Bart Stupak: “The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program is one of the most important and least known environmental programs run by…”

“The Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program is one of the most important and least known environmental programs run by the Federal Government and the States. The act regulates the use of large underground tanks that hold petroleum products. One need only to go to their local gas station to find tanks regulated underneath this act. This is the National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress. In this report, which list each State, this report states that the leaking underground storage tanks are the most frequent cause of groundwater contamination. Unfortunately, the Committee on Appropriations does not feel our Nation's groundwater is as high a priority as many of us here in this Chamber believe tonight. In fiscal year 1997, the Committee on Appropriations cut the President's request by more than a third for the funds necessary to help us clean up leaking underground storage tanks.”