InspectAPedia ^TM

Buried Tank and Above Ground Oil Tank Leak Reporting & Tank Abandonment Regulations
OilTankAPedia ^©

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• Regulations for reporting oil tank leaks
• Regulations for abandoning oil storage tanks
• Federal and state contact points for oil tank regulations for all U.S. states and territories
• List of programs and agencies offering financial aid to replace leaking residential oil storage tanks

This document outlines the basic rules for reporting oil tank leaks and abandoning oil tanks which are no longer to be used. It provides locates and summarizes oil tank abandonment guidelines providing oil tank regulations for all of the U.S. states and for several Canadian provinces, it provides state and national building or environmental code references for abandoning oil tanks including procedures for temporary abandonment and for handling of tanks when converting to other fuels. In the U.S. some state regulations concerning underground or aboveground oil storage tanks can be a bit difficult to locate, or in a few cases they are non-existant. This document collects all of them and includes brief summary comments about various state oil tank regulation programs. Researchers wanting to compare oil tank regulation and statistics across the U.S. will want to refer to this document. We also provide links to programs offering financial aid to people lacking the means to pay for abandonment or removal of residential oil tanks both at a national and at state levels. [Programs offering such assistance are invited to contact us to add their information to this listing. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

We've been collecting copies of environmental regulations regarding oil storage tanks for U.S. states and Canadian provinces since 1990. Regulations regarding identification, testing, and removal or abandonment of buried tanks vary widely from state to state in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.

In the U.S. many state DEP/DEC/DNR (Departments of Environmental Conservation or similar agencies) have programs for registering buried tanks at any site storing more than 1100 gallons of heating oil. The choice of 1,100 gallons was probably chosen by the states in order to exclude the largest common home heating oil storage tank size which is 1,000 gallons. Requirements for gas (auto fuel), or other fuels may be different. Eventually this concern may spread to smaller residential tanks. The concern is for leaks which contaminate the environment. Tanks located where they may leak into a local waterway or into the water supply are a special environmental concerns. (C)trap DJ Friedman.

Oil Leak Reporting Requirements & Oil Tank Registration at Residential Properties

Examples of oil tank leak reporting requirements and oil tank registration requirements are given here. Please see specific regulations by state or country for the details of your locale. Also in many states, such as New York in the U.S., local governments (such as Long Island in New York) may have enacted specific reporting laws for their region.

Reporting Oil Tanks and Oil Leaks in New York

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, which has regulations similar to those of most U.S. states, has a program requiring the registration of buried tanks at any site storing more than 1100 gallons of heating oil. Though specific reporting details may vary, most U.S. states have similar requirements. Requirements for gas (auto fuel), or other fuels may be different as well.

Tank registration: The presence of a buried (or above ground) oil storage tank at a residential property does not need to be reported to the DEC provided the onsite storage volume is less than 1100 gallons.

Tank Leak Reporting:If a leak is detected at any fuel storage tank, it must be reported to the state Department of Environmental Conservation within two hours. (State DEC telephone numbers are provided below in this document.) The concern is for leaks which contaminate the environment. Tanks located where they may leak into a local waterway or into the water supply are a special environmental concern.

Reporting Oil Tanks and Oil Leaks in Maryland

Using a second U.S. state, Maryland, as example, if soil or groundwater contamination is found during oil tank (or presumably any other) excavation, the contamination must be reported to Maryland Department of the Environment immediately upon discovery. Phone number: 410/631-3442 or after hours 410/974-3551. Maryland, like New York, requires that any residential heating oil storage tank greater than 1,100 gallons in capacity must be required to be registered with MDE. We add that the choice of 1,100 gallons was probably chosen by the states in order to exclude the largest common home heating oil storage tank size which is 1,000 gallons.

Heating oil tank regulations vary widely in other countries. According to Project Clean Oslofjord in Norway, "ninety per cent of the 13,000 buried oil tanks that are registered in Oslo are more than 20 years old, and 37% more than 40 years old. The danger of leakage is acute. A new regulation from the Norwegian Ministry of environmental protection that requires maintenance checks of buried oil tanks applies initially only to tanks over 3,200 liters, namely half of the tanks. Calculations show that the total number of buried oil tanks in Oslo could be over 35,000. The Oslo local authority does not have any control with two thirds of these, because they are not registered." For oil tanks within the regulated size range, since 1997 owners of such oil storage tanks must have the tanks checked at a frequency that depends on tank type: single- or double-bottomed steel tanks the first check is after 15 years. After the initial test, such tanks shall be checked every fifth year. For less leak-prone fiberglass tanks (glass fibre reinforced polyester) the tanks must be pressure-tested two years after burial, and afterwards at 30 years. [http://www.bellona.no/en/environmental_facts_and_info/status_and_field-reports/project_clean_oslofjord/12830.html - 4/25/2006]

Oil Tank Abandonment Regulations

This text summarizes oil tank abandonment regulations.

Abandonment (discontinued use) of buried oil or other storage tanks is regulated in most U.S. states as well as in other countries for safety, to avoid cave-ins, to avoid leaving flammable liquids at a site (a fire hazard), and also for environmental protection, to avoid leaving heating oil or other stored liquids in a container which may leak into and contaminate the environment, as well as to assure that if such a tank has already leaked, the leak will be discovered and properly cleaned-up. The regulations require that tanks be removed, which leaves a large hole to be filled-in, or, provided there is no evidence of leakage, a buried storage tank can be filled in-place with a solid, inert material. Filling the tank also keeps the tank from floating up out of the ground in areas of rising water table. Tanks are filled with sand, concrete, or special foams.

Not only is the tank excavated, emptied, cleaned, and inspected for leaks, but also all fill and vent lines are removed from the tank. Old oil lines between the tank and building may be left in place in some jurisdictions, but the lines are capped off.

In the U.S., federal commercial UST regulations require for sites where more than 1,100 gallons of fuel or heating oil were stored must also be checked for contamination.

More Reading::
Oil Tank Abandonment Regulations and Procedures for the abandonment of oil storage tanks, from which some of the above text was paraphrased, are discussed in detail at TANK ABANDONMENT - "Abandoning Commercial vs. Residential Underground Oil Storage Tanks (UST) - Procedures & Regulations"

Government Contacts for Oil Tank Information & Regulations by U.S. State

Contact the Environmental or TSSA office in your province (Canada): [U.S. state regulations are listed below].

• Underground Fuel Storage Tanks [in Canada] TSSA Public Safety and Consumer Information - Canada
• Removing an Underground Oil Tank in Canada
• Storage and Handling of Gasoline and Associated Products Regulations, 2003 under the Environmental Protection Act (O.C. 2003-225) - Newfoundland's version
• Canadian Oil Consultants Listing
• Oil Storage Tanks in Canada long slow loading PDF from willmsshier.com
Homeowners Guide to Heating Oil Tanks in Canada
• Deadlines for Heating Oil Tank Replacement - Ontario
• Petroleum and Allied Petroleum Storage Tank Program In-use and abandoned tanks must be registered in Canada
• Storage Tank Management Systems, Regulations & Codes for Canada
• The Technical Guidelines for Underground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products (March 11, 1995) and the Technical Guidelines for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products (August 17, 1996) incorporated the Canadian Council of the Minister of Environment (CCME) Environmental Codes of Practice for USTs and ASTs - not a very helpful website as readers must "join" to search for regulations--DF

Contact the DEC/DEP/DNR office in your state (U.S.)

• DOE Environmental Management Server Oil Tank Information & Regulations
• EPA Office of Underground Storage Tanks Web Site
• EPA Environmental Protection Agency WWW Server. Oil Tank Information & Regulations


• Alabama AL Oil Tank Information & Regulations under the Alabama Department of Environmental Management
• Alaska AK Oil Tank Information & Regulations defines "small oil tanks" as under 1320 gallons, addresses tanks of much larger sizes, and oil spill measures.
• Arizona AZ Oil Tank Information & Regulations - Tank Programs http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/ust/index.html
• Arkansas AR Oil Tank Information & Regulations regulated by the State of Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality - this is a tough page to find, here it is
• California CA Oil Tank Information & Regulations Environmental Protection Agency: www.calepa.ca.gov (916) 327-2064.
• Colorado CO: regulation of leaking underground oil storage tanks is the by the Oil Inspection Section of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
• Connecticut CT Oil Tank Information & Regulations Connecticut's Underground Storage Tank Program includes regulations and guidance for "fuel releases" or spills, tank closure methods, etc. Double walled tank systems are required in some instances.
• Delaware DE Oil Tank Information & Regulations under the Division of Air and Waste Management, Tank Management Branch for Delaware
• Florida FL Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Protection: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/ -
  Florida FL: Home Heating Oil Tank Removal and Abandonment Program for Orange County and other guidelines
• Georgia GA Oil Tank Information & Regulations falls under Georgia's Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
• Hawaii HI Oil Tank Information & Regulations under Hawaii's State Department of Health - this is the link for Underground Oil Storage Tanks in Hawaii
• Iowa IA Oil Tank Information & Regulations under the Iowa Department of Natural Resources UST/LUST page
• Idaho ID Oil Tank Information & Regulations Idaho Petroleum Storage Tank Fund information for homeowners includes oil tank leak insurance
• Illinois IL Oil Tank Information & Regulations Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Fund - also see next link below
• Illinois IL Oil Tank Information & Regulations includes this PDF on eligibility for the Illinois Underground Storage Tank Fund
• Indiana IN Oil Tank Information & Regulations under Indiana's Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas
• Kansas KN Oil Tank Information & Regulations storage tank program
• Kentucky KY Oil Tank Information & Regulations Title 401 Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Department for Environmental Protection
• Louisiana LA Oil Tank Information & Regulations include a mandatory oil tank registration program supported by an annual fee
• Massachusetts MA Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Protection Contact Information
• Maryland MD Oil Tank Information & Regulations include a UST compliance outline and oil tank registration program. "Release detection" (read oil tank leak) and tank abandonment in place are discussed.
• Maine ME Oil Tank Information & Regulations DEP Materials & Publications
• Minnesota MN Oil Tank Information & Regulations Environmental & Health Policy, Economics, and Legislation
• Mississippi MS: Oil Storage Tank Regulations
• Michigan MI Oil Tank Information & Regulations include programs for above ground oil storage tanks as well as underground oil tanks
• Minnesota MN Oil Tank Information & Regulations includes a searchable oil spill database for Minnesota
• Missouri MO Oil Tank Information & Regulations Rules of the Department of Natural Resources of Missouri, Division 20 Clean Water Commission, Chapter 10 Underground Storage Tanks, Technical Buried Oil Tank Regulations for Missouri
• Mississippi MS Oil Tank Information & Regulations for Mississippi underground oil tank regulations scroll down this page to links for UST-1, 2, 3 Underground Storage Tank Regulations
• Montana MT Oil Tank Information & Regulations managed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Proper Underground Storage Tank and Piping Installation Process
• Nebraska NE Oil Tank Information & Regulations for aboveground oil storage tanks and underground oil tanks - list of documents
• New Hampshire NH Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Services Oil Remediation & Compliance Bureau. Oil storage tanks over 1100 gallons must be registered. Best Practices for tank installations addresses both buried tanks and above ground tanks with details on above ground tank support, piping, and abandonment. NH has reimbursement funds - only for those whose commercial insurance does not cover! - that can reimburse costs for investigation & cleanup of releases from most petroleum storage facilities, including residential tanks. More information: (603) 271-3644.
  New Hampshire Oil Tank Closure Recommended Practices for Closure of Residential Heating Oil Underground Storage Tanks - WMD-REM-22 2005
• New Jersey: NJ Guides & Regulations for Abandoning Oil Tanks in New Jersey. New Jersey's model regulations addressing abandonment of oil and other fuel storage tanks vary by tank type, size, and location. The regulations are grouped into the three documents listed below and online at this website.
  • Abandonment-Heating Oil Tanks Less than 2001 Gallons, April 1993
  • Abandonment, Closure, or Removal of Heating Oil Tanks Less than 2001 Gallons, December 31, 1991
  • Underground Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids - Tank Removal, Abandonment or Placing Temporarily out of Service, January 1988
• New Mexico NM Oil Tank Information & Regulations Title 20 Chapter 5 Part 4 reglulating Petroleum Storage Tanks, New and Upgraded Storage Tank Systems: Design, Construction, and Installation - PDF file
• New York NY: Department of Environmental Conservation Oil Tank Information & Regulations
• Region 1 Suffolk and Nassau counties (631) 444-0204
• Region 2 Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island (718) 482-4900
• Region 3 Sullivan, Ulster, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties (845) 256-3000
• Region 4 Montgomery, Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, Schenectady, Albany, Greene, Rensselaer and Columbia counties (518) 357-2234
• Region 5 Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, Fulton, Saratoga and Washington counties (518) 897-1200
• Region 6 Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Oneida and Herkimer counties (315) 785-2239
• Region 7 Oswego, Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison, Tompkins, Cortland, Chenango, Tioga and Broome counties (315) 426-7400
• Region 8 Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Steuben, Schuyler and Chemung counties (585) 226-2466
• Region 9 Niagara, Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties (716) 851-7000
• New York State Fire Code: 3404.2.13.1 (old NY CRR 1164.5) requires that an oil tank which is no longer going to be used (a discontinued oil storage tank) shall be opened, cleaned, and abandoned (filled in-place or removed) within ninety days of the day on which it is no longer used. Piping is also removed (Avoid accidental filling of empty abandoned tanks or leaks from pipes no longer connected to tanks!).
• 1164.5 of the UFPBC, in section 40
• CFR part 280.7 of the federal Underground Storage Tank (UST) regulations
• subdivision 6 NYCRR Part 613.9 (b) of the DEC's Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) regulations.
• Other states using significant amounts of oil for residential heating may have similar regulations. See TANK REGULATIONS.
• Nevada NV Oil Tank Information & Regulations: There are no underground storage tank regulations mandating removal or testing of home heating oil tanks. Home heating oil tanks are considered "unregulated" tanks under the State and Federal Underground Storage Tank laws administered by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). There are Nevada oil spill regulations require that releases of petroleum products greater than 25 gallons, or with greater than 3 cubic yards of soil affected, or in any quantity on or in groundwater, be reported to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (Bureau of Corrective Actions; (775-687-4670) within 24 hours, or the first business day, of the discovery.
• North Carolina NC Oil Tank Information & Regulations North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, located at 401 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh, NC 2760 regulates underground storage tanks USTs and provides this FAQ sheet
• North Dakota ND Oil Tank Information & Regulations provides UST guidelines in 11 documents available online
• Ohio OH Oil Tank Information & Regulations: Heating oil tanks are subject to regulation by the Ohio Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations and the Ohio Fire Code (Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 1301:7-7 through 7-28). Tough to find online, here's their web page on USTs
• Oklahoma OK Oil Tank Information & Regulations
• Oregon OR Oil Tank Information & Regulations regon's Heating Oil Tank (HOT) Program is part of the Department's Land Quality Division. The HOT Program handles issues related to cleanup of leaks from heating oil tanks, contractors working on HOTs, and the voluntary decommissioning of heating oil tanks. According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality " The current Heating Oil Tank (HOT) Program started on March 15, 2000. This program allows third party certification of cleanups and decommissionings of heating oil tanks by DEQ licensed service providers. When a licensed contractor completes a cleanup or decommissioning, the company submits a certification to DEQ. DEQ will then issue a letter to the tank owner registering the contractor's certification. The combination of the contractor's certification and DEQ's registration is equivalent to the "No Further Action" letter that the DEQ used to issue.
  The HOT Program handles issues related to cleanup of leaks from heating oil tanks, contractors working on HOTs, and the voluntary decommissioning of heating oil tanks."
  The Heating Oil Tank Program information for owners or realtors is at Heating Oil Tank Information for building owners and realtors
  The HOT program information page for contractors and service providers is at Heating Oil Tank Information for contractors and service providers
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Oil Tank Information & Regulations
• Southeast 484-250-5900 Norristown
• Northeast 570-826-2511 Wilkes-Barre
• Southcentral 717-705-4741 Harrisburg
• Northcentral 570-327-3636 Williamsport
• Southwest 412-442-4000 Pittsburgh
• Northwest 814-332-6945 Meadville
• Rhode Island RI Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Management Regulations RI DEMR
• South Carolina SC Oil Tank Information & Regulations underground storage tank program regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
• South Dakota SD Oil Tank Information & Regulations Frequently Asked Questions About UST and AST Systems
• Tennessee TN Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environment and Conservation TN DEC
• Texas TX Oil Tank Information & Regulations Commission on Environmental Quality TX CEQ
• Utah UT Oil Tank Information & Regulations Heating oil tanks in Utah do not need to be registered, nor is oil tank leak detection required. All contamination [leaks] should be reported however. The Division of Environmental Response and Remediation manages a leaking underground storage tank (LUST) program for Utah. DERR can be contacted at 801-536-4100. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality also has links to oil tank concerns.
• Vermont VT Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Conservation
• Virginia VA Oil Tank Information & Regulations Department of Environmental Quality VA DEQ
• Wisconsin WI Oil Tank Information & Regulations administered under Wisconsin's regulation of the Wisconsin Administrative Code Comm 10 - Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• West Virginia WV Oil Tank Information & Regulations beware that a web serarch will point to a US EPA PDF file which is not specific to West Virginia's regulation of underground oil tanks and tank abandonment.
• Wyoming WY Oil Tank Information & Regulations via the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality DEQ. The Wyoming DEQ/WQD regulates above ground storage tanks (AST) only if they contain gasoline or diesel and they are used by a fuel dealer to directly fuel vehicles. Wyoming DEQ/WQD STP does not regulate septic tanks, water storage tanks, hazardous substance AST's, heating oil tanks, bulk plants, oil refineries, interstate pipeline breakout tanks, temporary construction AST. A Wyoming Storage Tank Program (STP) has the mission of Ensuring that owners/operators (o/o) have tanks that are designed, constructed and operated to protect public health, groundwater and the environment and several related tasks such as conducting inspections. However heating oil tanks are excluded from this program in Wyoming. "Spills" and emergencies (only) are reported to 307-777-7781
• Listing submissions welcome, see our contact information at bottom of this page.

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

Thanks to: Michael Del Greco, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., West Paterson NJ 973-812-5100 Accurate@aol.com - for providing this information.

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

• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• Abandon a Buried Oil Tank, How To - Abandoning Commercial Underground Tanks, Russ Brauksieck, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, P. 40-41 [Reprint]
• Above Ground Oil Tanks: Visual Inspection of Oil Storage Tanks for evidence of leaks, damage, improper piping - photos and text
• Above Ground Oil Tanks Checklist, an Oil Company's advice
• Above Ground Tanks UL Standards, UL Tank Listing Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Buried Oil Tanks - Finding How to Find Buried Oil Tanks and "Nearly Hidden" and Leaky Oil Tanks - photos and text.
• Buried Fuel tank - Advice - Buried FUEL Tank - GAS or OIL advice for home buyers, inspection report language
• Environmental Issues & Regulations for Oil Tanks, Registration, Abandonment, Leak Reporting
• Abandonment-Heating Oil Tanks less than 2,001 gallons - New Jersey Guidance
• Abandonment, Closure, or Removal of Heating Oil Tanks - New Jersey Guidance
• Underground Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids - Tank Removal, Abandonment or Placing Temporarily Out of Service - New Jersey Guidance
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Buried Oil Tanks, Basic home buyer advice - home inspection report language suggestions
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Visible Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Gas Fuel Piping or Tank Faults Basic advice - home inspection report language suggestions
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Oil Tanks text file list © Oil and Other Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Abandonment, Inspection - UST home inspection report language files - Reference List
• Indoor Environment Website Indoor Building Environmental Hazard Detection, Testing, Repair, & Prevention - Main Web Page
• Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - Advice for Home Owners or Buyers: caused of leaks in oil tanks, oil tank testing alternatives, what to do about leaky tanks: D.J. Friedman, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.2 No.1, Winter, 1992 p. 42-43 Illus
• Leak or Failure Rates for Home Heating Oil Tanks
• Legal Issues Regarding Buried Oil Storage Tanks K.S. Rea, Attorney, summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
• Primer on Petroleum Bulk Storage Tanks & Petroleum Contamination of Property Paul H. Ciminello, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, p 35-39
• Petroleum Bulk Storage J. Sibblies, NY State DEC, Advice to Home Owners and Home Inspectors about Oil Storage Tanks - summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
• Septic Tank inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair
• TANK FAILURE CAUSES - Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
• TANK FAILURE RATES - Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors
• TANK TESTING - - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills
• Web Link Exchange: Contact Us to list your website or contact information for oil tank testing, tank corrosion research, oil industry experts

InspectAPedia ^TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com