Underground Storage Tanks

On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Title XV, Subtitle B of this act (titled the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2005) contains amendments to Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the original legislation that created the underground storage tank (UST) program. This law significantly affects federal and state underground storage tank programs, will require major changes to the programs, and is aimed at reducing underground storage tank releases to our environment.

The UST provisions of the Energy Policy Act focus on preventing releases. Among other things, it expands eligible uses of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund, and includes provisions regarding inspections, operator training, delivery prohibition, secondary containment and financial responsibility, and cleanup of releases that contain oxygenated fuel additives.

Some of these provisions required implementation by August 2006; others will require implementation in subsequent years. To implement the law, EPA and states will work closely with tribes, other federal agencies, tank owners and operators, and other stakeholders to bring about the mandated changes affecting underground storage tank facilities.

Full Text Of The Legislation (Public Law 109-058, August 8, 2005) (PDF) (551 pp, 3.1MB, About PDF) (go to Title XV - Ethanol And Motor Fuels, Subtitle B - Underground Storage Tank Compliance, on pages 500-513 of the PDF file for the UST/LUST provisions.)

• Technical corrections to the legislation above (Public Law 109-168, Jan. 10, 2006) (PDF) (1 pg, 30K, About PDF)

Read about EPA's ongoing work to implement key areas of the legislation.

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