The purpose of the December 22, 1998 deadline for upgrading (which means adding spill, overfill, and corrosion protection), replacing, or closing existing substandard UST systems is to prevent another generation of leaking UST systems. During the last decade, over 330,000 releases from substandard tanks have been reported. Many of
these releases have caused serious environmental damage as well as harming human populations. Contaminated water supply wells have been shut down to prevent sicknesses and other adverse health effects. Gasoline vapors have migrated into basements and garages causing explosions and fires which have claimed human lives and resulted in costly property damage.
OUST's program has been extraordinarily successful in minimizing the potential for further harmful impacts, but the job is not yet finished. Only about one-third of the existing UST systems have been upgraded since 1988, which was the start of the 10-year time period for completing UST system upgrade, replacement, or closure. Over 600,000 UST systems still need to be upgraded, replaced, or closed. These systems are substandard and have a high probability of causing severe environmental damage and threatening human health and safety. If actions aren't taken to ensure that all UST systems meet minimum acceptable standards, the next generation of leaking USTs will be worse than the first generation was.
Last Updated: April 15, 1998
epa.gov
Even if these tanks are all replaced in time. Who will enable them to be monitored in a fashion that meets up to EPA standards as inexpensively as possible?
I think you know.
InvestRight
Regards, Jeff |
