Toxics & Hazardous Materials
(excerpted from U.S. Environemtal Protection Agency Guide on Environmental Issues)

You may not need a pesticide at all.   Sometimes cleaning or removal of objects attracting a "pest"are all that is necessary.   Take special precautions to apply the chemical exactly according to the label instructions.   Wear protective clothing indicated on the label over hands and face and keep all containers isolated from children or pets.   Close off rooms to children and pets when a pesticide has been applied, and never use a pesticide close to your face.

Outdoors, be aware that pesticides also can kill many beneficial insects as well as birds and squirrels.  Some chemicals are unusually persistent, meaning residues are left in the environmentfor long periods of time, even years. Watch for "Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Days" in your community to bring any
unused amounts or empty containers for proper disposal.  Because of their inherent nature, all pesticides, including home, lawn, and garden pesticides, are potentially toxic and should be used with
the utmost care.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON PESTICIDES

Q.            Are there any alternatives to using pesticides?

A.          Yes. Scientists have begun to manage, rather than try to eradicate, certain species using Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  IPM uses a combination of  biological, cultural, and genetic control methods,
with use of pesticides as the last resort.    Understanding a species' life cycle is essential to reduce the use of pesticides.   Population explosions can be prevented and reptiles, birds, bats, and predator insects used as natural pest controls.  A  sustainable farm ecosystem provides habitat for amultitude of beneficial organisms which maintain the pest-predator balance.

Q.            What natural controls can I use in my garden?

A.            Many garden shops and nurseries have resident experts on this topic, as do county extension services.   Some common methods include planting marigolds to repel asparagus beetles. Beer or vinegar in a                   shallow pan readily attracts and traps slugs and snails.   Gypsy moths on oak and ornamental trees can                be controlled by a common bacterial spray applied at the hatching and early larval stages (a form of                   IPM). In addition, several soaps are on the market that are pest-specific and biodegradable.

Q.            What does organically grown mean?

A.           Growing organically is an alternative approach that views the farm as an agro-ecosystem.  The key         principle is biodiversity, first accomplished by building a  balanced, fertile soil rich in microorganisms.               This concept of "feeding the soil, not the plant" imparts resistance and vigor to the crops grown. A                  diversity   of crops are grown in a long period of rotation, particularly grasses and legumes for animal                 forage and green manures. Such rotations break pest life cycles, improve soil fertility, and reduce soil                 erosion.    In addition, the natural resources on the farm such as forests, wetlands, and meadows are                  viewed as critical resources for climate and water management and provide habitat for indigenous                  species.

Certified organic crops can be harvested after three continuous years since the last application of a                  prohibited   pesticide or fertilizer. But organically grown does not  mean "no spray." Farmers can use                 naturally derived pesticides that break down quickly in the environment; some wash off with rain.    Other           synthetically derived materials that can be used include toxins from bacteria, soaps, fish emulsions,                  vitamins, minerals, and certain medicines for livestock. In practice, livestock must be fed organically
grown grains and forages, and can receive no hormones,antibiotics, or medications that increase growth             or   production.

Q.            What pesticides are banned in the U.S.?

A.         The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned different pesticides, including aldrin, DDT, dinoseb, and vinyl chloride.  Others restricted in use -- that is, they must be applied by or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.  Banned or restricted chemicals are acutely toxic to farmworkers and applicators, as well as various mammals, birds, and aquatic animals, and have environmental effects long after suspended use.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Today's complex sophisticated technologies produce consumer goods ranging from cars to cleaning fluids and  generate hazardous wastes of one sort or another in the process.   Hazardous wastes include chemicals that are corrosive, flammable, reactive, or toxic. Hazardous wastes may be by-products of manufacturing processes or discarded consumer products, such as household cleaning fluids, paints, and batteries.  Once generated, hazardous wastes require proper storage, treatment,and disposal. 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON HAZARDOUS WASTE

Q.       What should I do if I suspect hazardous waste dumping?

A.       Contact the National Response Center   if  you detect signs of illegal dumping such as:

              o   Drums in the woods, on roadsides or abandoned  property, in empty buildings or city or county
                    landfills

              o   Odors that smell like turpentine, paint, fingernail polish, glue, rotten eggs, or any
                    unfamiliar chemical odor

              o   Discolored soil with dead vegetation along roadsides, in abandoned lots or fields, around
                    vacant buildings, or beside streams and rivers

              o    Abandoned warehouses or factories with leaking drums or waste-like material

              o     Sludge-like appearance or ooze on the ground.

Q.       Can hazardous wastes be incinerated safely?   Does incineration  make hazardous wastes non-hazardous?

A.      A hazardous waste incinerator that is properly designed and  operated to meet performance standards set   by EPA can safely and effectively reduce or destroy a wide variety of  hazardous wastes.   Depending othe              composition of the hazardous wastes, some wastes can be rendered non-hazardous.  The residues left after          incineration, such as ash and materials from air pollution control equipment,  must be properly managed             and disposed of in accordance with  EPA requirements.

Federal legislation mandates each state to provide a 20-year plan to assure that the state had the capacity to dispose of hazardous and solid wastes generated within its borders.   Most hazardous wastes cannot be landfilled and some must be incinerated because they have no other disposal method.   In addition, many states simply have no available landfill space, and so municipal  solid waste, including household garbage, must be incinerated. New facilities are waste-to-energy   plants which convert the heat from combustion into electricity for the community -- an added bonus to eliminating tons of trash.                       

Q.       How are citizens assured that permitted hazardous waste facilities are complying with the law?

A.       Hazardous waste inspectors have the right to enter a facility at any reasonable time for an inspection,        which  may be unannounced.   Facilities are inspected for compliance with laws and regulations, as well as           with the specific conditions of their individual permits.   When violations are found, they are followed by appropriate actions, ranging from issuance of a  non-compliance notice to initiation of a criminal  investigation.   If you have reason to believe that a hazardous waste facility is not complying with the law, call your state environmental office with  responsibility for hazardous waste. A complaint filed with the agency may result in an unannounced inspection of the facility.

Q.       What is the difference between hazardous waste management and treatment?

A.     Hazardous waste management refers to the precautions taken to reduce the dangers of handling or disposing of hazardous wastes.   Hazardous waste treatment refers to practices which  render the wastes non-hazardous or less harmful.  Treatment methods include neutralization, such as mixing acids with bases to make their pH more like that of water, biological treatment to break the waste down into simpler compounds, and incineration.

Q.       What is being done to reduce hazardous wastes?

A.       Better manufacturing processes and worker training are  reducing quantities used and non-hazardous or less hazardous ingredients are being substituted in processes.    Some wastes are refined and recycled; others are immobilized so they cannot be released into the environment. Another important way is to design well-managed, well-regulated hazardous waste management facilities with proper state permits.

Q.       Officials in my area have just declared an old abandoned  property in my community a Superfund site. What does that mean?

A.    Under federal laws, abandoned hazardous waste sites that pose an  immediate threat can be cleaned up under emergency response and removal programs.   Sites that do not pose an immediate danger but have significant contamination may be cleaned up by responsible parties or under federal or state investigation and cleanup programs.

Q.       Shouldn't the folks who put the chemicals in the dump pay  for the cleanup?

A.    Yes.  Using Superfund enforcement authority, EPA locates the owners, operators, generators, and transporters and negotiates for the cleanup.   Those who contributed only minimal amounts or low-toxicity wastes (de minimis parties) can 'cash out', putting their proportional share of costs into a trust fund for the cleanup. Or EPA can order non-cooperative parties to conduct the work.   Cleanup doesn't have to wait until legal and financial issues are resolved. EPA can stabilize the site and then pursue responsible parties to recover costs and commit to long-term remedial actions.

Q.       How do I dispose of household hazardous wastes, such as old pesticides, paints, acids, cleaners, and used oils?

A.       Watch your newspaper for local 'Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Days.   Often local organizations or businesses, in cooperation with state environmental agencies, will sponsor free disposal if you bring your materials to a specified collection site.  Public service announcements on television and radio also help to promote such events.   In addition, some local gas stations recycle used motor oils and old automobile batteries.
The best way to deal with household hazardous wastes is to purchase products wisely. Estimate your needs accurately and buy the smallest quantity possible.

SOLID WASTE

Solid waste continues to receive a great deal of media attention across the country as cities and counties deal with the lack of available space to dispose of household garbage and  municipal solid waste.   In the early 1960s, cities and towns across the country practiced open air burning of trash.  The early days of the "sanitary"landfill fouled ground water, soil, surface water, and air because of improper disposal methods.

Each of us is part of the problem as well as the solution.  From gum wrappers to used cars, we exert our personal choices in what we purchase, how we use the product, and how we dispose of the waste.

Simple solutions include purchasing goods with less packaging, maintaining and repairing household appliances, and carrying reusable shopping bags. Recycling newspapers, aluminum cans, glass, and some plastics is becoming more common at schools and the workplace.   Even if your town does not have a recycling program, you can effectively reduce waste while conserving raw materials and energy.  Yard and food wastes make up at least 25% of materials heading for landfills.  But making compost of these wastes replaces soil nutrients and commercial fertilizers when placed in the garden.   Removal of these materials from household garbage also extends the useful life of existing landfills.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT SOLID WASTE & WASTE DISPOSAL

Q.       How do we dispose of solid wastes?

A.       In 1990, more than 67% of our wastes were landfilled.  We recycled about 17% and the balance (16%) was incinerated.

Q.       How is out-of-state garbage regulated?

A.       Current legal readings of interstate commerce laws suggest that a state, in general, cannot flatly refuse to accept out-of-state waste.  In other words, wastes exported to your state may be restricted only to the degree in-state wastes are restricted.   For example, if in-state or county mandatory recycling laws are enacted to require separation of waste into recyclable and non-recyclable components, out-of-state waste can be restricted in a similar manner.

Q.       What goes into a solid waste landfill?  What happens to it  over time?

A.     On average, the solid waste that goes into a typical municipal landfill contains 38% paper; 18% yard waste (trimmings, leaves, etc.); 8% metals;  7% food; 7% glass; 6% wood; 8% plastics; and 8% miscellaneous. Biodegradable materials may decompose over many years, while non-degradable materials, such as glass and most plastics, remain at the site.

Q.       When rainfall leaches through an unlined landfill, how is ground water affected?

A.       Leachate can contain a variety of substances depending upon  the contents of the waste, including metals, organic compounds, suspended particles, and bacteria.  If toxic wastes are deposited in the landfill, the leachate can contain toxic chemicals that are hazardous even at low levels.   Many of these substances pollute the ground water.  Most leachates are collected at permitted landfills and treated at local sewage treatment plants.   Treatment can  include aeration to eliminate volatile compounds and gases and to enhance oxygen-dependent breakdown of organics, settling or filtering to remove sediment, and other treatment to stimulate chemical or microbial breakdown of contaminants.

Q.       Are hazardous wastes disposed of in landfills?

A.       Both hazardous and solid waste regulations prohibit  disposal of hazardous waste in a landfill that is not specifically designed and permitted.  Nevertheless, we generate a great deal of hazardous wastes in our homes that we unwittingly dispose of daily.  For example, pesticides and paint thinners may be tossed in trash taken to the landfill.  Most businesses are regulated and monitored for their hazardous waste disposal practices. Although some people and companies illegally put hazardous wastes in landfills, heavy penalties including fines and jail sentences make illegal disposal very unattractive.

Q.       How do we know that infectious hospital wastes are not going into landfills?

A.       Only non-infectious hospital waste can be legally dumped in a non-hazardous waste landfill. Hospitals operate under regulations that specify disposal requirements for medical wastes. Violations of these rules can subject hospitals to substantial penalties.

Q.       How is the volume of waste entering a landfill regulated?

A.       Generally, the volume of waste accepted is set in the terms of the landfill permit, usually as tons per month. The landfill operator weighs the waste upon arrival, and tonnage reports must be submitted on a periodic basis to state environmental agencies.

Q.       How close can a landfill be to my house?

A.       State and local regulations may require that a landfill be a minimum distance from an occupied dwelling unless written permission to be closer is given by the occupant. A common  distance is 500 feet.

Q.       Won't a landfill attract pests such as rats, flies, and cockroaches?

A.       At the end of each day, a landfill is required to be covered with a layer of soil to deter scavenging animals.
If the cover is properly applied, these pests should be less of a problem.

Q.       How will a landfill affect my well water?  Who can check my  water to be sure it remains unpolluted?

A.       Some state and local regulations require a landfill to be located a minimum distance (in some states, at least 1,200 feet) from a well water supply.  Monitoring wells required around the landfill aid in the detection of ground water  contamination before it reaches the drinking water well.  Monitoring reports are usually available upon request from the county government, state environmental agency, or your  local health department, or county extension service.  If a well owner desires testing of a well, a certified laboratory should be hired to run the tests. Names of such laboratories can be obtained from your local healthdepartment.

Q.       How is a landfill closed?  Are there any possible uses or restrictions for a closed landfill?

A.       A landfill that reaches capacity is covered with a  multi-layer, protective cap and planted with grasses and
other ground covers. The owner must then conduct post-closure care, which includes monitoring of ground
water, landfill gases, and leachate collection systems.    Monitoring may be required for 30 years following closure.    Few restrictions exist on how the property over a closed landfill can be used. Parks and golf courses are examples of possible uses. Construction of large buildings is usually avoided because of settling that occurs during biodegradation and compaction of the waste.

AIR & RADIATION

Perhaps more than anything else, air interacts directly and constantly with us.    All land creatures breathe gases and materials suspended in the air.    By the same token, trees, grasses and other plant species carpeting the earth are equally dependent on clean air.    We all have a stake in the quality of our air.

Outdoor air quality is affected by many human and natural activities.   Manufacturing companies, power plants, small businesses, automobiles, forest fires, and volcanoes are all sources of air pollution.   Any activity that releases materials into the air affects air quality.   Some 189 air toxics have been identified that present significant health risks including cancer, respiratory diseases, heart ailments, and reproductive disorders. 

In many urban areas, ground level ozone persists in concentrations harmful to human health due to large sources of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and smaller sources of hydrocarbons.   Carbon monixide is also problem in cities.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT AIR QUALITY

Q.            Whom do I call to report visible emissions or noxious odors in the air?

A.            Generally, your state or local air quality office should be contacted. For emergencies, dial 911 or your local fire department or public health agency.   Be aware that visible emissions are not necessarily the              most harmful; most emissions are colorless or odorless.

Q.            Who monitors the required reports of toxic air emissions and safety measures used to control those    emissions?

A.            EPA, your state air quality office, the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) monitor these reports.

Q.            Who sets the legal air exposure limits for toxic chemicals?

A.            EPA sets the standards for outside (ambient) air, OSHA for the workplace.

Q.            What is Best Available Control Technology (BACT?  What is  MACT?

A.            Best Available Control Technology (BACT) refers to the best equipment, techniques, or mechanisms that are currently available to achieve a level of pollution control. Through research, technology may be available in the future to achieve even better controls. MACT is Maximum Achievable Control Technology and refers to the maximum degree of pollution reduction obtainable.

Q.            How does eliminating toxic wastes at the source of production differ from utilizing best available           control technology (BACT)?

A.            Basically, at-source control is a pollution prevention approach that seeks to keep hazardous wastes from being produced.  BACT, on the other hand, is the best  technology for treating, containing, or reducing       discharges and emissions.

Q.            What happens to toxic airborne emissions when they are released from chemical plants, automobiles, or power plants?   Do they change into other toxics when they mix?   Where are they finally deposited?

A.            We are only beginning to find out what happens to  emissions. Little is known about the interaction of  chemicals in ambient air, but some effects such as smog, ozone depletion, acid rain, and climate change              are a few of the known consequences when air emissions interact, are blown by the wind, and are deposited in     cities, fields, and wetlands. These effects have generated new research to find answers.

Q.            Do weather conditions affect pollution and the  dispersion of airborne chemicals?

A.            Yes. Weather conditionsþincluding temperature,  sunlight, precipitation, and windþplay a major role in how vapors and suspended particles behave.  Sunlight can destroy or alter some airborne chemicals.  Rain,    snow, and wind affect where and when air pollutants are deposited on land or water.

Q.            Are incinerators a source of toxic emissions to the air?

A.             Well-designed, well-constructed, and well-operated incinerators can nearly eliminate toxic emissions to the air.  To receive a permit to operate, a hazardous waste incinerator must demonstrate 99.99% efficiency in destroying most hazardous wastes.  The standard is even stricter for dioxins and PCBs.

SURFACE WATER

Although the vast majority of the earth's surface is covered with water, the oceans and seas are salty.   Only 3% is fresh and two-thirds of that is ice!  This tiny fraction of fresh water sustains a multitude of very specific life forms, including our own.   While many people get their drinking water from underground reserves, surface waters also are an important source.  In addition, lakes, rivers, and streams provide boating, swimming, fishing, and other forms of recreation.  

The economic support offered by plentiful and high quality surface waters includes agricultural irrigation, process and cooling waters for power plants, and chemical, steel, lumber, mining, and other industrial operations.   The eastern U.S. has a bountiful supply of this natural resource, while in the western states, the relative scarcity of surface water serves to increase its value.   In all parts of the country, however, we need to use our water efficiently.   Using less water reduces the amount of wastes discharged into our lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans, as well as the energy needed to treat wastewater.

Wetlands occupy a specialized niche between land and surface water, where plants and animals abound.   Wetlands have historically been viewed as mosquito-ridden wastelands, impediments to development
because of their saturated and frequently flooded conditions.   The importance to fish and wildlife, clean water, and flood control went unappreciated as draining and filling operations destroyed more than 60% of coastal and inland wetlands nationwide.    Discharges from industries, midnight dumping of toxic wastes, urban runoff,
acid rain, and agricultural chemicals have polluted and degraded wetlands as well.

Wet meadows, prairie potholes, wooded swamps, and coastal, saltwater marshes are distinctly different. But all wetlands are important wildlife habitats, breeding grounds, and nurseries.  Hundreds of species of birds use wetlands for mating, nesting,brood-rearing, and for resting and feeding during migration. Fish, crustaceans, insects, and other animals form complex food chains in these valuable ecosystems.

A major challenge continues to be reduction and control of non-point source pollutants that enter all surface waters -- water that runs off city streets and parking lots during rainstorms that may contain metals, oil, grease, and other automotive fluids; runoff from agricultural fields with animal waste, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Recent stormwater regulations are beginning to reduce nonpoint source pollution from industries and cities.  Farming practices that emphasize soil conservation and appropriate use of pesticides are effective in reducing pollutants in runoff.  

You can help prevent nonpoint source pollution by properly disposing of used motor oil, using fewer pesticides, and carefully assessing lawn and garden practices. By reducing the potential contaminants we place on
streets, driveways and lawns, we can make a substantial contribution to improving the quality of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON SURFACE WATER

Q.            Where can I get information about the water quality of streams, lakes, wetlands, and other bodies of water in my state?

A.            State water quality agencies, in general, maintain  records of water quality for many state surface        waters.   General information about water quality is available through the state agency information offices, EPA, and many citizen groups. EPA maintains an Office of Water Resource Center to answer general questions about standards and water quality.

Q.            How are water quality standards developed for U.S. surface waters?

A.            EPA develops water quality criteria that indicate concentrations of contaminants that are not expected  to harm human health and aquatic life.   States may use these criteria to set water quality standards or they may develop their own standards that address state-specific needs, are scientifically defensible, and as stringent as the national criteria.   States are required to review water quality standards every three  years.  New information from EPA, industry, or any other group concerning safe levels of materials in surface water may be considered, and existing standards may be revised to reflect current scientific developments. Notices of proposed revisions are published in newspapers to encourage the public to participate in the revision process.   State standards must be approved by EPA.

Q.            How can I find out what materials are being discharged into local bodies of water?

A.            By submitting a request to the water pollution control agency in your state, you can review the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for specific dischargers into surface water.  New      permits and renewals of existing permits are published in local papers with information on how to review the     permit application.   State and federal agencies, including EPA's Office of Water and the U.S. Geological Survey, compile stream-specific water quality data in various reports available to the public.

Q.            What can I do if I think that an NPDES permit should not be issued or that the requirements of the permit are inadequate?

A.            Anyone may comment on the issuance or reissuance of an NPDES permit within the period listed in the public notice.  The permit-issuing agency must respond to public comments before granting the permit.  Most states have a process by which affected citizens and companies may appeal the terms and conditions of a  NPDES permit or who receives one.

Q.            Whom do I contact if I see a spill or notice unusual conditions such as color, odor, or fish kills in a         stream, lake, estuary, or coastal area?

A.            First contact your city or county public health department or check to see if your state has a               toll-free pollution hotline. Any spill should bereported immediately to the National Response Center.
For other complaints and concerns about water quality, call your state agency representatives during normal business hours and ask for an investigation.

GROUND WATER

The nation's ground water resources are extremely valuable.   Half of all Americans and more than 95% of our rural population get their household water supplies from underground sources.   Ground water also is used for about half of all agricultural irrigation and a third of industrial water needs. In many places, this vital
resource is already contaminated or threatened.

Even more than surface waters, ground water resources are often taken for granted because they are not visible.  Rainfall and surface water which had seeped into the earth's crust over many years formed underground reservoirs.   Where the water table is at or close to the surface, ground water enters wetlands, lakes, rivers,
and streams and provides a base flow during dry periods.   By comparison to rivers and streams, ground water moves very slowly and with little turbulence.    Therefore, once contamination reaches ground water, little dilution or mixing occurs.  While wells and springs in many parts of the country are abundant and supply good
quality water, contamination in other areas may be severe but undetected until the ground water is used.

Use and dispose of household hazardous substances properly.  Reduce your use of these hazardous substances whenever possible.  When you have to dispose of pesticides, cleaning products, and paint, don't pour them down the drain, put them in the trash, or dump them on the ground.   Hazardous substances disposed of in these ways can find their way into both surface and ground water.  Reducing home water use also will reduce ground water contamination.

Household products that are hazardous materials may be recycled.  Check with local gas stations and automotive centers about recycling used motor oils and batteries and with paint stores for leftover paints and solvents.  In many communities, businesses and government agencies sponsor annual Household Hazardous Waste Days when citizens can bring household chemicals to a central spot for collection, proper treatment, and/or disposal.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON GROUND WATER

Q.            How is ground water contaminated?

A.            Ground water may become contaminated when rainfall and surface runoff pass through contaminated soil.   Water dissolves many substances and can carry particles and microorganisms with it into the ground water.  Landfills, mining, improperly applied pesticides, improperly stored chemicals and de-icing salts, leaking underground storage tanks, improperly installed or failing septic tanks, and other surface activities can significantly alter ground water quality. Contamination often goes undetected for many years.

Q.            If I notice a change in the taste, color, or odor of  my well water, whom should I contact?

A.            You should contact your county health department, state agency with ground water responsibility, and state health department.  These agencies can investigate the cause of the change in your well water.  In addition, information on ground water may be obtained by calling EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotlineor the U.S. Geological Survey.

Q.            What should I do if I suspect that a nearby facility may be contaminating my well and the ground water?

A.            You should contact the agencies listed above.   Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to   help you.   You might also contact the state agencies that issue environmental permits to the facility;               permits can be reviewed by the public.

Q.            Can contaminated ground water be cleaned up?

A.            In some situations, yes.   Contaminated reservoirs that re limited in size may be cleaned up by pumping water  out of the aquifer for treatment by above-ground treatment systems. Also, methods are under development to treat ground water in the subsurface, such as biodegradation.  However, ground water cleanup is very difficult, expensive, and less than completely effective. Preventing ground water contamination is               more practical to ensure good water quality.

Q.            Are permits required for water supplies and sewage treatment systems?

A.            Yes. State health and environmental agencies are responsible for certifying the adequacy of municipal   water supplies and sewage treatment systems.

Q.            What is the relationship between ground water and surface water?

A.            Surface water seeps into ground water during wet weather periods and the reverse occurs during drought conditions.   When close to the surface, ground water often becomes surface water in the form of springs, wetlands, and streams.  Contamination of ground water can pollute surface water and vice versa.

Q.            Are underground storage tanks (USTs) regulated?

A.            Yes.  In 1988, EPA issued regulations setting minimum standards for new tanks and requiring owners of  existing tanks to close, replace, or upgrade them.  Tank owners and operators are required to meet leak        detection requirements and to show they have financial resources to pay for cleanups should a leak or spill         occur.   EPA estimates that there are from 5 to 7 million USTs  nationwide.  Most of the USTs hold petroleum and the rest hold hazardous materials, used motor oil, or other substances.

Q.            Who runs the UST program and who should be notified if a leak is suspected?

A.            State and local governments oversee the UST program.  Report suspected leaks to the state implementing agency. Contact Superfund/UST Hotline for the name, address, and telephone number of the agency in your state.