Do you have an old oil tank buried somewhere on your property? If so, it’s important to have it properly decommissioned before it causes costly and hazardous problems.
When it comes to decommissioning an underground storage tank (UST), homeowners are generally presented with two options: tank removal and tank abandonment. If these processes are new to you, you’re not alone; many property owners struggle to determine which solution is the best fit for their situation. Thankfully, our certified tank specialists are used to helping homeowners across Southeast Pennsylvania understand their options for oil tank care.
Below, we discuss the differences between tank removal vs. tank abandonment to help you make an informed decision for your property.
What Is Tank Removal & What Does It Involve?
Tank removal is exactly what it sounds like: the complete excavation and removal of the underground storage tank from your property. It is the most definitive way to address the potential environmental and financial risks associated with an unused oil tank.
Because these tanks are often large, heavy, and buried several feet underground, removal requires professional equipment and expertise. The process typically involves several key steps:
- Permitting and Planning: Before any work begins, the contractor will secure all necessary permits from local municipalities. This ensures that the project adheres to all environmental and safety codes.
- Excavation: A backhoe or similar excavation equipment is used to carefully dig up the soil surrounding the tank.
- Tank Cleaning: Once the tank is accessible, any remaining oil, sludge, and vapors must be safely removed. This is a critical step to prevent spills and render the tank safe for transport. The contents are pumped out with a vacuum truck and transported to a licensed waste disposal facility.
- Tank Extraction: With the tank cleaned and inert, it is carefully lifted out of the ground by the excavation equipment. It is then transported off-site to be recycled as scrap metal or properly disposed of.
- Site Inspection and Soil Testing: Once the tank is out of the ground, a visual inspection of both the tank and the surrounding soil is performed. Certified professionals will look for signs of corrosion, holes, or staining that could indicate a leak. Soil samples are then collected from the excavation pit and analyzed to determine if petroleum products have contaminated the surrounding soil.
- Backfilling: After the inspection is complete and the site is confirmed to be clean, the excavated area is backfilled and graded.
What Is Tank Abandonment & How Is It Different From Removal?
Tank abandonment, also known as “tank closure in place,” is the process of decommissioning a tank without physically removing it from the ground. While this might sound like a simpler, less disruptive option, it involves a stringent process to ensure the tank doesn’t pose a future threat. Even then, the filled tank could still contaminate the soil over time and may make potential buyers or lenders wary of the condition of your property.
It’s important to note that tank abandonment in place is not permitted in all jurisdictions and is often reserved for situations where removal is physically impossible, such as when a tank is located beneath a building foundation or a permanent structure.
The abandonment process includes:
- Tank Access & Cleaning: A small excavation or access point is created in the ground, and a hole is cut into the top of the buried tank. The tank is then completely emptied of residual oil, water, and sludge.
- Filling the Tank: After cleaning, the empty tank is filled with an inert, solid material. This is typically a sand, concrete slurry (grout), or polyurethane foam. The purpose of filling the tank is to eliminate the empty space and prevent it from collapsing under the weight of the ground above and to ensure no illicit future use.
- Documentation: The tank is sealed and certified as officially abandoned-in-place. Documentation is provided for future property records.
The primary difference between oil tank removal vs. oil tank abandonment is clear: with abandonment, the steel tank shell remains buried on your property forever. While it has been rendered inert, its presence — and any potential contamination that may have occurred before the abandonment — remains.
Why Tank Removal Is the Better Option the Majority of the Time
While tank closure in place may seem less invasive, tank removal is the recommended and preferred solution in almost all scenarios for several compelling reasons.
- Accuracy of Soil Tests: Without removing the tank, there is no way to access the soil directly beneath it to confirm there is no contamination. For this reason, removal provides definitive proof that the property is clean and eliminates any lingering doubts about environmental hazards.
- Simplifies Real Estate Transactions: The presence of a buried oil tank, even a properly abandoned one, can be a major red flag for potential homebuyers, mortgage lenders, and insurance companies. In fact, an abandoned tank can lead to transaction delays, demands for removal before closing, or a significant reduction in your property’s value. A removal certificate, on the other hand, is a clean bill of health that satisfies all parties.
- Eliminates Future Liability: If contamination is discovered years after you sold your home, originating from a tank you had abandoned, you could potentially still be held liable for cleanup costs. Removing the tank and remediating any issues beforehand closes the book on your liability for good.
- Long-Term Peace of Mind: A steel tank, even when filled, will continue to corrode and deteriorate over time. While filling it prevents a structural collapse, the idea of a large metal object slowly rusting away on their property is unsettling for many homeowners. Removal provides the ultimate peace of mind, knowing the potential problem has been completely and permanently eliminated.
Still Unsure? Let Our Experts Guide You.
The decision between oil tank removal and abandonment is a critical one, and navigating the technical, regulatory, and financial aspects can be challenging. Our experts can help explain all the benefits of tank removal and assess your specific situation to provide a clear recommendation.
In addition to properly removing the tank to avoid future issues, we can provide the necessary soil testing and site remediation services to ensure your property is environmentally sound for years to come.
Protect your investment and your peace of mind today by contacting JnJ Environmental in Norristown, PA, to schedule a tank service.