{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underground-storage-tanks","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/underground-storage-tanks","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"underground-storage-tanks","term":"Underground Storage Tanks","group":"Reading the business","definition":"Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) are buried tanks used to store hazardous substances, primarily petroleum. They pose environmental risks and significant potential cleanup costs if they leak, which you, as the buyer, could inherit.","what_it_means":"During due diligence, always check for the presence of USTs, especially with older properties or businesses like gas stations or auto repair shops. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment will identify potential contamination. If found, factor in potential remediation costs or walk away.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underground-storage-tanks","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"phase-i-environmental-site-assessment","term":"Phase I Environmental Site Assessment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/phase-i-environmental-site-assessment"},{"slug":"phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment","term":"Phase II Environmental Site Assessment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment"},{"slug":"environmental-consultant","term":"Environmental consultant","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/environmental-consultant"},{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if the acquired business property has existing environmental concerns, like old fuel tanks?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-acquired-business-property-has-existing-environmental-concerns-like-old-fuel-t"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Underground Storage Tanks","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underground-storage-tanks","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}