Executive Summary
- Underground oil tanks can cause leaks that lead to soil contamination. If left unchecked, contaminated soil can hinder plant growth, send toxic fumes into the air, and pollute groundwater.
- Oil leaks can also clog soil and prevent air or water from reaching plant roots. Sometimes, oil-saturated dirt can shift around and generate instability for structures on the property.
- Removing unused underground oil tanks can help you preserve your property’s value, protect the environment, and minimize liability risks associated with regulatory compliance.
- You may be fined if you neglect the legal responsibilities of owning an underground storage tank. In Oregon, you can face a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation daily.
Understanding Why Underground Oil Tanks Removal Is Important
Underground oil tanks pose hidden dangers that can negatively affect property value and the surrounding environment. For example, an oil tank leak can lead to soil contamination, hinder vegetation growth, and potentially make inhabitants sick.
Scheduling a professional-led environmental site assessment can help determine if an unused oil tank on your property presents ecological hazards. If so, removing the underground storage tank (UST) may be imperative to ensure safety, protect your property value, and guarantee regulatory compliance.
Educating yourself on the potential environmental hazards and legal responsibilities associated with oil tanks is vital for all property owners who own land with USTs. Hire a trusted environmental remediation company to perform soil testing to determine if your property is contaminated and if your UST needs to be removed.
Environmental Hazards of Underground Oil Tanks
When left unchecked, USTs can deteriorate and generate leaks, posing various threats to the ecosystem surrounding your property. If you do not have a professional remove your oil tank, you may be subjected to the following environmental hazards.
Soil Contamination Risks
When underground oil tanks leak, they can release harmful hydrocarbons into the soil. Petroleum hydrocarbons can hamper soil health even at low concentrations, negatively affecting microorganisms that help make nutrients available. Without these microorganisms, plant growth can be obstructed, leading to various problems for grazing animals and insects.
High soil contamination levels may prevent seed germination altogether. Additionally, oil’s thick, sticky nature can clog soil and inhibit water and air movement to plant roots, potentially causing drought-like conditions. If the leaking tank is not addressed promptly, the impact of the contaminated soil can worsen, negatively affecting neighboring areas.
If you do not remove damaged or unused oil tanks in a timely manner, your property may require costly remediation efforts.
Groundwater Contamination
After seeping into the soil, oil tank leaks can pollute groundwater, ruining potable water sources and disturbing nearby ecosystems. In addition to endangering human health, contaminated water can harm plants and animals. For example, grass and other forms of vegetation that have absorbed contaminated water can be dangerous for animals to eat.
In most places, including Oregon, environmental regulations, such as the drinking water rules outlined by OAR Chapter 333 Division 61, may hold property owners responsible for the water quality they offer inhabitants. Suppose a renter gets sick from oil-tainted water due to the landlord’s negligence in removing a UST. In that case, the renter may be able to file a lawsuit against the property owner, requesting financial compensation.
Long-Term Environmental Impact
Underground storage tank leaks can gradually but significantly negatively impact the environment. Small leaks can eventually harm more extensive areas by spreading pollutants through the groundwater and soil. The more time that passes without discovering the leak, the more expensive and widespread the contamination can get.
Sometimes, a UST leak can release fumes from toxic chemicals, such as benzene and toluene, which can leach into the air and cause respiratory issues, headaches, and, in extreme situations, severe diseases like cancer. Moreover, the wet, contaminated soil may shift and generate instability, increasing the risk of structural damage to any buildings on your property.
Without prompt tank decommissioning and removal, you may have to schedule more substantial remediation services, such as groundwater treatment and soil removal. Early detection and quick action are essential to minimizing damage and the overall cleanup burden.
Safety Concerns Associated with Underground Oil Tanks
Understanding underground oil tanks and their accompanying risks is crucial for anyone managing a property with a UST. Some examples of safety concerns associated with underground oil tanks are:
- Fire and explosion risks – Damaged or age-worn oil tanks can catch fire or explode due to the flammable vapor that can accumulate and seep through fissures, mainly if the UST is still used or improperly decommissioned.
- Health risks – Fumes from certain oils can cause respiratory issues after penetrating the surface. Plus, direct contact with contaminated soil can generate other health issues like skin irritation.
- Structural damage – Oil leaks can change the composition of dirt and move it around, potentially weakening building foundations or damaging nearby structures. This can lead to costly repairs and decrease the property value.
Prompt detection and remediation are essential to mitigate these risks. Have a reliable environmental remediation company perform a comprehensive residential tank sweep to search for USTs on your property. The environmental professionals should also be able to help with tank decommissioning and removal.
Professional Underground Storage Tank Services
Alpha Environmental supports you with your underground storage tank, providing tank sweeps, tank decommisioning, UST removal, and more.
Regulatory Compliance and Legal Responsibilities
Amongst many other places, Oregon has UST rules and regulations that dictate how heating oil tanks should be handled. For example, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) states several expectations for residential properties’ heating oil tank cleanup process.
Under OAR 340-177-0055, the DEQ demands a written initial cleanup report to be submitted to their department within 45 days of a reported release if any of the following conditions exist at a cleanup site:
- If groundwater is encountered during the investigation or cleanup process
- If there are lingering fire or safety hazards posed by vapors or free product
- If site cleanup is not expected to start until 45 days after the reported release
Also, the decommissioning of an oil tank has to be carried out by an accredited entity that has satisfied the licensing requirements laid out by ORS 466.868
Potential Penalties
Property owners may be subjected to legal penalties such as fines if they do not abide by their statewide rules. For Oregon residents, ORS 466.994 states that anyone who violates rules submitted under ORS 466.882 or any order or permit issued by the DEQ may be subjected to a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation daily.
Therefore, working with an experienced environmental remediation company familiar with local, state, and federal laws surrounding USTs is crucial.
Why You Should Remove Underground Oil Tanks
It can be imperative to remove an underground oil tank for various reasons, ranging from safety to regulatory compliance. The following objectives are some of the most common reasons for having a UST removed.
Protecting Property Value
Removing an underground oil tank might avert issues that could devalue the property. If there is a leaking tank, it can result in expensive cleanup costs and safety hazards, making the property less appealing to buyers. Leaks could also impede vegetation growth, making the outdoor areas look barren and undesirable. To protect the market value of your property, you should remove unused USTs.
Reducing Liability Risks
Unused oil tanks should be removed as soon as possible to reduce the financial and legal risks that can arise if your hazardous leak harms people, animals, or the environment. Removing a UST from your property can keep costly lawsuits and cleanup expenses at bay, saving you from severe financial consequences by addressing such problems early on.
Contributing to Environmental Preservation
Being responsible and proactively removing underground oil tanks can support environmental preservation by preventing pollution. Property owners can contribute to a healthier environment and protect natural resources for future generations by avoiding releasing harmful substances into the soil and groundwater.
If you are not using the UST on your property, it is best to have it removed by qualified professionals to achieve the goals listed above.
How Alpha Environmental Services Can Help
If not decommissioned or removed by a qualified professional, an unused oil tank can threaten your property, its inhabitants, and the surrounding environment. As oil tanks age, they are more vulnerable to damage and leaks that can send harmful substances into the soil and air. If left unchecked, oil tank leaks can hinder plant growth, cause structural instability, and negatively affect the health of inhabitants by polluting the groundwater and releasing toxic fumes.
If you are a property owner in or near Portland, Oregon, Alpha Environmental can offer top-of-the-line underground storage tank services, such as tank scans, sweeps, decommissioning, and soil sampling, to ensure your property is safe and not at risk of an oil tank leak. We can also perform accurate environmental site assessments and septic tank services to help minimize soil contamination risks. Our experienced, certified team has extensive knowledge of local regulations and a commitment to delivering high-quality service.
Contact Alpha Environmental today to have any UST or environmental concerns addressed by dependable experts.
