Which agency is primarily responsible for regulating aboveground storage tanks?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is primarily responsible for regulating aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). This regulatory authority stems from the EPA's role in safeguarding the environment and public health by establishing standards for the management of hazardous materials, including their storage. The EPA has developed guidelines under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Oil Pollution Act, which set forth requirements for proper installation, maintenance, and operation of ASTs to prevent leaks and spills from causing environmental contamination.

The other agencies, while they handle important safety and regulatory functions, do not focus specifically on the regulation of aboveground storage tanks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is dedicated to ensuring workplace safety and health standards, which may overlap in practice but does not specialize in tank storage regulations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the transportation of hazardous materials rather than their storage. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) focuses on consumer products and their safety, which is unrelated to the regulation of storage tanks. Thus, the selection of the EPA as the correct agency demonstrates an understanding of its unique regulatory role in environmental protection regarding aboveground storage tanks.