Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
Approximately 569,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) nationwide store petroleum or hazardous substances. The greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. EPA, states, and tribes work in partnership with industry to protect the environment and human health from potential releases.
Underground storage tanks are in every community in the United States. Learn more about preventing and cleaning up releases from underground storage tanks.
Understanding the UST regulations can help prevent leaking UST systems. This section provides UST owners and operators, UST inspectors, states, and territories resources to meet their requirements.
EPA, states, and tribes work in partnership with industry to protect the environment and human health from UST releases.
Regulations require that leaking USTs be cleaned up to restore and protect groundwater sources. This section includes information and resources to help UST owners and operators meet those requirements.
EPA provides technical and financial support to tribal governments to prevent and clean up releases from USTs in Indian country.
EPA requires that USTs are compatible with the substances stored in them. Learn more about storing alternative fuels in underground storage tanks.
