AP IMPACT: Underground FEMA fuel tanks could leak

[DogPoundPup]

Source: A/P

The government owns hundreds of underground fuel tanks — many designed for emergencies back in the Cold War — that need to be inspected for leaks of hazardous substances that could make local water undrinkable.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has known since at least the 1990s that tanks under its supervision around the country could be leaking fuel into soil and groundwater, according to Associated Press interviews and research.

The agency knows of at least 150 underground tanks that must be inspected for leaks, says spokeswoman Debbie Wing. FEMA also is trying to determine by September whether an additional 124 tanks are underground or above ground and whether they are leaking.

There has been no documentation of reported leaks or harm to communities from the FEMA tanks, Wing said, although former agency officials and congressional testimony suggest that the federal tanks have long been considered a problem.

Many of these tanks were built to store 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel and placed around the country at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s to fuel electric generators that could sustain emergency broadcasts by radio stations in case of a nuclear attack or other catastrophe. Made of steel, the tanks inevitably rust over time and allow fuel to escape.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap_on_go_ot/leaking_fuel_tanks

[whathappened]

1. this sucks big time

they made all the independent gas station either close there doors or up date to new tanks , i worked for such a place , back in the middle 70's my friend owned a mobil station , he was leaseing it and then they told him to buy it or they will close doors , little did he no , it was a setup , mobil new that the epa was going to make all the gas station pull there tanks and clean up any leakage , and make the new owmers pay for it , my friend had to pull the tanks and then he stopped selling gas , at that time there was'nt enought markup to install new tanks , now we hear about the gov covering up all these leaking tanks for all these years , i call bs on all these asshats

[Javaman]

2. Heck of a job...nt

[Quantess]

3. Does anyone suppose

this is a subtle way of saying it's already happening, so don't be surprised when a major disaster happens?

[Muttocracy]

4. rust doesn't go on a schedule, does it... nt