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Bulk Oil Storage Tanks - NYS DEC presentation to NY Metro ASHI Home Inspectors
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• What to do about onsite residential oil storage tanks, buried oil tanks (USTs) and above ground oil tanks (ASTs)
• Oil Tank Leak reporting requirements

In this document, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation informs home inspectors of their reporting requirements when an oil tank is observed to be leaking.

This information was presented to the New York Metro ASHI Chapter Seminar (American Society of Home Inspectors) in May, 1993 by Jacqueline Sibblies, a chemical engineer with the NYS DEC Offered a slide presentation on "Petroleum Bulk Storage" at the April NY Metro ASHI Educational session. Sketch at page top courtesy of Carson Dunlop.

The presentation dealt primarily with bulk fuel storage tanks that are larger than 1,100 gallons. Such tanks fall under the NYS Petroleum Bulk Storage Law. However, much of what was covered had implications for home inspectors. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Reporting Requirements on the Discovery of Leaking Residential and Other Oil Storage Tanks

According to Ms. Sibblies, leaking petroleum storage tanks are a major source of groundwater contamination. Fuel leaking from damaged tanks can seep through the ground, get into an aquifer, and contaminate a water supply, causing wells to be shut down.

The DEC estimates that there may be as many as 160,000 tanks in New York State storing petroleum and subject to DEC regulations. Many of these tanks were installed underground in the 1950's and 1960's, and are bare steel. DEC authorities and other experts believe that many have become weakened by rust and have a 50% chance of developing leaks.

When inspecting a house, if the tank is larger than 1,100 gallons, the buyer should be advised that the DEC requires registration and periodic testing of such tanks and their piping. Inspectors should advise their clients that tank testing should be performed by the present owner and results be made available to the buyers.

It is prudent to advise buyers to have even smaller tanks tested, even though it is not a requirement. If there is room in the basement or garage, it would be wise to recommend that the existing tank be deactivated and a new tank be installed indoors.

If leakage is detected during a home inspection, it should be reported within two hours to the DEC. The toll-free, Spill Hotline number is 800-457-7362.

Free publications dealing with this topic are available from the DEC. For a list of such publications call the NYS DEC help line at 800-242-4351.

Buried and Above Ground Oil Storage Tanks References & More Information on USTs

The Buried and Above Ground Oil Storage Tank Website inspection, testing, replacement of leaky or leak-risk heating oil storage tanks at residential properties

Technical Reviewers & References

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^TM Website
• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
• NFPA - the National Fire Protection Association can be found online at www.nfpa.org
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

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