Basic Information

EPA works to improve human health and the environment in Indian country by working with tribes to:

• Prevent releases from USTs
• Ensure releases are cleaned up
• Collaborate and strengthen the relationship between EPA and tribes

The UST program in Indian country includes marketers and nonretail facilities that have USTs.  Marketers include retail facilities such as gas stations and convenience stores that sell petroleum products.  Nonretail facilities include those that do not sell petroleum products, but may rely on their own supply of gasoline or diesel for taxis, buses, limousines, trucks, vans, boats, heavy equipment, or a wide range of other vehicles. Of the more than 560 federally recognized tribes about 200 have federally-regulated underground storage tanks on their lands. Of those 200 tribes, over half have 10 or fewer active underground storage tanks. About 20 tribes have 30 or more underground storage tanks.

Training Resources for Managing USTs in Indian Country

A 1930's to 1940's era gas pump on Navajo Nation

Providers of Tribal UST Program Training

EPA supports Tribal UST Program training through the following organizations:

• Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals’ (ITEP) Exit Tribal Waste and Response Program Exit provides training and assistance, covering areas such as brownfields, contaminated sites, hazardous materials, underground storage tanks, and emergency response programs
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Exit provides forums for information exchange and partnerships including in-person and Web-based training Exit to assist tribal and state personnel with UST leak prevention, compliance, and LUST cleanup.

Prevention Training Resources

• EPA National Enforcement Training Institute (NETI) provides online eLearning, webinars, and classroom training opportunities.
• Underground Storage Tanks (UST) Virtual Classroom Exit provides Internet accessible training of introductory level courses to stakeholders interested in learning about USTs. 
• Training for Federal Credential Inspectors: Revised Executive Order 3500.1: Training and Development of Individuals Who Lead Compliance Inspections/Field Investigations, March 28, 2009 (PDF) Exit (24 pp, 976 K, About PDF)
• The 2015 revised underground storage tank regulations added operator training requirements. EPA is developing strategies on how to implement this requirement.

For more information on compliance assistance, go to Resources for Owners and Operators.

Cleanup Training Resources

• The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals’ (ITEP) Exit
• New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Exit
• UST Corrective Action Training

For more information on cleaning up leaking underground storage tanks, go to Cleaning Up UST Releases.

Publications Related to Underground Storage Tanks in Indian Country

Best Management Practices for USTs in Indian Country
Owners and operators of USTs on tribal lands must comply with federal UST regulations. EPA developed a series of compliance assistance brochures that provide best management practices to help UST owners and operators in Indian country comply.

Indian Country National UST Program Updates
EPA develops updates to provide key program accomplishments and highlight plans for strengthening partnerships and improving the UST/LUST program in Indian country.

Report to Congress on the UST Program in Indian Country
On August 8, 2007, EPA issued the Indian country USTs Report to Congress, which discusses the considerable progress EPA and tribes have made by working together to prevent and cleanup releases from USTs in Indian country as well as the challenges remaining and work to be accomplished.

Strategy for an EPA/Tribal Partnership
EPA collaborated with its tribal partners to develop this tribal strategy in 2006. The tribal strategy serves as a foundation of future tank work and collaboration between EPA and tribes.

UST System Compatibility with Petroleum-Biofuel Blends:  A Brief Guide to the 2015 Federal UST Regulations for Owners and Operators of USTs Located on Tribal Lands
This tri-fold brochure provides UST owners and operators on tribal lands with compatibility requirements in the 2015 federal UST regulation when storing gasoline blends containing greater than 10 percent ethanol or diesel blends containing greater than 20 percent biodiesel.

For more publications on underground storage tanks visit: Publications Related to Underground Storage Tanks.