Leaking Underground Storage Tank

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Leaking underground storage tank

Leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) that hold toxic substances have come under new regulatory scrutiny in the United States because of the health and environmental hazards posed by the materials that can leak from them. These storage tanks typically hold petroleum products and other toxic chemicals beneath gas stations and other petroleum facilities. An estimated 63,000 of the nation's underground storage tanks have been shown to leak contaminants into the environment or are considered to have the potential to leak at any time. One reason for the instability of underground storage tanks is their construction. Only five percent of underground storage tanks are made of corrosion-protected steel, while 84 percent are made of bare steel, which corrodes easily. Another 11 percent of underground storage tanks are made of fiberglass.

Hazardous materials seeping from some of the nation's six million LUSTs can contaminate aquifers, the water-bearing rock units that supply much of the earth's drinking water. An aquifer , once contaminated, can be ruined as a source of fresh water. In particular, benzene has been found to be a contaminant of groundwater as a result of leaks from underground gasoline storage tanks. Benzene and other volatile organic compounds have been detected in bottled water despite manufacturers' claims of purity.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 30 states reported groundwater contamination from petroleum products leaking from underground storage tanks. States also reported water contamination from radioactive waste leaching from storage containment facilities. Other reported pollution problems include leaking hazardous substances that are corrosive, explosive, readily flammable, or chemically reactive. While water pollution may be the most visible consequence of leaks from underground storage tanks, fires and explosions are dangerous and sometimes real possibilities in some areas.

The EPA is charged with exploring, developing, and disseminating technologies and funding mechanisms for cleanup. The primary job itself, however, is left to state and local governments. Actual cleanup is sometimes funded by the Leaking Underground Storage Tank trust fund established by Congress in 1986. Under the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, owners and operators of underground storage tanks are required to take corrective action to prevent leakage.

[Linda Rehkopf ]

RESOURCES

BOOKS

Epstein, L., and K. Stein. Leaking Underground Storage Tanks—Citizen Action: An Ounce of Prevention. New York: Environmental Information Exchange (Environmental Defense Fund), 1990.