Oil Tank removal?

Like you, we decided to pull a tank under our patio about 5 years ago because buyers won’t purchase homes these days with a UST. There is no legal requirement to pull them but brokers and attorneys advise people not to buy properties with existing tanks, even if they were properly decommissioned. We talked to two companies - one company mentioned above said they might damage our house because the tank was in a tight space so we went with the other and they did a great job.  I can look up the info if you DM me. The tank was intact and the town came out the same day and signed off.  The State will not get involved under these circumstances and unless you have specific tank coverage, contamination for your property is likely excluded under your HO insurance but there may be third-party coverage if it has migrated off-site into soil or groundwater.

I don't think a buyer will accept a sand filled tank.  They can still rot out, and any leftover oil is still a contaminant.  I would only if it was a distressed property and I was getting enough of a break to assume the risk.

reservationgirl said:

  So, I went back through my house papers, and I found a UCC Certificate of Approval from when we bought the house, signed by Anthony Grenci, the construction official in the town at that time - 1995. It says "Fill with sand a 550 gallon underground storage tank as it was close to the gas and water lines". A-OK?

 No.  I had the same.  Do show it to whoever  you hire to do the tank removal as it confirms size of tank.  (But as others said, not impossible to find more than one once you dig--though that is not typical.)

Filling with sand (or gravel) was required by law before a sale until, I believe 2001 when the law changed and now requires complete removal.  Testing was not required.  The approval was based on on a cursory look-see.

In my case, the tank (1000 gal) was partially filled with gravel--near the opening--and otherwise full of water (which had been contributing to water issues in that part of the yard) and that made a big mess, and issues with the testing when it all poured out.

In short, all it really means is that a/the prior owner followed the law at that time.

(And if you want another name to consider, send me a private message.  I don't post folks publicly, unless I know they are comfortable with having their name broadcast.  This guy is pretty busy and might not appreciate that.  But one-to-one referral I am fine with.)

hauscat said:

Like you, we decided to pull a tank under our patio about 5 years ago because buyers won’t purchase homes these days with a UST. There is no legal requirement to pull them but brokers and attorneys advise people not to buy properties with existing tanks, even if they were properly decommissioned. We talked to two companies - one company mentioned above said they might damage our house because the tank was in a tight space so we went with the other and they did a great job.  I can look up the info if you DM me. The tank was intact and the town came out the same day and signed off.  The State will not get involved under these circumstances and unless you have specific tank coverage, contamination for your property is likely excluded under your HO insurance but there may be third-party coverage if it has migrated off-site into soil or groundwater.

The banks won't allow it either.

we had our 500 gallon tank removed a few years ago, my advice is to STAND THERE AND WATCH THEM THE ENTIRE TIME! My guy quoted that same low price but reported an "oil spill" to the NJDEP when he shouldn't have, the fill sand in the bottom of the tank had a slight oily smell. Once it's reported, you can't do anything but re-excavate and soil remediation, testing etc to get that NFA letter. I fired him once I found out what actually happened, I called the local fuel oil company figuring they'd know a competent and honest contractor. They were not cheap but we got it cleaned up with a minimum of drama, I watched them work and saw that there was no sign of oil residue. For history, the previous owner sand filled the tank in the 70's when he converted to gas and I had it tested before we bought the house with 3 soil cores IIRC. I was extra frustrated because Christie was letting Exxon off the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in cleanup after they had been found to be dumping millions of gallons into the wetlands!!! Well, onto the next chapter... anyone know about asbestos removal?