---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6991a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6991a"
heading: "Notification"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6991a"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter IX — Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks"
---

# §6991a. Notification

- (a) **Underground storage tanks—**
  - (1) Within 18 months after November 8, 1984, each [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) of an [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) shall notify the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) or local [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or department designated pursuant to [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) of the existence of such tank, specifying the age, size, type, location, and uses of such tank.
  - (2)
    - (A) For each [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) taken out of operation after January 1, 1974, the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) of such tank shall, within eighteen months after November 8, 1984, notify the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) or local [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), or department designated pursuant to [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) of the existence of such tanks (unless the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) knows the tank subsequently was removed from the ground). The [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) of a tank taken out of operation on or before January 1, 1974, shall not be required to notify the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) or local [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) under this subsection.
    - (B) Notice under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A) shall specify, to the extent known to the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4)—
      - (i) the date the tank was taken out of operation,
      - (ii) the age of the tank on the date taken out of operation,
      - (iii) the size, type and location of the tank, and
      - (iv) the type and quantity of substances left stored in such tank on the date taken out of operation.
  - (3) Any [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) which brings into use an [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) after the initial notification period specified under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), shall notify the designated [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) or local [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or department within thirty days of the existence of such tank, specifying the age, size, type, location and uses of such tank.
  - (4) Paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection shall not apply to tanks for which notice was given pursuant to [section 9603(c) of this title](/usc/42/9603.md?p=c).
  - (5) Beginning thirty days after the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) prescribes the form of notice pursuant to [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) and for eighteen months thereafter, any [person](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) who deposits [regulated substances](/usc/42/6991.md?p=7) in an [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) shall reasonably notify the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) or [operator](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3) of such tank of the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4)’s notification requirements pursuant to this subsection.
  - (6) Beginning thirty days after the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) issues new tank performance standards pursuant to [section 6991b(c) of this title](/usc/42/6991b.md?p=c), any [person](/usc/42/6991.md?p=5) who sells a tank intended to be used as an [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) shall notify the purchaser of such tank of the [owner](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4)’s notification requirements pursuant to this subsection.
- (b) **Agency designation—**
  - (1) Within one hundred and eighty days after November 8, 1984, the Governors of each [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) shall designate the appropriate [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12) or department or local [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or departments to receive the notifications under subsection [(a)(1)](#a-1), (2), or (3).
  - (2) Within twelve months after November 8, 1984, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1), in consultation with [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) and local officials designated pursuant to [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1), and after notice and opportunity for public comment, shall prescribe the form of the notice and the information to be included in the notifications under subsection [(a)(1)](#a-1), (2), or (3). In prescribing the form of such notice, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall take into account the effect on small businesses and other [owners](/usc/42/6991.md?p=4) and [operators](/usc/42/6991.md?p=3).
- (c) **State inventories—** Each [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) shall make 2 separate inventories of all [underground storage tanks](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) in such [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) containing [regulated substances](/usc/42/6991.md?p=7). One inventory shall be made with respect to [petroleum](/usc/42/6991.md?p=6) and one with respect to other [regulated substances](/usc/42/6991.md?p=7). In making such inventories, the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) shall utilize and aggregate the data in the notification forms submitted pursuant to subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) of this section. Each [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) shall submit such aggregated data to the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) not later than 270 days after October 17, 1986.
- (d) **Public record—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall require each [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) that receives Federal funds to carry out this subchapter to maintain, update at least annually, and make available to the public, in such manner and form as the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall prescribe (after consultation with [States](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31)), a record of [underground storage tanks](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) regulated under this subchapter.
  - (2) **Considerations—** To the maximum extent practicable, the public record of a [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31), respectively, shall include, for each year—
    - (A) the number, sources, and causes of [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) [releases](/usc/42/6991.md?p=8) in the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31);
    - (B) the record of compliance by [underground storage tanks](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) in the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) with—
      - (i) this subchapter; or
      - (ii) an applicable [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) program approved under [section 6991c of this title](/usc/42/6991c.md); and
    - (C) data on the number of [underground storage tank](/usc/42/6991.md?p=10) equipment failures in the [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 9002, as added Pub. L. 98–616, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3278; amended Pub. L. 99–499, title II, § 205(b), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1696; Pub. L. 109–58, title XV, § 1526(c), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 1098.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2005—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58 added subsec. (d).

1986—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–499 added subsec. (c).