Gas, stay at the gas stations where you belong.
Photo Credit : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/33/Shellgasstationlosthills.jpg/300px-Shellgasstationlosthills.jpg
We are now well aware of the problem of run-off into our bodies of water because of the excess chloride, oil, and other wastes that it brings into our water sources. This is a very serious issue; however, it is not the only “leakage” problem that we are currently facing.
Tens of thousands of gasoline storage tanks, many from gas stations and convenience stores, are leaking underground and causing contamination. And it will cost about $12 billion to clean it all up. Given that the Bush administration only provides $72 million per year to aid in this effort (info from the General Accountability Office), we are presented with a huge financial problem.
Important to take into account is that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already dished out about $10 billion in efforts to limit the gas-leakage contamination from the past 20 years. The $12 billion estimate is enough to clean up about 54,000 leaks from storage tanks underground. But over the next five years, most U.S. states say they expect about 16,700 new gas tank leaks. So, in addition to this current $12 billion estimate, over the next five years :
(16,700 leaks/54,000 leaks) ($12,000,000,000) = about $3.7 billion dollars to be spent on the cleanup of additional gas tank leaks over the next five years.
This, to me, is a real eye-opener. $3.7 billion dollars spent on cleaning up gas tank leaks. Over a mere five-year period. The idea seems ridiculous. Imagine what would happen if we could give that amount of money to the starving children in Uganda.
Another problem is that some tank owners are not covered by insurance, and so quick cleanups cannot always happen. Most tank owners have to pay a deductible, while the government pays for most of the cleanup.
What causes these leaks? Up until about 30 years ago, most tanks were made of steel, which eventually corrodes and causes gas to leak into the environment. Incorrect installation or problems with operation and maintenance processes can also cause leaks.
These leaking gas tanks underground pose serious potential threats to human health. It contaminates our drinking water supplies with carcinogens such as methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE).
Back in 1985, Congress banned unprotected steel tanks from operation. Another amendment in 1986 required that all underground storage tank owners be financially capable of cleanups. Some action has been taken recently to reduce the leakage of these gas storage tanks, such as the passing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which states that underground gas tanks need to be inspected once every three years.
Hopefully more can be done by the government in the next few years to reduce these gas leaks into our environment and water supplies.
Sources:
