Maryland takes over its own underground fuel tank inspections from the US environmental agency

The US environmental agency is formally handing over control of Maryland's underground fuel tank program to the state. This means Maryland will now handle all inspections and enforcement for these tanks, instead of the federal government.

For decades, states have been taking over environmental enforcement from the federal government, often with mixed results. This change means Maryland is now fully responsible for preventing leaks from underground fuel tanks, which can contaminate groundwater. The US environmental agency will still have oversight, but the day-to-day work is now entirely up to the state.