Decommissioning Residential Heating Oil Tanks

April 20th, 2009 by Rich Jacobson

Yeah, I know, not the most glamorous of blog titles, but I need to keep reminding myself the whole purpose behind SoundBiteBlog is to provide helpful, relevant information for my clients and potential clients of residential real estate here in Kitsap County WA.

Many of the older, turn-of-the-century homes here in the Bremerton WA area and outer-lying rural locations use or have used oil heating. Although many have been converted over to natural gas heating, the underground oil storage tanks may still remain on the property. As such, these unused tanks can pose potential problems for homeowners and the environment.

Most standard sized oil tanks can last up to 30 years or more before being subject to potential corrosion, and eventual leaking. A leaking oil tank can lead to some very serious problems for owners, such as:

Contamination of the soil on the subject property and adjacent properties
Contamination of groundwater if nearby wells are providing drinking water
Contamination of surface water, such as ponds, lakes, or rivers
Vapor seepage and accumulation under or in nearby buildings
Potential for sinkholes due to collapsing oil tanks

Property owners, both past and current, can be found liable for contamination from a leaking tank. This may result in some very costly reparations or legal proceedings. In addition, many mortgage lenders and Buyers require decommissioning of unused oil tanks before a real estate transaction can be finalized. As such, it’s usually in the best interests of all parties to either remove or decommission an unused heating oil tank.

There are two primary methods for resolving unused heating oil tanks – removal or decommissioning.

REMOVAL

Obviously, the best remedy is to remove/evacuate the tank completely. This ensures that adequate soil samples can be taken and all potentially contaminated soil can be more easily removed. Some lenders may require that the tank be removed as a condition of the sale. However, this method is also the most invasive and obviously requires that a portion of the property yard be excavated.

DECOMMISSIONING

Be sure to check with your local Fire Marshal or refer to County regulations to determine what steps are required and approved for oil tank decommissioning. Keep in mind the following points before selecting the appropriate method for you:

In some instances, soil samples will need to be taken beneath the tank to determine the extent of contamination, if any.

The costs for obtaining soil samples may be as much or more than the removal of the tank.

The tank must be pumped out and cleaned before it is decommissioned in place.

All internal tank liquids must be disposed of properly.

Some local ordinances may not allow for unused tanks to remain in place.

A tank that has been filled in place may be difficult to move at a later date.

It is my personal recommendation that you hire an experienced 3rd-party licensed professional contractor to perform the work, and provide you with documentation that verifies their work. That way you will better assured that the remedial action meets with any and all local or State regulations, and you have a recourse in the event of any future concerns.

Here in Kitsap County WA we have three predominant contractors who are experienced in oil tank removal and or decommissioning:

Don Depee with A& M Heating – 360.895.8580

Ray Lee with Poulsbo Heating – 360.779.9733

Dan Hayes with Peninsula Tank – 360.613.5866

For further reference, consult with the following WA State regulations, codes, and reports:

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA; RCW 70.105D)

WAC 173-340 (Toxic Control Act Clean-up Implementation)

1997 Uniform Fire Code (WAC 51-44)

WA Dept. of Ecology Report R-TC-92-117

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com and Crabbing in the Hood.

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