Underground Storage Tank Regulation Revisions

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EPA’s proposal to revise the federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations is available on EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/oust/fedlaws/proposedregs.html. There you will find:

§ a document that contains proposed changes to the UST regulations;
§ a summary comparison of the 1988 UST regulations and key changes
to the proposed regulations;
§ a red line strikeout version showing the proposed changes imbedded
into the existing regulations;
§ a link to the Federal Register version notice (when available);
and
§ additional resources to help you assimilate the proposed changes.

You may submit your comments to EPA within 90 days of the proposal’s publication in the Federal Register. The Federal Register notice will provide specifics about providing comments.

EPA’s proposed revisions to the UST regulations will help ensure all USTs in the United States, including those in Indian country, meet the same minimum standards. These revisions will help improve prevention and detection of UST releases, which are one of the leading sources of groundwater contamination. EPA’s proposal will strengthen the UST regulations by increasing emphasis on properly operating and maintaining UST equipment. This is the first time EPA is proposing significant revisions to the federal UST regulations since they were first promulgated in 1988.

In developing these proposed revisions, EPA reached out to a wide variety of interested and affected UST stakeholders. As a result, numerous individuals and groups provided valuable input which significantly helped shape and improve our proposal. I extend sincere thanks to all who shared with us ideas and opinions.

Via this email, I am notifying interested and affected UST partners (such as EPA regions; state, territorial, and tribal UST programs; industry associations; environmental groups; other federal
agencies) about our proposed changes. If you are aware of others who are interested in UST issues, I would greatly appreciate if you would let them know about this action.

Please contact me or Liz McDermott (mcdermott.elizabeth@epa.gov or
703-603-7175) of my staff with questions or for more information.


Carolyn Hoskinson, Director
EPA’s Office of Underground Storage Tanks