Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are approximately 595,000 underground storage tanks (USTs) nationwide that store petroleum or hazardous substances. USTs leak from a variety of causes – corrosion, leaking fittings, overfills are a few examples. The greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, which is the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. Most USTs store motor fuels such as gasoline or diesel. These contain known or suspected human carcinogens including benzene, naphthalene and MTBE. In Arkansas, there are thousands of cases where leaking USTs have caused impact to neighboring property. These impacts range from exposure to dangerous substances, to loss of a water supply to diminished value of property. If your land is impacted by a leaking UST, you may have a claim. In Arkansas, UST owners and operators are insured by the Arkansas Petroleum Storage Tank Trust Fund (the Fund). The Fund provides reimbursement to tank owners and operators for the costs of corrective action (cleaning up pollution from the leak) and third party claims (claims for damages due to contamination). McMath Woods has handled more cases involving property damage and personal injuries due to leaking USTs than any other firm in Arkansas. If you think you have a claim due to a leaking UST, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your rights.