Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

Developed by Joe Ryan, University of Colorado

Overview
Contaminants

Federal
UST Legislation
State Support
Cleanup Status
UST Definitions

LUST Anatomy
Corrosion
Leaks
Site Character
Remediation
   Source
   Groundwater
New Tanks
   Installation
   Monitoring

Anatomy of a LUST (continued)

Installation of New Tanks

Following removal of the LUSTs, new tanks are installed with up-to-date protection against corrosion and leaks. Both steel and reinforced fiberglass are used for new tanks. New steel tanks are protected from corrosion by non-corrosive coatings (fiberglass, resin, Glasteel®) or by cathodic protection (e.g., sti-P₃® system) and constructed in double-wall configurations.

More careful tank installation techniques are also used. Anchors are installed to guard against tank flotation by a high groundwater table. Liners are included to provide secondary containment.

Continued on the next page...

Thank You! BASIN was a community project which benefitted from over 1000 hours of public volunteer time. BASIN was highlighted by the US EPA in a national case study in its 2001 handbook Delivering Timely Environmental Information to Your Community. Thank you to all volunteers, and especially to the late Jim Waterman, BASIN Project Coordinator!

BASIN was supported by the US EPA, the City of Boulder, the Keep it Clean Partnership, BCWI and BCN