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Underground Storage Tank (UST) Prevention, Detection, and Compliance Program

Program Information

Popular name

UST Prevention, Detection and Compliance Program

Program Number

66.804

Sub-agency

N/A

Program objective

To assist states, territories, tribes, or intertribal consortia (leaking underground storage tank prevention only for tribes or intertribal consortia) that meet the requirements at 40 CFR 35.504 to develop and implement underground storage tank (UST) programs and for leak prevention, compliance, and other activities authorized by the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, Public Law 105-276, and EPA's annual appropriations acts. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2024: Assistance agreements to states under Section 2007 of the Solid Waste and Disposal Act will support core program UST activities, implement their leak prevention and detection programs, as well as the 2005 Energy Policy Act (EPAct) leak prevention activities. High priority tasks include providing financial assistance to states for the following: 1) approving specific technologies to detect leaks from tank systems; 2) ensuring that tank owners and operators are complying with notification and other requirements; 3) ensuring equipment compatibility; 4) conducting UST inspections; 5) implementing operator training; 6) prohibiting delivery for non-complying facilities; 7) seeking state program approval to operate the UST program in lieu of the federal program; and 8) requiring secondary containment. Leaking underground storage tank (LUST) prevention assistance agreements to states, tribes, or intertribal consortia for activities authorized by EPAct will support states with inspections and other release prevention and compliance assurance activities for federally regulated UST systems, as well as for enforcement activities related to release prevention. For tribes, the LUST prevention assistance agreements will assist with all aspects of the tribal programs, e.g., inspection capacity. High priority tasks include providing financial assistance to tribes for: 1) inspecting UST facilities to complete the three-year inspection requirement; 2) developing inspection capacity for tribes; 3) enforcement activities related to release prevention; 4) development of leak prevention regulations and other program infrastructure; 5) helping tribes develop the capacity to administer UST programs, such as providing funding to support training for tribal staff and educating owners and operators in Indian country about UST requirements. These activities are geared toward bringing all UST systems into compliance with release detection and release prevention requirements and minimizing future releases. Priority will be given to providing funds to enable the states to meet their responsibilities under Title XV, Subtitle B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. States that have entered into assistance agreements with EPA must have the authority to inspect and take other compliance and related enforcement actions to prevent releases from USTs.

Program expenditures, by FY (2023 - 2025)

This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.

For more information on each of these data sources, please see the About the data page.

Additional program information

  1. 2016

    In FY 2016, 19 states submitted applications and were awarded STAG assistance agreements. For the LUST Prevention assistance agreements, 54 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) and four (4) territories and tribes and/or tribal consortia submitted applications and were awarded LUST Prevention assistance agreements.

    There are no program accomplishments to report for FY 2016 at this time In FY 2016, 19 states submitted applications and were awarded STAG assistance agreements. For the LUST Prevention assistance agreements, 54 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) and four (4) territories and tribes and/or tribal consortia submitted applications and were awarded LUST Prevention assistance agreements. Program accomplishments for FY 2016 resulted in achieving a significant operation compliance rate of 72.5 percent and decreasing the number of newly-confirmed releases to 5,582.

  2. 2017

    In FY 2017, 15 states are expected to submit applications and be awarded STAG assistance agreements. For the LUST Prevention assistance agreements, 52 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) and four (4) territories and tribes and/or tribal consortia are expected to submit applications and be awarded LUST Prevention assistance agreements.

  3. 2018

    In FY 2018, 15 states are expected to submit applications and be awarded STAG assistance agreements. For the LUST Prevention assistance agreements, 52 states (including DC and Puerto Rico) and four (4) territories and tribes and/or tribal consortia are expected to submit applications and be awarded LUST Prevention assistance agreements.

  4. 2019

    From 2008 to 2019, states, EPA, and credential tribal inspectors conducted over 1.1 million inspections at federally regulated UST facilities. In FY 2019 alone, 87,371 on site inspections were conducted. These inspections provide owners and operators with information and support to bring their UST systems into and keep them in compliance. For additional information on accomplishments under this assistance listing, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/ust/20-years-progress-closing-lust-sites

  5. 2024

    In FY 2024, 15 states are expected to submit applications and be awarded STAG assistance agreements. For LUST prevention assistance agreements, 51 states (including DC) and 4 territories (including Puerto Rico), tribes, or intertribal consortia are expected to submit applications and be awarded LUST prevention assistance agreements. For more information on accomplishments for this program, please visit the following website: https://www.epa.gov/ust/ust-performance-measures.

Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):

For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.

OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.

2 CFR 200 and 1500 (EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards); 40 CFR Part 33 (Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in United States Environmental Protection Agency Programs); 40 CFR Part 35 SubPart A (Environmental Program Grants) or SubPart B (Environmental Program Grants for Tribes). Contact Regional UST Program Manager for additional guidance documents.

  1. 2007(f)(2), Solid Waste Disposal Act.
  2. Solid Waste Disposal Act, 9011. 42 U.S.C. § 6991.
  3. 9013 & EPA's Annual Appropriations Act, Solid Waste Disposal Act.

Program details

Categories & sub-categories

Environmental Quality

Program types

Eligible beneficiaries

  • Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments
  • State
  • U.S. Territories

Additional resources