| Heating Oil Tanks Not In Service:
The local Fire Chief or Fire Marshall establishes the requirements or procedures for
dealing with heating oil tanks that are no longer in service. The Uniform Fire
Code
requires than an underground heating oil tank that has
been out of service for a period of
one year be: |
| Removed from the
ground, or |
| Closed in place |
|
| The decision as to which option will be
required is up to the local Fire Chief. (Reference: Uniform Fire Code, Section
7902.1.7.2.3). |
| Tanks Closed In Place. If
an underground heating oil tank is closed in place the following requirements must be met |
| Flammable and combustible liquids, as well
as sludge, must be removed from the tank and connected piping; |
The suction, inlet,
gauge, vapor return and vapor lines must be
disconnected; |
Remaining underground
piping and openings must be permanently capped or plugged; |
A record of the tank
size, location and date of abandonment must be maintained; and |
*The tank must be filled with an approved, inert solid material. |
*Effective
July
1,1998, an exception to the requirement that the
tank must be filled with an inert material is provided for
residential heating oil tanks of 1100 gallons heating oil tanks of 1100 gallons or less, provided the fill line is permanently capped or plugged,
below grade, to prevent refilling of the tank. (Reference: WAC 51A4-7900). The decision as
to whether this exception will be allowed is up to the local Fire Chief.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING HEATING OIL
TANKS: Heating oil tanks (including underground tank systems) used for storing
heating oil for consumption on the premises where stored are exempted from regulations and
rules of the Department of Ecology. If, however, a spill or release from a tank causes
extensive contamination, Ecology may become involved. Some local governments may have
regulations for heating oil tanks. Check with your local Fire Chief.
What Do Heating Oil Tank Services
Cost: Service providers for heating oil tanks vary in work experience, services
provided and fees charged for services. The cost of heating oil tank services may vary
depending on the size, location and accessibility of the tank. Cost may also vary widely
among companies performing the same work or service. You should get more than one bid from
one service provider for the scope of work you may be considering, as well as the costs of
work or services being proposed.
Do not hesitate to ask potential service
providers for references. Make sure anyone you do business with is licensed and bonded.
Always remember that if contamination is present on your property, you are the party that
may be held liable for damages.
Removal of one underground heating oil
tank, (300 to 1000 gallon capacity), cleaning and disposal of the tank, and
backfilling the hole should cost between $700 and $1,200. If a tank is closed in place, sludge and
remaining oil must be removed. This usually mounts to 10 to 15 gallons and should cost no
more than $200.
Site assessments and soil sampling do not
have to be performed by a certified UST Site Assessor. Assessments completed by a
certified UST Site Assessor might cost more and are neither required nor necessary.
Soil sampling may be required as part of a
site assessment. Samples should be taken where major or extensive leaks are most likely to
occur, not next to the fill pipe of an underground tank, or where routine overfill spills
may have occurred. The cost of sampling soil to test for TPH should be $100 to $150 per
sample. No more than three samples should be necessary.
If contaminated soil must be removed from
the site, a reasonable cost for excavation, loading and unloading, transport, disposal and
taxes is $110 to $200 per cubic yard if less than 30 cubic yards are removed. If the
contractor provides an estimate in terms of cost per ton, use an estimate of 1 cubic yard
1.4 tons ($140 per cubic yard = $100 per ton). In-situ bioremediation is an alternative to
removing soil, particularly if the location of the tank is an impediment to heavy
equipment accessibility or structural integrity, safety a concern, or time is not a
factor.
A cost and fee guideline has been
published by PLIA for heating oil tank related services, and is available on request. |
INTRODUCTION Over the past few years, difficulty has arisen
in closing real estate transactions involving properties with an active or abandoned
heating oil tank. Sellers of properties with an active or abandoned heating oil tank are
being required to spend considerable sums to either remove a heating oil tank that is no
longer in service, or to clean up contamination that is minor in nature and does not
constitute a threat to human health and the environment.
ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE: As
resources permit, PLIA will provide informal advice and technical assistance to the owners
and operators of active or abandoned heating oil tanks if contamination resulting from a
release is suspected. Advice and assistance provided includes:
Observation of sampling and testing,
site assessment or other appropriate assessments scheduled by the tank owner
Interpretation of the results of testing
and/or assessment's); and
A report from PLIA to the heating oil
tank owner of the results of testing and/or assessments.
The heating oil tank owner or operator
will select a service provider to perform sampling and testing, site assessment or other
appropriate assessment activities. A representative of PLIA will be present during testing
and site assessment activity to ensure that tests are properly conducted and samples
correctly taken. The tank owner is responsible for payment of costs associated with soil
sampling and site assessment.
PLIA will, in writing, inform the heating
oil tank owner of the results of review and assessment of data. The agency report will
note whether it appears there is or is not contamination present. (These letters are often
referred to as No Further Action Letters.)
PLIA is required to collect the costs
incurred in providing advice and assistance; travel costs and expenses associated with
monitoring site assessment, review of reports and analyses and preparation of written
opinions. The fee for advice and assistance is $350.00.
To receive more information on the program
and an application, contact PLIA at (360)586-5997 or
1-800-822-3905. http://www.plia.wa.gov
Corrective action to remove or treat
contamination from heating oil should not, in most cases, be perplexing. Dealing with
contaminated soil is usually not complicated. The presence, however, of contamination of
surface or groundwater, or the presence of fumes in a basement or crawl space may
complicate the problem and lead to more involved or costly courses of corrective action.
The satisfactory remediation level for
most residential soil contaminated with #2 heating oil or diesel fuel is 3000 mg/kg for
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). This is an interim policy pending completion of review
of WAC 173-340 in late 1998.
CLEANUP REQUIREMENTS: If
contamination from a spill or release from a heating oil tank does not pose an imminent
threat to human health or the environment (no vapors or groundwater contact noted),
cleanup does not have to be accomplished right away.
A property transfer may well prompt a
lender or purchaser to require cleanup prior to completion of the property transfer, but
there is no legal requirement for an immediate cleanup.
REPORTING LEAKS:
Minor
leaks or spills from heating oil tanks do not have to be reported to Ecology. If heating
oil contamination has caused any of the following situations, a report should be made to
the appropriate Ecology Regional Office within 90 days:
Contamination has reached adjoining
properties.
Contamination has affected a well or
groundwater
Oil has pooled on the surface of the
ground.
Contamination has caused vapor problems
in nearby buildings
If heating oil contamination has spread to
surface water such as a creek, lake, river, or storm sewer, you must report it immediately
to Ecology's Emergency Management Division at 800-258-5990.
RECORDS: Although there
is no legal requirement, you should consider keeping a copy of all correspondence related
to a heating oil tank project, including copies of testing and lab results. It is
advisable to take photos during any testing, corrective action or related activities. |
