You may have to contact your underground storage tank repair service sooner than you think. The Senate recently passed a bill that would require UST inspections every two years.

The Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2003 (S. 195) would require EPA or the state authority with an approved program to inspect USTs at least once every two years. The inspections would have to start no later than two years after the bill is enacted.

In addition, the bill calls for EPA to develop guidelines for training UST operators. The guidelines will need to take the following into account:

• Existing training programs
• The high turnover rate of operators
• The frequency of improvements in UST technology
• The nature of the businesses in which the operators are engaged

Lest states cry poverty, the bill provides for each state to receive $50,000 to develop and implement the training. This is in addition to the 80 percent or more of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund that EPA would be required to distribute to the states under S. 195. This money from the Trust Fund could be used for enforcement, but not for financial assistance for UST owners or operators to meet compliance requirements.

INFO: To check out the bill yourself, go to http://thomas.loc.gov and enter "S. 195" under "Bill Number."