Which federal law oversees the regulation of underground storage tanks for hazardous substances?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the federal law that specifically governs the regulation of underground storage tanks (USTs) containing hazardous substances. This legislation aims to ensure the safe management of waste and protect human health and the environment.

Under the RCRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes regulations for the design, construction, operation, and closure of USTs. This includes requirements for leak detection, reporting spills, and the proper handling of hazardous substances. The focus of RCRA is on minimizing the potential risk of contamination from these storage systems, ensuring that any hazardous materials stored underground do not compromise soil and groundwater quality.

In contrast, while the Clean Water Act addresses the overall quality of water bodies and the regulation of pollutants into them, and the Toxic Substances Control Act manages the introduction of new or existing chemicals, they do not specifically focus on USTs. Similarly, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (often known as CERCLA or Superfund) deals predominantly with the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and does not provide the same level of regulation for USTs as the RCRA does.