Environmental Protection: Improved Inspections and Enforcement Would Ensure Safer Underground Storage Tanks.

摘要

I am pleased to have this opportunity to come before you today to discuss our May 2001 report on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) underground Storage Tank (UST) program. The report relates directly to the topic of today s hearing the proposed Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2001 (S. 1850) that is consistent with many of the suggested program improvements found in our report. The timing of the legislation and hearing is critical. Recent studies have shown that tanks that leak hazardous substances, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), contaminate the soil or water and continue to pose health risks ranging from nausea to kidney or liver damage or even cancer. Indeed, leaks of MTBE a fuel additive for reducing emissions and raising octane have been found in drinking water sources and several communities have now had to close their wells. For example, a school in Roselawn, Indiana, discovered that the children had been using and drinking water with 10 times EPA's recommended safe limit.