Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the adequacy of federal regulation of above-ground oil storage tanks and the federal inland oil spill removal program. GAO found that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations did not require oil storage facility operators to: (1) construct and test tanks using industry standards; (2) prepare responses to accidental discharges of oil onto adjacent property; or (3) design and operate storm water drainage systems to prevent oil spills. GAO also found that: (1) EPA did not have information regarding the number, age, and location of oil storage facilities and the construction and operation of tanks; (2) the EPA inspection program did not prioritize inspections according to the threat posed to the environment, and inspections were sometimes superficial and poorly documented; (3) despite numerous oil spills and other violations, 7 of the 10 EPA regions have not levied fines; (4) EPA eliminated its spill response research program in 1987 because of budget constraints; and (5) EPA did not recover the costs of monitoring cleanups conducted by private parties, even though such costs were often substantial.