Environmental Protection: Improved Inspections and Enforcement Would Ensure Safer Underground Storage Tanks

Abstract

I am here today to discuss our recent report on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Underground Storage Tank (UST) program. 1 The program is relevant to today's hearing because studies have shown that tanks that leak hazardous substances, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), contaminate the soil or water and can pose health risks ranging from nausea to kidney or liver damage or even cancer. Indeed, leaks of MTBE a fuel additive for reducing emissions and raising octane, but also a suspected carcinogen have been found in drinking water sources and pose a very serious health risk and costly cleanup burden.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA395788

Entities

People

  • John Stephenson

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Corrosion Inhibition
  • District Of Columbia
  • Drinking Water
  • Electronic Mail
  • Environmental Protection
  • Fuel Additives
  • Governments
  • Health
  • Law
  • Local Governments
  • Natural Resources
  • New York
  • Storage Tanks
  • United States
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Groundwater Contamination Remediation.