The Underground Storage Tank Program was created by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA of 1986. This law was passed due to the recognition that leaks from underground storage tanks were causing some significant problems. The program is split into two parts: one that addresses underground storage tank (UST) issues including tank technology, installation, inspection, and others; the second addresses leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs)

The EPA Office of Research and Development conducts research related to leaking underground storage tanks at several of its facilities. Topic areas include assessment of contaminated sites, biodegradation of fuel components including oxygenated additives and remedial technologies.

Current research and technical assistance that are either directly funded by or closely related to LUST are:

• Brownfields
• Gasoline Composition
• Gasoline Regulations for the United States
  • New --> Poster from 2007 National Tanks Conference (San Antonio, Texas)
  • A series of maps in one wall chart (reformulated and conventional gasoline, winter oxygenates, summertime vapor pressure limitations, MTBE bans in the U.S. and gasoline refining centers) Mapping Gasoline Requirements, Applicable Regulations and Bans (PDF, Wall Chart, 1 pp., 543 KB, about PDF)
  • Individual Maps:
    • Map of Winter Oxygenate Fuel Program in the U.S. (PDF, Map, 1 pg., 123 KB, about PDF)
    • Map of MTBE Bans in U.S. (PDF, Map, 1 pg., 125 KB, about PDF)
    • Map of Federal Reformulated Gas (RFG) in the U.S. (PDF, Map, 1 pg., 178 KB, about PDF)
    • Map of Summertime Vapor Pressure Limits in the U.S. (PDF, Map, 1 pg., 187 KB, about PDF)
• MTBE and Other Oxygenates
  • Adsorption/Oxydation
  • Fate of MTBE, TBA and Ethanol in Aquifer Material
  • Monitored Natural Attenuation
• On-line calculators for site assessment
• On-line fate, transport and modeling training
• Source Control "Ankeny Moat"
• Vapor Intrusion
  • Evaluation of Direct-Push Soil-Gas Sampling Methods
  • Intrusion of Contaminated Vapors into Buildings and Evaluation of the Johnson-Ettinger Model
  • Sub-slab Gas Monitoring Protocol

Models
ORD has developed models for use at LUST sites, including:

• BIOSCREEN
• BIOPLUME Version II Version III
• The Hydrocarbon Spill Screening Model (HSSM)Windows DOS Spanish Language
• On-Line Calculators, including:
  • Plume Diving
  • Concentration Uncertainty
  • Johnson-Ettinger Vapor Intrusion Model
• Optimal Well Locator (OWL)
• UTCHEM