Hundreds of underground fuel tanks owned by the federal government could be leaking hazardous materials into drinking water, according to an Associated Press investigation. Of particular concern are steel tanks buried in the Cold War era, which are highly likely to have rusted and be leaking. One million gallons of water can be contaminated by just 1 gallon of fuel, posing health threats to folks who drink it. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has known about the situation since at least the 1990s, but has dragged its feet when it comes to remediation. At present, FEMA knows of at least 150 leaking underground storage tanks — or LUST, if you prefer — and “is trying to determine by September whether an additional 124 tanks are underground or above ground and whether they are leaking,” according to the AP.
