Unless updated and properly repaired and maintained, underground oil tanks can be a major environmental liability to NJ commercial properties and companies. Particularly for steel underground oil tanks, their useful lifespan only lasts for so long before corrosion becomes a problem, allowing for tank failure and ultimately, oil leaching and contaminating the surrounding area. The nature of underground tanks — moisture in the soil and potential acidity — can expedite that corrosion.
If your company has a steel tank on site, tank failure is an inevitability. Regular maintenance and inspections can work to prolong the life of the tank or at least alert you to the potential for leaks and other problems sooner rather than later. However, it’s a good idea to have an understanding of what underground oil tank removal entails, and perhaps to make a contingency plan for how you will deal with tank removal when the time comes. When you are ready for it, and you know what kind of shape the tank is in, the process can be easier.
Some companies are well aware that they have underground oil tanks in place that need to be removed, while others may be surprised to discover a tank in the ground that has to be removed for safety and compliance purposes. Tanks may or may not be decommissioned already, when a company realizes that they need to have the tank removed. No matter the situation or how complex it may be, IEC is here to help.
Our Steps to Underground Oil Tank Removal in NJ
IEC understands the importance of a careful, comprehensive approach to underground oil tank removal for our NJ customers.
There are certain logistical steps that must be taken before a tank can be removed. That means getting the right permits and having utilities marked out before digging, which we can help your company accomplish before coming on site.
We excavate carefully based on our understanding of the site developed in consultation with the property owners and our own site visits. We aim to excavate in the least disruptive manner possible, exposing the tank to allow for pumping out the oil inside. We then check for and address any hazardous vapors.
Because underground oil tanks are of course buried, it is imperative that people involved in removing the tank have confined space training and skill. This is one of our areas of expertise, so you can count on IEC to safely enter small spaces like tanks.
We clean the tank, then remove it, placing the tank securely for transport and disposal along with any oil or other liquids we have pumped out of the tank. You can rely on us to complete these final steps and provide you with any reports or documentation you need to keep in compliance and keep accurate records for your own business.
If a client is unsure of whether a tank has leaked, IEC will work to help determine the integrity of the tank after the underground oil tank removal. We inspect the tank visually to indicate if it appears intact or if it did leak. Any odors of oil, visible stains, or visual evidence of oil outside of the tank are also indicators that we will note. Soil sampling and assessment can help determine any next steps that may be warranted, such as land remediation services.
Our services are available as both a scheduled response or on an emergency basis. We strive for customer satisfaction in all that we do and pride ourselves on our attention to detail and quick response time. Contact us today to learn more about our underground oil tank removal services.