New Law Opens UST Fund to Owners Removing Pre-1976 Tanks

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, owners and operators who remove underground storage tanks installed before 1976 can access the Illinois Underground Storage Tank (UST) Fund, provided they meet the Fund’s eligibility requirements.

The change comes from House Bill 4941, which passed the House 109-0 and the Senate 59-0 this spring. Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law as Public Act 104-0688 on July 31, 2026.

Why it matters

Tanks installed before 1976 are now at least 50 years old, well past the typical 30-year tank warranty, and at the highest risk of corrosion and leaks. Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal registry data shows more than 560 pre-1976 tanks still in active use statewide. Replacing them before they fail protects soil and groundwater and avoids far more costly cleanups later.

The UST Fund, which helps owners and operators pay for cleanup of petroleum leaks, is funded by a 0.3-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax and a 0.8-cent-per-gallon Environmental Impact Fee paid by the fuel industry.

“We are grateful to Representative Joyce Mason and Senator Julie Morrison for championing this legislation,” said Nate Harris, CEO of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association. “This law gives owners of our state’s oldest tanks a practical path to replace them before they become a problem, protecting soil and groundwater while using a fund our industry already pays into.”

Next steps for members

Members with pre-1976 tanks should review the Fund’s eligibility requirements with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Illinois EPA before planning a removal. For more on the UST Fund and pre-1976 tanks statewide, see IFRA’s Underground Storage Tank dashboards.