Underground storage tanks: The environmental health role

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Environmental Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:5138758

Henke, S ^[1]

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1. Clark County Health District, Las Vegas, NV (United States)

Petroleum contamination of shallow aquifers resulting from antiquated underground petroleum storage systems has had a significant economical, as well as environmental impact on the nation's urban and rural communities. The cost for assessment and clean-up of a service station petroleum leak in Caliente, Nevada (population: 1,111) may go as high as $3 million. Whereas in a more urban area such as Las Vegas, Nevada, 317 petroleum clean-up operations of leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) have been initiated in a three-year period between October 1990 and October 1993. The leaking UST problem, brought to national attention during the late 1970s and early 1980s, has had such an impact that the EPA has enlisted state and local environmental and health agencies to take an important lead role to find, mitigate, and prevent petroleum leaks into the unseen subsurface environment. The 1990s will witness a national amelioration of shallow aquifers.

• OSTI ID: 5138758
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 56:8; ISSN JEVHAH; ISSN 0022-0892
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
AQUIFERS
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
CONTAINERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS
LEAKS
MARKETERS
MASS TRANSFER
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
RETAILERS
TANKS
WATER POLLUTION