TENS OF thousands of underground bombs are strewn across the nation, with grave potential for our water supplies. They are old motor fuel storage tanks -- at gas stations, municipal governments, farms and other locations -- that threaten to leak dangerous chemicals into the ground-water that supplies half the nation with drinking water.
Ten years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered owners of pre-1989 underground tanks to upgrade or replace them, or shut them down. The deadline came last month.
Most large service stations have converted. But many smaller operators have not because of the high cost. And just this week it was reported the city of Baltimore would have to pay up to $250,000 for emergency fuel supplies because several of its tanks don't meet the new standards. A three-tank service station pays $150,000 or so; a single new tank on a farm costs $25,000.