Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) (pictured) has introduced legislation designed to reduce leaks from underground storage tanks (USTs). The "Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act" (S. 1850) seeks to reduce groundwater contamination from leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) and also provides clean-up funds for a contaminated site in Sen. Chafee's home state of Rhode Island.

The bill builds on enforcement inconsistencies in the federal UST program, many of which were highlighted in a recent General Accounting Office (GAO) report. The bill would allow federal LUST Trust Fund monies to be used by states for a wider range of activities than are currently authorized, such as enforcement. It also would require that all tanks be inspected at least once every two years, with the Environmental Protection Agency providing incentives to state tank programs to accomplish this goal.

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