Hazardous Materials: Upgrading of Underground Storage Tanks Can Be Improved to Avoid Costly Cleanups
NSIAD-92-117
Published: May 13, 1992. Publicly Released: Jul 10, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense (DOD) program for handling its underground storage tanks, focusing on: (1) the type and number of tanks owned by DOD; and (2) DOD efforts to comply with both federal and state requirements, identify and prevent leaks and spills, and correct environmental damage from leaking tanks.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should develop a comprehensive UST management plan that provides for compiling sufficient and accurate data and provides guidance on allocation of funding and other resources, including technical expertise to support the services' activities and Office of the Secretary of Defense's oversight of compliance with UST regulations. |
Fiscal year 1997 Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) and OSD's 6-year plan call for the monitoring and removal or fixing of USTs.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to comply with the requirement to permanently close or remove inactive UST that have been out of service more than 12 months and determine if they have created any contamination. |
DOD directed that the services comply with the requirement to permanently close USTs, dispose of system components, and address any combination in a manner that complies with regulatory requirements. Regulations require existing tanks be fitted with corrosive protection and spill/overflow prevention equipment by the end of 1998.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to give more attention to the problem of leaking UST by accelerating leak testing and upgrading to the maximum extent practical. |
The services have initiated a program to implement this recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to give more attention to the problem of leaking UST by assigning high priority to those UST posing the greatest risk, particularly, those near underground drinking water supplies. |
The services have initiated programs to implement this recommendation.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the services to give more attention to the problem of leaking UST by acting on high-risk UST that are currently deferred or excluded from EPA regulations. |
The services have initiated programs to implement this recommendation.
|
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Topics
Environmental lawEnvironmental monitoringFuel storageHazardous substancesHealth hazardsMilitary basesPollution controlTanks (containers)Toxic substancesMilitary forces