When a plot of land has an underground storage tank (UST) that needs to be removed, as so often is the case with former service station lots and similar businesses, a UST removal or in-place closure becomes necessary should the land be repurposed by its new owners. Service stations close all the time, and these lots aren’t destined to go vacant forever, so buyers of these properties should always take into consideration whether they plan to use the storage tanks or if the underground storage tanks should be removed or closed in place so the land can be used for another purpose.
Follow this link for more information on Underground Storage Tank (UST) Removal.
When an in-place closure is needed the following steps will need to be followed:
1. DRAINING – The underground storage tank will first need to be completely drained of all remaining liquid or sludge, and this should always be done safely as well as in accordance with any federal, state and/or local laws and regulations.
2. CREATE OPENINGS – After the underground storage tank has been properly drained, openings will need to be created in order to fill the storage tank with a solid and safe material.
3. FILLING – Once the underground storage tank has been properly drained and openings have been created, the tank can be filled with an inert material. Often, the materials used to fill the tank are sand, concrete, a foaming agent, or flowable ash.
4. REMOVE SUPPLY – After the storage tank has been filled, it will then be ready for capping off and/or removing the supply lines that once were used to fill the tank with oil, gasoline, or any other liquid which the underground storage tank may have contained.
5. REMOVE VENTS – After the supply lines have been removed, the above-ground vents which once allowed the underground storage tank to vent any vapors which may have accumulated, can be removed.
6. REMOVE FILL PIPE – Along with the supply lines and vents, the supply pipe will also need to be removed as the storage tank will no longer be receiving a supply of liquid.
7. BACKFILLING – Once the underground storage tank has been filled, and all parts have been removed, the area can be backfilled.
If you plan to remove an underground storage tank (UST) or perform an in-place closure, it is important to have an environmental professional on hand to make sure that all steps are being performed in accordance with federal, state and/or local law as well as to ensure that the entire process is managed in an environmentally safe way. At Point to Point Environmental, our environmental scientists are skilled in all aspects of in-place closures as well as UST removals. For more information or to schedule a UST removal or in-place closure contact us today.
For more information on USTs visit the GA Environmental Protection Division’s website here – Underground Storage Tanks.