ABSTRACT
The electric utility industry owns and operates many underground and aboveground storage tanks, as well as other facilities for using, storing, or transferring petroleum products, primarily motor and heating fuels. The prevention, detection, and correction of leakage of these products from underground storage tanks (UST) has gained high priority in the utility industry and within the regulatory agencies. The 1984 amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) required the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency to develop new federal regulations for reducing and controlling environmental damage from underground storage tank leakage by 1987. The remedial technologies were divided into two categories: in situ treatment and non-in situ treatment. In situ treatment refers to treatment of soil or groundwater in place. Non-in situ refers to treatment of the contaminated soil or groundwater at another location. Petroleum products are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons.
