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- 4 - EPA's Ground-Water Protection Strategy The EPA strategy is structured around four main needs within the ambit of existing legal mandates. They are: BUilding and enhancing institutions at the State level: Expanding controls over major, inadequately addressed 0 sources of contamination--in particular, leaking storage tanks, surface impoundments and landfills: Issuing guidellnes for EPA decisions affecting ground- water protection and cleanup: and Strengthening EPA's organization for ground-water manage- ment at the Headquarters and Regional levels. These components, described in detail in Chapter IV, are summarized below. EPA will set aside oroqram funds to supoort State orogram develooment. EPA will draw funds from existing appropriations to reinforce States with the interest and commitme.nt to. develop their own institutional capability. These funds will support necessa~y program development and planning, the creation of needed data systems, assessment of legal and institutional impediments to comprehensive State m~nagement, and the develop- ment of State regulatory programs such as permitting and classi- fication. Regional Administrators will work with Governors so that funds are directed to the State agency or programs with the most complete authority and capability to undertake or continue statewide program or strategy development. , i: EPA will move to regulate underaround storaqe tanks. Because the preponderance of evidence suggests that leaking storage tanks--particularly from gasoline--represent a major, unaddressed source of groundwater contamination, the Deputy Administrator has directed the Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances to design a study to identify the nature, extent, and severity of the problem. EPA is investigating the applica- tion of the Toxic Substances Control Act, as well as other authorities, to issue regulations applying appropriate restric- tiom; to these tanks. In ths me.ant:..ime, the Agency will issue chemical adYisor~ to alert owners and operators about the problem and work with States and industry to develop voluntary steps to reduce contamination. EPA is also planning direct regulation of underground storage of hazardous waste under the Res~urce ~onservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). ~ ... o. .... '.\....' . 0: . " "Of, .