Old Oil Tank Issue

Billnoy · 01-09-2008, 09:06 AM

The home we're in has an underground oil tank in place that was decommisioned 14 years ago but never registered with the DEQ.
We want to sell the home this spring, and need to get this taken care of.
I need to contract with someone to test the soil for us and certify ( if it's not contaminated) the earlier work.
Has anyone had this type of work done , and would you be willing to recommend them. I would be more comfortable working with a recommendation than just picking a company from the DEQ's "service provider list".

Thanks

WaterDog · 01-09-2008, 09:14 AM

Pm sent

dlgobeavs · 01-09-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billnoy

The home we're in has an underground oil tank in place that was decommisioned 14 years ago but never registered with the DEQ.
We want to sell the home this spring, and need to get this taken care of.
I need to contract with someone to test the soil for us and certify ( if it's not contaminated) the earlier work.
Has anyone had this type of work done , and would you be willing to recommend them. I would be more comfortable working with a recommendation than just picking a company from the DEQ's "service provider list".

Thanks

Soil Solutions... they've done 3 for me. No problems on any of the jobs.

Dave

CamoHunter · 01-09-2008, 10:58 AM

Don't mean to highjack your thread, but is this certification required now before you sell?

Thanks,

CH

dlgobeavs · 01-09-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamoHunter

Don't mean to highjack your thread, but is this certification required now before you sell?

Thanks,

CH

It isn't required to sell, but any agent worth their salt will request at a minimum an inspection, and most will require decommissioning. The reason, is that if there is a contamination, the new buyer will become responsible for cleanup if the tank is disclosed prior to sale.

I'm a real estate broker... that's my take anyways.

Joe C · 01-09-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlgobeavs

It isn't required to sell, but any agent worth their salt will request at a minimum an inspection, and most will require decommissioning. The reason, is that if there is a contamination, the new buyer will become responsible for cleanup if the tank is disclosed prior to sale.

I'm a real estate broker... that's my take anyways.

yup, and leaky tanks can be expensive to haul out and excavate all the contaminated soil. The fire department can get involved, you need analytical work done, and hazardous waste shipping costs for the impacted soil. I wouldn't buy any property with a heating tank unless an investigation has been done to show there's no leak.

Abalone · 01-09-2008, 01:02 PM

And what a joke this can be. When I sold my parents property they had an above ground tank that I disposed of. There was nothing to it. Cut a hole big enough to shine a flashlight in it and wipe out the oil with a rag.
Some potential buyers had some kind of phobia about an Oil tank in the ground that didn't exists. We tried to explain to her that it would be stupid to put an oil tank in the ground because we were in a flood plain.
Consequently we did sell the house to her but we did sell it to the next guy.

Oil Tanks are constructed in ways to withstand buriel. I doubt if you'll find very many that ever leak......

Honest ! it's no big deal...

Jaws · 01-09-2008, 01:29 PM

[quote=Abalone;
Oil Tanks are constructed in ways to withstand buriel. I doubt if you'll find very many that ever leak......

Honest ! it's no big deal...[/quote]

Yup! Most leaks start around joints and piping.

Chromaflage · 01-09-2008, 01:31 PM

Billnoy - I sent you a PM with a couple options. Buy decomissioned, do you mean removed or decommed in place (filled with concrete or sand)? And was all the piping removed at the same time? I did mine myself about 7 years ago. It was leaking - had a hole in the tank itself about the size of a nickel. I knew someone with a small excavator and dump truck - it's not hazardous waste, but it needs to be treated as such. It was about $500 to take one load to an incineration place. If you have a high water table, that's where you could get into some problems. But after 14 years, much that could have been there has likely attenuated naturally.

billnoy06 · 01-09-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chromaflage

Billnoy - I sent you a PM with a couple options. Buy decomissioned, do you mean removed or decommed in place (filled with concrete or sand)? And was all the piping removed at the same time? I did mine myself about 7 years ago. It was leaking - had a hole in the tank itself about the size of a nickel. I knew someone with a small excavator and dump truck - it's not hazardous waste, but it needs to be treated as such. It was about $500 to take one load to an incineration place. If you have a high water table, that's where you could get into some problems. But after 14 years, much that could have been there has likely attenuated naturally.

Chromaflage
The tank, at the time was drained,cleaned and filled with sand. I have photos of the process. The fill pipe and the supply line were removed also. The furnace was replaced with a heat pump, and that was the reason for the decommision.They did'nt test the soil because there was no known leak, and it was'nt required at the time(?). I'm considering the options that you offered earlier, but leaning toward having it done so that I won't have any future liability.
Bill

negoc8 · 01-10-2008, 07:48 AM

Good on you Billnoy. This kind of pre-sale preparation will make for a much smoother transaction for you and your buyer. I have been involved with a number of tank decommisions over the years. Make sure you get correct info from qualified people.
Poke around in this link, you will find some good info.
http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/tanks/hot/index.htm