Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency is releasing $1.5 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help with the cleanup of petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks.

“Leaks in underground petroleum storage tanks can have a devastating effect on the environment.  Petroleum can seep into underground drinking water and become a public health problem.  The funding released today by the EPA will help New Mexico with its cleanup efforts,” Bingaman said.

“This funding will put people to work and provide long-term protections to New Mexicans from the dangers of petroleum fuel leaking into the soil and contaminating drinking water,” said Udall, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee.  “By initiating this cleanup process we can prevent potential hazards and help ensure New Mexico has safe drinking water for our citizens.”

The funds will be used for overseeing assessment and cleanup of leaks from underground storage tanks or directly paying for assessment and cleanup of leaks from federally regulated tanks where the responsible party is unknown, unwilling or unable to finance the cleanup.