Strong concerns over possible UST leaks urged the government to institute stringent regulations that all USTs must comply with. Improper installation, the use of corrosion-prone steel materials and basic tank lining, and the lack of proper operating procedures, were some of the reasons for these concerns, with people worried over the danger to public safety should UST leaks seep through the soil, contaminate sources of ground water, or cause destructive explosion.
Together with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the government setup several regulations governing USTs that is covered in Subchapter IX, Chapter 82, Title 42 of the U.S. Code. Subchapter IX — “Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks”. It covers guidelines on UST release detection, prevention, and correction. There are also subsections for inspections, monitoring, testing, and corrective actions, where one of the guidelines cover the proper tank lining application to use for USTs. One subsection refers to the federal authority and enforcement facilities covering UST legislation. The law also supports Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, which identifies the EPA as the regulating body for USTs.
The Energy Policy Act is another law covering USTs, focusing on hazardous substance release prevention, and tackles legitimate uses of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund for inspections, operator training, delivery prohibition, secondary containment, financial responsibility, and cleanup of releases.
For the comprehensive list of Federal Regulations concerning USTs, namely 40 CFR Part 280, 40 CFR Part 281, and 40 CFR Parts 282.50-282.105, including the listing of hazardous substances in 40 CFR Part 302.4., the EPA website is a good source of these materials.
