Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)

1988 Underground Storage Tanks; Technical Requirements; Final Rule and Underground Storage Tanks Containing Petroleum-Financial Responsibility Requirements and State Program Approval Objective; Final Rule

Rule Summary

In 1988, EPA published technical requirements for underground storage tanks containing petroleum or hazardous substances defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.  The technical requirements include leak detection, leak prevention, and corrective action for all underground storage tanks containing regulated substances.  In 1988, EPA also published financial responsibility requirements for underground storage tank owners and operators to demonstrate financial responsibility for taking corrective action, as well as compensating third parties for bodily injury and property damage from releases of tanks containing petroleum.  This regulation also included requirements for state program approval.

Rule History

EPA proposed these regulations in April 1987, with a supplemental notice published in December 1987.

Additional Resources

The UST technical compendium contains questions and answers that interpret the 1988 UST regulations.

The federal regulations concerning underground storage tanks (USTs) are contained in 40 CFR Part 280, 40 CFR Part 281, and 40 CFR Parts 282.50-282.105. The list of hazardous substances is in 40 CFR Part 302.4.

Federal Register Notices

Docket Number -- The Underground Storage Tank (UST) Docket provides public access to regulatory information supporting the Agency's regulatory actions (1985-1998) on underground storage tanks