Heating oil tank removal has been an extremely high profile issue in the last ten years due in part to more stringent regulations placed upon gasoline and commercial petroleum storage facilities. In addition, as many residential neighborhoods approach the 20 to 30 year old mark, a large number of heating oil tanks are reaching the end of their life expectancy. To address the needs of homeowners requiring tank installation, replacement and testing, Kasden Fuel provides comprehensive service and installation of all types of residential and commercial storage systems. In addition, we provide comprehensive removal, disposal and testing.

Tank Removal

The discontinuance of underground heating oil tanks is commonly done through excavation and removal. Tank abandonment may also be done however, we will cover that in greater detail in a subsequent section.

The steps for tank removal are the following:

• Site assessment and proposal.
• A Kasden Fuel Representative will visit your home, assess work required to excavate and remove the tank and prepare a no-cost proposal outlining the steps and costs of such a procedure.
  
• Prior to excavation, the site will be inspected for any potential underground obstruction such as underground electrical service, septic service, telephone lines, etc.
  
• Contents of the tank will be removed.
• Kasden Fuel will provide drainage and vacuuming of any remaining product in the tank. Any sludge will be properly disposed of.
  
• A back hoe will excavate the area over the tank and remove the tank from the ground.
  
• Oil lines will be sealed and capped.
  
• Soil samples from the site will be extracted, returned to the office for TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) testing.
  
• Any site inspections needed at this time will be made and any approvals required for this process will be expedited.
  
• Old tank will be disposed of.
  
• The tank site will be back-filled with clean gravel and top soil will be graded, raked and seeded.
  

Abandonment

Underground tanks may be abandoned in place if removal is prohibitive or obstructed. At this time, the DEP does not have guidelines for abandonment of underground tanks. Such guidelines have been established under the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Act) 30 Guideline. Under this guideline, the tank must be evacuated and cleaned of all remaining product, filled with an inert material such as sand or cement, oil fill and vent pipes must be removed or capped.

Most towns in an abandonment procedure also require that core samples near the tank be taken to indicate the absence or presence of a prior ground discharge before approvals can be issued.

Tank Installation

Two basic types of tanks can be installed to facilitate safe heating fuel storage:

Replacement underground tanks. There is currently many misapprehensions about the allowance of underground storage tanks. As mentioned previously, there is no uniform regulation in the State of Connecticut. Each of Connecticut’s 169 towns has the ability to exercise regulations on underground heating fuel tanks. Most still allow underground tanks to be installed however stricter guidelines are usually applied circumstantially based upon factors such as groundwater tables and other topographical factors. The only tanks most towns do allow are cathodically protected steel tanks, which are also referred to as STIP 3 Tanks. Electrical leads attached to the zinc anode give the homeowner the facility to test the anode periodically to make sure that it is functioning. Fiber glass tanks are also allowed, although they are more costly and more difficult to install.

Indoor tank installation

There are literally dozens of configurations of indoor tanks available to fit the needs of different types of building structures however the common ones consist of either 275 tanks or 330 gallon tanks. These are rather thin, oval shaped tanks that provide safe and economical indoor storage. Most towns allow for tandem installations doubling capacity to either 550 or 660 gallons. Tanks are installed by licensed heating installers in accordance to current BOCA mechanical code guidelines. Tanks are inspected and pressure tested to insure leak-free installations.

Connecticut State laws

At this time there is no Connecticut State laws requiring removal or testing of residential underground heating oil tanks under 2100 gallons. Local laws may vary, and/or exceed state guidelines, regarding testing, installation, removal methods, and abandonment procedures.

You should contact your local building department for installations, and your local Fire Marshal's office for abandonment or removal guidelines.

Current state contamination level guidelines

Current State guidelines for soil contamination which have been described by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection are outlined within these web sites

State Of Connecticut Underground Tank Pollution Clean-up Bill 6641 / Public Act 99-269 (Details)

CONDENSED "Don't Wait Till 1998" publication (510-B-94-002)
http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/pubs/dontwait.pdf

HERE IS MORE INFORMATION: Most in Word Perfect format
http://www.epa.gov/swerust1/1998/1998info.htm

Underground Storage Tank Program (Bureau of Waste Management)
http://dep.state.ct.us/pao/PUMPfact/USTfact.htm