Excavating, Sampling and Disposing of Oil or Gasoline Contaminated Soil

    There are many regulations in New York State (NYS) regarding the removal and disposal of soil that has been contaminated by oil or gasoline.  The regulating agency is the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Information regarding these regulations can be found on their website http://www.dec.ny.gov/.

      If Heating Oil, Diesel Fuel, Kerosene or Gasoline, leaks or spills in the soil, the impacted areas should be excavated and the soil safely disposed of.  If you encounter this you should notify the NYSDEC spill hotline (800) 457-7362 and contact an environmental company, Barrier Contracting, LLC, for advice.  The proper disposal includes collecting soil samples of the impacted soil to be analyzed by a certified lab. The samples can be collected after the soil is excavated and stockpiled or prior to excavation.  The results are then sent to the licensed disposal facility for review. Once approved, the contaminated soil can be loaded and shipped to the disposal facility by a specialized hauler.

     After the contaminated soil has been removed, a consultant or specialized contractor, like Barrier, collects endpoint samples from the four walls and the base.  Again, these samples are sent to a certified lab to be certified.  When sampling, the sampler must also fill out a chain of custody for the sample, these are usually signed by the sampler, transporter and laboratory technician.  These “endpoint” or “post excavation” samples will be used to determine if all of the contamination has been removed. Once, confirmed that the soil is now free of contamination, backfill can be brought in to replace the contaminated soil that has been removed.

    While this seems like a simple process, it is extremely important to hire the right professional to guide you through the process.  There are many companies to choose from in Westchester and Putnam County.  Be sure to ask for references or read reviews (Angie’s list is also a great tool).  Choosing the wrong contractor can add to the time and cost of the clean-up.  The professional must be aware of the regulations and protocols involved with cleaning up oil contamination.  All of the information, analytics, manifests, weight tickets, etc, must be included in a concise report describing the work that transpired and proving the contamination has been properly removed and disposed of.

Oil Tank Removal and Installation Photos

Bellow are some pictures of the work that Barrier Contracting has done. We remove and install heating oil tanks of all sizes. 

Oil Tank Testing

Whether you are buying or selling a house, it is important to know if the oil tank has or is leaking. If removal is not an option we recommend testing the oil tank and the soils around it.

    One of the most common misconceptions about oil tank testing is that is done with pressure. In fact, the opposite is done. When a tester performs a tank test he puts your tank under 3 pounds of vacuum and places a microphone in your tank. The down side is there are many reasons a tank can FAIL a tank test, causing a spill number to be created.

      Sometimes the 3 pounds isn't enough to pull air through holes in the bottom of leaky tanks and other times the tank may fail due to a piping issue. For more information http://barrier.com/failedtanktest.html

      We advise our clients; buyers, sellers and home owners to replace the underground storage tank with an above ground heating oil tank.  Especially when it is an older tank.  At least you will have a new tank afterwards.

     Another way is to test the soil around the tank. This is called a subsurface investigation or tank assessment.  This investigation tests the soil and/or water around your oil tank.  It allows you to know whether the soil/water around the tank has been impacted.

     In the end, any single wall underground home heating oil tank should be replaced with an above ground oil tank.  Even if the tank passes a tank test or subsurface analysis.

Helpful tips for buying a home with oil heat.

   When purchasing a home, it is important to know whether the home has or has had an oil tank.  If a “petroleum release” has occurred, it is the responsibility of the property owner to pay for all costs associated with the remediation of the contamination.  As a buyer there are a few things you can do to determine the condition of the tank and the soil around it.  

·       Request any paper work from the town, city or village detailing that the work was done to code.

·       

         Determine if there is or was an oil tank

o   Site visit to perform a field assessment

o   Tile Probe Area Of Concern (AOC)

o   Use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

·       SoilTesting

o   Once the Area Of Concern (AOC) is established, Use soil probing technology to  insert 3 probes to a depth of 6-9 feet

o   Inspect the soil

§  Send the soil to the lab for analysis of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC’s) and Volatile Organic Compounds

o   Compare Lab analytics with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Standards

·       

          TankTesting

o   When a tank is found, a NYS licensed tank tester, applies a vacuum to the tank along with an acoustical test.

    The best way to know for sure is to remove the tank prior to closing. Removing the oil tank prior to closing not only shows the buyer you are serious but also relieves you of future remediation costs. 

Old oil tanks can be a costly liability if they leak.  Oil tanks that had previously been decommissioned can also leak if not done properly.

  Some or most new home owner insurance policies do not cover oil tanks and the costs associated with heating oil contamination. This is why it is important to know the condition of the tank and the soil around the tank.  For More information visit www.barrier.com or Call (914)760-2090