Who Regulates UST Systems?
In 1984, Congress directed the U.S. EPA to develop regulations for underground storage tank (USTs) systems. The Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) was created to carry out this mandate. The federal regulations went into effect in December 1988. These regulations delegate UST regulatory authority to approved state programs. States with approved programs operate in lieu of the federal regulations. Currently 29 states (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) have approved UST programs. You should contact your State or Territorial regulatory agency to learn which regulations apply to your UST system. However, if your tanks are located in Indian Country, you should contact the EPA Regional UST Program office that is the implementing agency for your area.
