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(Updated November 2012)
"An underground storage tank system is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground. [Federal U.S. underground storage tank] regulations apply to only underground tanks and piping storing either petroleum or certain hazardous substances." (Basic Information About the Underground Storage Tank Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nov. 17, 2009).
Why are underground storage tanks regulated by the U.S. government? As with any liquid-containing vessel, USTs have the ability to degrade and wear over time, in turn causing leaks. These leaks can pose substantial public health and safety risks, ranging from contaminating the groundwater that many Americans rely on for drinking water, to potential fire or explosion risk. (Overview of the Federal UST Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2, 2010)
(Sources: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s FY 2011 Annual Report on the Underground Storage Tank Program and UST Program Facts, March 2012).
Facts About USTs
- There are approximately 587,000 active USTs in the United States
- Since 1984, over 1.7 million USTs in the United States have closed
- The United States UST program completed cleanup for 12,250 UST sites in 2011
- Since the advent of the UST program, UST partners have completed 413,000+ cleanups
- Of the states that received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to clean up USTs, 30 completed their work in 2011
(Source: UST Program Facts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 2010 and Overview of the Federal UST Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 2, 2010).
The Basics of Underground Storage Tanks
Sources of Groundwater Contamination, (The Groundwater Foundation).
A Basic Checklist for USTs, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, July 21, 2009).
12 Questions Buyers Should Ask the Home Inspector, (REALTOR® Magazine, n.d.).
Benzene can make you very sick, know the risks and reduce the odds, (Realty Times, May 12, 2005).
Determining market perceptions on contamination of residential property buyers, (The Journal of Real Estate Research, Apr./June 2005). Q
Insuring your underground storage tanks, (Realty Times, Nov. 24, 2004).
Re-lining underground fuel tanks to protect drinking water, (Realty Times, June 10, 2004).
Soil testing a common step in early stages of a project, (Triangle Business Journal, Apr. 28, 2003).
Upkeep for USTs, (National Petroleum News, May 2002). Q
Information for REALTORS®
Identifying Clients' Environmental Loss Exposures, (American Agent & Broker, Feb. 2006). Q
A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Environmental Contamination and Positive Amenities on Residential Real Estate Values, (The Journal of Real Estate Research, Jan.-Mar. 2006). Q
Surveys, market interviews, and environmental stigma, (The Appraisal Journal, Fall 2004). Q
Effect of previous environmental contamination on industrial real estate prices, (The Appraisal Journal, Apr. 2001). Q
Insurance & Liability Issues
NAR State Issues Tracker. See topic “Sellers Required Disclosures” for information on state disclosure requirements (Realtor.org login is required).
List of Known Insurance Providers for Underground Storage Tanks, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 2009).
Florida Regulation Presses Underground Storage Tank Issue: Insurance in Jeopardy, (National Underwriter, P & C, May 18, 2009). Q
Home is Where the Risk Is, (Rough Notes, Dec. 2007). Q
Research Finds Homeowners Plagued by Thousands of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, (RISMedia, Apr. 26, 2007).
Government & Non-Profit Organizations
Federal Government Resources
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $200 million in funding to the EPA for cleaning up underground storage tank leaks. Much of this funding is funneled to state environmental agencies for cleanup oversight and management.
State Government Resources
Many U.S. states have environmental departments or commissions. These departments can be a great source of information on state specific compliance and disclosure requirements. For example, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality published a booklet—Real Estate Professionals and Underground Storage Tanks —in May 2002. The Maryland Department of the Environment also published a document—There's An Underground Storage Tank on the Property—on Jan. 27, 2010. To identify a state-run department in your state, check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's State Environmental Agencies web page.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Underground Storage Tanks
Phone: 703-603-9900
Email OUST
1220 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Mail Code 5401P
Washington, DC 20460
Environmental Council of the States (a non-profit association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders)
Phone: 202.624.3666
Email Environmental Council of the States
444 North Capital Street NW, Ste. 445
Washington, DC 20001
The Groundwater Foundation (a non-profit, non-government affiliated organization)
Phone: 800.858.4844
Email Groundwater Foundation
P.O. Box 22558
Lincoln, NE 68542-2558
Research on Your Own
To search for the most recent articles on this topic, login to NAR's ProQuest account and enter subject terms such as:
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Environmental impact and storage tanks
- Enter into ProQuest text box as SU(environmental impact) AND storage tanks
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Insurance coverage and storage tanks
- Enter into ProQuest text box as SU(insurance coverage) AND storage tanks
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Complete Book of Insurance (Adobe eReader)
How to Insure Your Home (Adobe eReader)
Land Use Law for Sustainable Development (Adobe eReader)
Pollution & Property (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Green Building and Sustainable Development: The Practical Legal Guide
Powerlines, docks, underground storage tanks... ignore at your own risk, (Florida REALTOR®, Apr. 2003, p. 26-31).
Fixtures—oil storage tanks are personal property of tenant rather than fixtures entitling tenant to relocation payments, (National Property Law Digests, Jan. 2000, p. 7-8).
Field Guides & More
These field guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Dealing with Stigmatized Properties
Field Guide to Effects of Hazardous Waste on Property Values
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The inclusion of links on this field guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this field guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.