Fuel Tank Cleanup Is Failing

California has not ordered cleanup or assessed fines for the thousands of underground gasoline storage tanks leaking MTBE and other toxic chemicals into California’s water and soil, even when the leaks have been known for more than 10 years, according to a study by Environmental Working Group (EWG). San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose have the most known leaking tank sites, with more than 1,000 each. Santa Rosa, Sacramento and Stockton have the most leaks known to contaminate drinking water. Although many are listed as "closed," state records show that thousands of cases were closed without stopping the leaks, cleaning up the pollution, or imposing penalties against the responsible parties. City officials claim the results are misleading.