What is a UST?

An underground storage tank (UST) is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank which: * holds petroleum products, and * has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground.

Releases from USTS-due to spills, overfills or leaking tanks and piping-can cause fires or explosions that threaten people's safety. Underground storage tanks also can contaminate groundwater.

Half of of the U.S. population uses groundwater as a drinking water source.

Source: EPA Region 10 Flyer 910-R-03-006. July, 2003.

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On the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, underground storage tanks are used to store, accumulate, and dispense a wide variety of petroleum products for both commercial and agricultural purposes. A concern with underground storage tanks is abandoned tanks and cleanups of spills. Many tanks have been located on private properties and the tanks have not been in operation since the early 1960s.

In 2005-2007 the EWMP received Direct Implementation Tribal Cooperative Agreement funding and removed abandoned underground storage tanks from eight site locations on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.

EWMP Accomplishments::
Certified Tribal UST Inspector
State of Idaho Inspections
Other Tribal Nations Inspections
MOU with EPA Region X