Leaking Oil Tanks

Selling, buying or listing an older property?

Protect against possible future liabilities. Schedule a site inspection now.

Many home owners are unaware of the presence of old underground heating oil tanks on their properties. A Cedar Rock site inspection will locate any oil or gasoline storage tanks on the property, and determine whether or not they have leaked. Cedar Rock can then advise and assist you in meeting regulatory requirements if a tank has leaked.

Selling/Buying Properties with Soil Contamination

Leakage must be reported.

Leakage from oil or gasoline tanks must be reported to the State, and a “Notice of Residual Petroleum” (NRP) must be filed before the property is conveyed. A filed NRP is required before the State will issue a “No Further Action” (NFA) letter for a contaminated site.

The NRP and NFA letter are usually acceptable and sufficient for buyers, lenders and insurers, but in some cases they may require environmental assessment and/or cleanup of the site beyond the requirements of the State.

In many cases, current legislation does not require the removal or abandonment of a leaking residential underground storage tank (UST), or cleanup of the contaminated soils, but Cedar Rock recommends proper abandonment or removal of an underground storage tank, whether or not it has already leaked, to prevent the kind of expensive situation pictured below.

Surface overflow leak from old underground oil tank.

Heavy rainfall flooded the oil out of this old heating oil tank. Removing the contaminated soils is expensive and disruptive to the landscape. Properly abandoning old tanks prevents situations like this.

Aboveground Tank Leaks

Environmental assessment may be required.

Aboveground storage tank (AST) regulations require the removal of leaking ASTs, and soil cleanup or assessment. If the soils cannot be cleaned up to the required standards, further environmental assessment work may be required by the State, and a filed NRP will be required before the property is conveyed.

Aboveground oil tanks are often located in crawlspace or basement areas which makes removal of contaminated soils difficult and expensive. Vapors from oil leaks in these areas may enter the living space of the house and become a significant health issue.

Corroded underground oil tank after removal.

Corroded underground oil tank after removal.

Experienced Oil Tank Services

Since 1994, Cedar Rock has offered oil tank removal, abandonment, and environmental assessment services throughout North Carolina. Our fully documented tank abandonments ensure that underground oil tanks will not cause any further environmental issues, and provide proof that the work was completed.

If tank removal is preferable or required in your situation, Cedar Rock will perform the necessary work with the least possible disturbance of the landscape.

Soil or environmental assessment must be performed by a NC licensed geologist or engineer, and the company offering these services must also be licensed to practice geology in North Carolina.

Site Inspections Essential

Protect your investment!

Before you buy or list a property, schedule an inspection to locate any oil tanks, determine whether they have leaked, and assess other relevant factors that can impact the application of the regulations to the property. Cedar Rock will then explain the regulatory requirements that apply to your situation, and outline possible courses of action. This will provide the necessary information to help protect you from the problems and expense that can result from the purchase of a property with a leaking oil tank, or from the delay or loss of a sale. Read the site inspections page for more information about site inspections.

Call 336 684-2734 to set up a site inspection, or use our online contact form.