Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) introduced a bill that would crack down on the safety of underground storage tanks.

According to the truckstop group NATSO, the Underground Storage Tank Compliance Act of 2001 addresses issues raised by a General Accounting Office report from May 2001, "Environmental Protection: Improved Inspections and Enforcement Would Better Ensure the Safety of Underground Storage Tanks." The report found that limited funding and infrequent inspections resulted in only 89 percent of tanks meeting federal equipment standards.
The bill would require the inspection of all tanks - including those owned and/or operated by federal, state and local governments - every two years, while emphasizing the development of guidelines and training for Underground Storage Tank operators. The bill would provide $200 million for contaminated site cleanups, and increase the funding for the administration of the UST program.
The bill is cosponsored by Senators Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), Bob Smith (R-N.H.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.).