It is crucial to engage a qualified professional for the removal of underground oil tanks
An engineering firm reached out to us to handle a situation involving a homeowner who intended to sell his property, which included an underground oil tank that had been decommissioned and filled with sand.
Upon our team’s arrival at the property, we removed a section of the fence to make way for a mini-excavator. Our first task was to excavate down to the tank’s upper surface, after which we cut an opening in it. We verified the presence of sand inside, removed it, and then carefully extracted the oil tank from the ground, placing it atop a plastic sheet adjacent to the excavation site.
Unfortunately, the discovery of multiple perforations in the tank’s structure led to the township inspector deeming it non-compliant during the inspection. Consequently, a subsurface consultant was engaged to collect soil samples from around and beneath the excavation to assess for potential soil contamination.
After the oil tank’s removal, we refilled the excavation, leveled the surface, and prepared the ground with hay and grass seed for restoration.
Should the soil analysis indicate contamination levels surpassing the regulatory thresholds, it will necessitate opening a case with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and necessitate further remediation to eliminate the contaminated soil.
It is crucial to engage a qualified professional for the removal of underground oil tanks, one who possesses the necessary licenses, experience, and specialized knowledge, as well as comprehensive insurance coverage.
