Maryland now runs its own underground fuel tank inspections, not the US environmental regulators

The US environmental regulators have formally approved Maryland's program for overseeing underground fuel storage tanks. This means Maryland will now handle inspections and enforcement for these tanks, using its own rules.

For decades, states have been taking over environmental enforcement from the US environmental regulators. This shift means Maryland's environmental agency now has full authority over a common source of pollution. It also means businesses in Maryland will deal with state, not federal, inspectors for their fuel tanks.