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Homeowners with underground oil storage tanks may be in for an unpleasant and expensive surprise. Federal and State Agencies have recently introduced many tough regulations to help control the extensive damage that may occur from a leaking underground storage tank. A comprehensive review of the US Government's Underground Storage Tank program and history can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oust/aboutust.htm and it is a document that every homeowner who has an underground oil tank should read. Additionally, many states such as Massachusetts have recently issued a number of new certifications and requirements for homeowners. Many new regulations will be introduced in 2017 and strict compliance will be required from many unsuspecting Massachusetts homeowners. Failure to comply will result in these homeowners being finedMr. Dan Hoag of CommTank, Inc. , http://www.commtank.com, a Massachusetts based tank removal and installation company states "It is highly recommended that underground storage tanks be removed before they deteriorate and leak. This is not exactly what a homeowner wants to hear, yet it is the best solution." Although prices vary by region, cleaning up the damage from a leaked oil tank can easily cost between $6,000 and $8,000 assuming there is not any environmental damage. Some states, such as Virginia, have programs in place to help homeowner's cover the cost using money collected from oil taxes. Not all states have programs like this in place, however, and many of those that do are considering increasing the portion the homeowner has to pay.
Damaged and aging underground heating oil tanks are prone to leaking, which allows dangerous environmental toxins to be released. If this happens, an unsuspecting homeowner could be faced with the prospect of paying to have their tank removed and to clean up any environmental damage caused by the spill.
While some state governments may or may not help cover the expense of a leaked oil tank, usually a homeowner's insurance won't cover this expense. This type of problem is often excluded from coverage, leaving homeowners to deal with a big surprise if their tank leaks. A leaking tank can also cause a big surprise and headaches for neighbors if leakage has spilled over to their property.
In some instances, leaking oil into the ground isn't all that problematic. Left to its own devices, the oil in the ground will eventually break down naturally. But sometimes the oil leaks into areas where it can contaminate drinking water, affecting all of the people who rely on the contaminated water. It takes only cup of oil to contaminate an Olympic-sized swimming pool, so a full tank that leaks can be quite an issue. Soil contamination can also be a problem if the leak is close enough to a building to fill it with fumes or when the leak occurs in an area where wildlife may be affected.
Unfortunately, things can get much worse than localized contamination. In 2000, an underground oil tank at a textile plant sprung a leak that released 2,450 gallons of heating oil into the ground. This oil made its way to a storm drain where it traveled some distance, contaminating the ground and water along the way. The cleanup effort required 380 tons of contaminated soil to be removed along with 547,000 gallons of contaminated water and 28,000 pounds of general oil-soaked waste.
As is often true in life, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Underground oil tanks are only meant to be used for 20 to 25 years, so home owners that don't know how old their tank is should make an effort to find out and have it tested. It is recommended that a tank be checked and tested regularly to stop problems before they start and consider having underground tanks removed and replaced with a more easily monitored above-ground tank. This option is best because, as CommTank explains, "testing cannot predict what will happen to the tank next year, next month or even the next day."
About Comtank, Inc: A family owned business since 1994, CommTank, Inc has provided fast, affordable, reliable service to more than 32,000 Massachusetts residential and commercial customers for both large and small projects. Whether it’s testing the integrity of home heating oil tanks or replacing a 10,000 gallon underground fuel oil storage system, Commtank use the most advanced tools and sophisticated technology to provide home-owners with a cost-effective, environmentally sound solution whatever the size and scope of the job.
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Name: Jim O'Donnell
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Organization: 2 The Top Marketing
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