1997 Ford Taurus gas leak

Is that with the engine running? I would almost assume so. To leak from on top, it would either have to be a hole on top or a leaking hose or connection. If your tank is made of steel, rust holes are a suspect, but with holes on the top it would only leak when the tank was over-filled. Plastic tanks obviously don't rust, and they have to be hit pretty hard to make a hole, and that still wouldn't be on top. To be dripping from multiple places suggests the fuel is spraying out under pressure, and that will only occur when the engine is running.

There's usually two straps, and one by itself is still pretty tough as long as it isn't too rusty.

Is your tank made of steel or plastic?

There is often some pressure build-up inside the tank when the engine is running, and that can push gas out through a leaking hose after the engine is stopped, but it shouldn't empty the tank.

If you don't reply in the next few minutes, I'll be gone until tomorrow. Due to a house fire, I have to drive ten miles into town and sit in the library parking lot to use their wireless internet. My feet are freezing right now and I'm fixin' to head home soon.

I looked up the fuel tanks for both applications, and they give different part numbers, but they never say why. The newer one could simply have an extra port that you could cap off when it's not needed. There could be major design changes too. You'd have to set them side by side to compare them, then look inside to see if there's baffles that might interfere with installing the pump.

Logic dictates that fuel is coming out of the top since gas doesn't run up to drip. The question is why it continues after the engine is stopped. If a hose or connection down low is leaking, the gas might siphon out, and that could be on a return line too. That wouldn't explain why you're seeing gas on top. Only the supply line has pressure in it. I agree, you're going to have to inspect it, then I'll be interested to know what you find.