Underground Storage Tank Testing Fraud: Indictments Handed Out

Advisory Report - May 2000

Underground Storage Tank Testing Fraud: Indictments Handed Out
Ten individuals from seven states were indicted on a charge of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with the testing of underground storage tanks (USTs).

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, three UST testing companies, AST and ASTI in Little Rock, Arkansas and AUST in Austin, Texas claimed to use the Horner EZY-CHEK III method to test the tanks.  This test usually takes about three hours to perform, but the indictment alleges that employees did not stay on-site long enough to properly conduct the tests, did not have the proper equipment to do the tests and sent in falsified results by mail and fax.

Falsifying data can cause leaks to go undetected, and USTs are a major source of groundwater contamination in some areas.  Learn more about USTs.