EPA PROPOSES RULES ON UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed final regulations to prevent contamination of ground water from the nation's 1. 4 million underground storage tanks. The new rules will implement the legal requirements imposed on underground storage tanks by the 1986 amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The proposed regulations are aimed primarily at underground tanks used in commercial and industrial operations that contain petroleum, including gasoline and crude oil. They also cover tanks containing chemicals listed on EPA's hazardous substance list. An 'underground storage tank' is defined as any tank with at least 10 percent of its volume below ground, including any pipes attached to the tank. Overground tanks with extensive underground piping are also included. Requirements of the new regulations are discussed.