Underground Storage Tank Reform and Compliance Act of 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 2, 2003
Underground Storage Tank Reform and Compliance Act of 2003 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to distribute to States at least 80 percent of the funds authorized to be appropriated under this Act from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to pay the reasonable costs incurred under cooperative agreements of: (1) certain corrective actions; (2) directly related administrative expenses; or (3) enforcement of State or local requirements regulating underground storage tanks (USTs). Requires the Administrator or a State with an approved program to require compliance inspections of USTs at least once every two years.Directs the Administrator to publish operator training guidelines and States to develop and implement a training strategy consistent with stated requirements. Authorizes the use of funds made available for the petroleum response program to carry out corrective actions with respect to oxygenated fuel additive releases. Subjects all USTs or tank systems under Federal jurisdiction to the same substantive and procedural requirements as apply to USTs generally. Waives sovereign immunity. Allows trust funds to be used for enforcing UST regulations. Requires compliance reports by any Federal or State agency responsible for USTs. Prohibits the delivery of regulated substances (motor fuels) to non-compliant tanks. Provides temporary relief for certain tanks in remote locations. Mandates that new or replacement USTs be secondarily contained and the space between the primary and secondary containment be monitored for leaks. Imposes criminal penalties, requiring that fines be doubled for subsequent convictions. Requires the publication via the Web of any confirmed releases or out-of-compliance USTs.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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