This is a very important question for anyone who has an oil tank, especially if you are planning on removing it. You will want to be asking this question to yourself when you are shopping around for an oil tank contractor. If you do not, you will be making a mistake. Contractors are not always created the same and you will want a contractor that is honest about what needs to be done on your propery. You will want to hear the scenarios given to you by these different contractors with the hypothetical problem that your tank is leaking. There are three scenarios that could play out.

1. Once the tank is out of the ground, Simple Tank can have it inspected by a township official. This official is going to inspect the tank for holes and stained soil. Let’s just say that when the tank is removed, you can see oil in the ground. If you have that happening, you have to do remediation. Simple Tank would recommend a remediation.
2. Simple Tank could pull the tank. The official comes and holes are found to be present. There are visual signs of contaminated soil, such as stains. Simple Tank will tank a sample from the worst noticeable area where the leak has occurred. Simple Tank then sends that sample to a lab for testing. This process takes five days to get the results. The results will determine what the next steps are that are taken. The DEP has a threshold of 5,100 parts per million. If it is higher than 5,100, you will have to do remediation. You may have options to drill and extract samples to prove to the DEP that all samples are below the 5,100 mark. Simple Tank can also go out and remove a little bit of soil and make sure you are getting clean samples.
3. Simple tank could pull the tank and there could be noticeable holes, but no contamination. That would bring us to our third scenario. If your contractor calls the DEP and gets a case number without proving to you that there is contamination, that is not the proper thing to do. This will cost you extra unneeded money. Simple Tank will take three center line samples from the excavation and sending them to the lab. If those samples come back as nondetect, the results go to the town official.
Now, you know the steps that are to be taken if holes are found in your oil take upon removal. Clients have to be careful when choosing a contractor. Clients should be asking themselves and their contractors, “what will happen if my oil tank is found to be leaking and what options do I have”. You do not want to stick with a contractor who is going to make you go through unnecessary remediation. You are now equipped with the knowledge you need to hire a skilled experienced contractor who will provide you with a quality inspection.