underground storage tanks
Campaign for Compliance
When it comes to underground storage tanks, our member states are faced with an arduous task. Each has thousands of USTs and no more than a handful of inspectors. And when they're in the field, inspectors continue to encounter a myriad of problems, such as leak detection systems turned off by workers with no knowledge of the potential consequences. This failure by many to comply with state and federal UST regulations shows up clearly in the low rates for UST compliance in EPA's Region 1 (New England).
In 2002, the inspectors decided to attack the problem with a novel approach--a summit-style meeting with industry representatives. The meeting, between the regulators and regulated of the UST world, was the first of its kind, and took place in January 2003 at EPA New England's Laboratory in North Chelmsford, Mass. NEIWPCC coordinated the session, which included representatives of the six gasoline marketers with the greatest presence in the region, including Sunoco and Exxon-Mobil. At the meeting, participants shared their views of the problem, discussed why current strategies are coming up short, and brainstormed about new, innovative strategies to increase compliance.
The effort to raise compliance rates in our member states has continued through frequent discussions about the issue at meetings of NEIWPCC's UST/LUST workgroup. It is anticipated that another compliance summit of inspectors and industry representatives will be held in the near future, although no formal plans have been made. For more information, contact Kara Sergeant, the coordinator of our UST/LUST workgroup, at 978-323-7929.