existing national and regional contracts to undertake ARRA cleanup activities in Indian country.
This allows EPA to begin to address sites quickly. It also streamlines the additional reporting required by ARRA
regarding use of these funds. Furthermore, it will produce a positive effect on employment in Indian country,
since EPA's contractors often use local subcontractors.
EPA's Funding For Cleanup Of UST Releases In Indian Country
(in millions)
| Underground storage Tank'
$2.4


$2.8


$2.6

—




$6.3
$2.6
FY06	FY07	FY08	FY09
~ Cleanup	~ Recovery Act
For updates regarding EPA's leaking underground storage tank program
and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:
http://www.epa.gov/oust/eparecovery/index.htm

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