Aboveground Oil Tanks

Many houses built before the mid 1960s used heating oil which was stored in either an underground or aboveground tank. Aboveground storage tanks (AST) were usually located in the crawlspace, basement, or against a wall of the house. In many cases, an aboveground tank was installed to replace a leaking underground storage tank (UST).

As is required for releases from underground tanks, aboveground oil tank leaks must be reported to the State and a Notice of Residual Petroleum must be filed if soil contamination cannot be removed. However:

Leaking above ground oil tank.

A leaking above ground oil tank.

Leaking ASTs are potentially a greater liability than a leaking underground tank.

  • Regulations require excavation of contaminated soils and soil and groundwater sampling in most cases.
  • Further environmental assessment work may be required.
  • Aboveground tanks often cause leakage beneath residential structures, limiting access for the removal of impacted soil, and requiring expensive hand excavation of contaminated soils.

Case history of a leaking aboveground oil tank.

Soil excavation beneath house required by a leaking AST.

Soil excavations beneath a house are difficult and expensive but necessary to remove health issues posed by oil vapor from the contaminated soils.

The photo below shows an excavation pit in the crawlspace of a house. When the current owner purchased the house, the AST was removed but he chose not to inspect the underlying soil. Two years later the next buyer, upon learning of the former AST, did have the soils inspected and discovered significant contamination. The leak had to be reported and the contamination removed. Ignoring the possibility of soil contamination meant that the original buyer incurred significant expense profit to cleanup the soils to acceptable standards! Don’t ignore the possibility of leaks from aboveground tanks!

Removing aboveground tanks.

AST in basement with slow leak from the fuel lines.

This AST in a basement was not leaking but there had been a slow leak from the fuel lines. The oil vapors entering a residential space are a high risk factor and cleanup will be required.

Great care is required in removing aboveground tanks that still contain oil. Although they may not be leaking, they may have significant corrosion that is not immediately apparent. When the tank is moved this corrosion may cause a sudden, significant leakage from the tank. Very quickly you will have a significant environmental and health problem espcially if the tank is located beneath a house. Cedar Rock offers experienced aboveground tank removal services that minimize the chance of any leakage from the tank. We recommend that you do not remove an aboveground tank that still contains oil by yourself, or with inexperienced help.

Site inspections essential.

Aboveground tanks can cause serious problems. Always schedule a site inspection of any property of interest that may have, or may have had, an aboveground heating oil tank. Cedar Rock will determine if an aboveground tank has leaked and advise you on the possible courses of action. Cedar Rock is able to provide the services required to satisfy any regulatory requirements and help you obtain a "No Further Action" letter from the NCDEQ. Call us at 336 684-2734 or use our online contact form to schedule a site inspection now.