Underground Storage Tanks

As of September 2011, over 501,000 releases from federally-regulated leaking underground storage tanks (LUST) had occurred nationwide. States and EPA in Indian country made tremendous progress by cleaning up over 413,000 (82 percent) releases. However, a national backlog of almost 88,000 LUST releases remains, and the annual number of cleanups completed nationally has declined steadily since fiscal year (FY) 2000.

To understand the makeup of the backlog of LUST releases and why the pace of cleanups is slowing, EPA undertook a two-phase, data-driven analysis of the cleanup backlog as of 2006 (Phase 1) and  2009 (Phase 2).  The study compiled and analyzed available data from 14 state LUST programs.  It identified key findings and potential opportunities to help reduce the LUST cleanup backlog.

The National LUST Cleanup Backlog: A Study Of Opportunities contains the following sections:

National Backlog Chapter (PDF) (60 pp, 3.1MB, About PDF)

14 Individual State Backlog Chapters

Appendix A – Data Compilation and Analytic Methodology (PDF) (8 pp, 592K)

Appendix B – Phase 1 report (PDF) (20 pp, 703K)

This document is designed to be printed in landscape and double sided printing. On your computer's print properties, select "print on both sides" and under orientation, select "landscape".

As a result of this study, EPA will work with states, tribes, and other stakeholders to discuss and develop targeted backlog reduction strategies.

Many state UST programs have ongoing backlog reduction strategies. Such efforts include data and file reviews and the use of temporary staff (e.g., interns or contractors) to close more releases. Other cleanup strategies include using multi-site agreements to encourage responsible party activity, utilizing pay for performance and other incentives for contractors to reach closure, and referring low-priority releases to brownfields programs or other programs such as voluntary cleanup programs. EPA wants to highlight these and other backlog reduction efforts, encourage the exchange of best practices, and continue to build on states’ successes.

For more information on EPA’s LUST cleanup backlog reduction study, contact:
Susan Burnell (703)603-9231 Burnell.susan@epa.gov
Queenie Mungin-Davis (703)603-7176 Mungin-davis.queenie@epa.gov
or, State And Territorial UST/LUST Program Contacts

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