When a basement oil tank is left unused for many years, it leads to corrosion and leaks. Leaks can cause contamination in the house, as well as leech through the foundation and into the soil. Corrosion and leaks could also expose your family and home to:
You may also need to remove tanks because of changes in government regulations. Older tanks may not meet current standards. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPA) also mandates the removal of some oil tanks before selling the property.
If leaks are not attended to, it might cause an environmental hazard and damage the surroundings. Depending on the scale of pollution, the cost of cleanup and contaminant remediation could be $10,000 to upwards of $100,000.
The average oil tank removal cost is anywhere between $400 and $2500, depending upon various factors. To provide an estimate, the first thing a removal company will do is determine the extent of work that needs to be done.
If the heating oil tank has oil inside it, then the removal might be relatively expensive compared to the removal of an empty tank. In most of the cases, the oil cannot be reused and must be disposed in accordance with the state law. This disposal process is expensive too.
Oil tanks are supposed to be disconnected at the time of decommissioning. However, sometimes that requirement is neglected in the past. Or, you are just now decommissioning your tank. Either way, if your tank is still connected to the boiler, it needs to be safely disconnected.
Most municipals require a licensed oil burner technician to disconnect the line. Even if not required, it is always a good idea to hire a professional when dealing with hazardous materials. The technician fee would add to the basement oil tank removal cost.
If there is no active connection in place, then you have the green light to go ahead with the heating oil tank removal.
People do not prefer seeing an oil tank every time they step into the basement. At times there are different kinds of walls built around the oil tank to keep it out of sight. While this gives a much better look to your basement, it can be an obstacle when you want the oil tank to be removed. In this situation the basement oil tank removal cost goes up. Before any work can be done on the tank, the structure surrounding the tank and covering it must be removed or demolished.
For this, you may have to call another crew who does the demolition work. Or, hire an MPCA certified contractor that handles the removal from start to finish.
After the oil tank has been uninstalled it has to be moved out of the house from the basement. This can be a fairly simple process if you have a bulkhead. But without a bulkhead, the process might be a lengthy and more expensive one. When there is no bulkhead, the tank needs to be cut into smaller pieces, packed properly, and other precautions must be taken to carry these safely out of the house.
Although cutting an oil tank is a necessary part of tank disposal, a few companies might charge you a little extra since they must cut the tank in your basement. Cutting and removing the pieces in a tight space is more difficult than after the tank is above ground. It is better to select companies that offer flat-rate services and do not charge you more for every little extra activity which they might need to carry out in the removal process.
Another factor that might carry some weight in the cost structure of the removal process is the orientation of the tank in question. If the tank is constructed vertically, it is relative more expensive to uninstall compared to a horizontally constructed tank.
The removal of an oil tank from your basement can be dangerous and dirty at times and is best if left in the hands of professionals. The process involves locating the pipelines and the utility lines, and dealing with them properly so that they do not mix with the contents of the oil tank. Along with this, extra care must be taken to ensure that no leaks occur during the removal process, and everything goes on seamlessly.
Many oil tank removal experts in the state of Minnesota are known for their highly trained crew and spotless work, which leaves a pristine job site. Before selecting the expert, ensure that you get multiple references and an upfront cost quotation from the service provider. Request an itemized cost breakdown, if possible.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is cracking down on storage tank regulations. To ensure you meet all requirements and follow all guidelines, you should hire an MPCA certified contractor. A quality certified contractor will handle the removal process from start to finish. By relying on their expertise, you can streamline the process and have the peace of mind that the job is done right.
Rollie Sales is an MPCA certified contractor and specializes in fuel storage removal. We offer the highest quality work at an affordable basement oil tank removal cost. Based in Osakis, Minnesota, we serve the surrounding communities, including Long Prairie, Alexandria, Sauk Centre, Glenwood, and more.
Contact us today to receive a free estimate.
]]>
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is cracking down on the removal of old and possibly hazardous underground storage tank removal. In an effort to protect our soil and water systems, Minnesota is enforcing strict guidelines for underground storage tank removal. In this article, we are going to explain the Minnesota UST regulations and the UST removal process.
Minnesota Underground Storage Tank Program Regulation
There are about 13,000 USTs in use that are regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The MPCA sets specific guidelines, codes of practice, and industry standards to govern the rules under the UST program regulation that has been in existence for the past 29 years. These rules are to be adhered to by both Tank Owners and Tank Contractors. MPCA’s operating and design rules are applicable to USTs that contain petroleum or any other hazardous substances. The regulations include overfill protection, piping and tank corrosion protection, release detection, operation and maintenance testing, inspections, secondary containment, and more.
The complete Minnesota UST rules are available at Minnesota Rules, Chapter 7150, Underground Storage Tanks.
Temporary or Permanent Closure of Underground Storage Tank
Provisions allow some tanks to be closed temporarily for less than 90 days, but the safeguards like leak detection and corrosion protection must be done regularly for these tanks. If the tank remains idle for more than 90 days, MPCA marks the tank as Temporarily Closed when you submit the ‘UST Change in Status’ form. In case of closure for more than 90 days, the owner must empty the tank, secure all dispensers and pumps, lockout the fill pipe, leave the vent line functioning and make sure that no water enters the tank. The tank should not be restarted or filled again before contacting the MPCA inspector who observes the tank when it is not in use.
If this idle state or temporary closure continues for 1 year, then it is mandatory in Minnesota to permanently close the tank, unless an official MPCA approval for continuing the state of temporary closure is obtained. If a temporarily closed tank is to be returned to service, MPCA must also grant approval. To get approval, the tank owner must make sure that any water in the tank is removed, testing with a cathodic protection system is carried out, and that they are compliant with tank system construction and design standards. Other tests like tank and line tightness, overfill protection testing and applicable containment testing must also be done. The MPCA will change the tank status to Active when you submit the ‘UST Change in Status form’ once again.
If the tank is being closed permanently, it cannot just be abandoned because corrosion will eventually lead to leaks and even tank collapse. There is a method of permanent closure of underground storage tanks, without removing it, where the piping and the tank is filled with inert soil material and would be closed-in-place. However, in many cases, the preferred method is the complete removal of the vent line, piping, and the tank.
Underground Storage Tank Removal Process in Minnesota
There is a step-by-step UST removal process to avoid unexpected expenses and unpredicted delays during the cleanup and removal of USTs:
Selling a Property with an Underground Storage Tank
If a property is being sold in Minnesota and has an active or a closed tank, the property owner must disclose the existence of the UST. Then, it becomes the responsibility of the buyer to meet the requirements of the MPCA. The buyer must submit the ‘Change in Status form’ to notify MPCA of the change in ownership.
However, selling a property with an underground storage tank can be more difficult. Many buyers prefer for it to be removed, or expect a price reduction to accommodate for UST removal in the future. In order to sell more quickly and at a higher sales price, many real estate agents recommend removing underground tanks when listing a property for sale.
The Importance of UST Removal in Minnesota
Underground storage tank removal in Minnesota is complicated and can be quite frustrating. But strict regulations and adherence are in the best interest of our great state and its residents. MPCA UST regulations must be carefully followed, step-by-step. Any misstep could lead to fines, delays, or contamination.
If you prefer to have an experienced contractor handle the entire UST removal process for you, we can help. Rollie Sales is an MPA certified contractor and has years of experience under our belt. We know the UST removal process like the back of our hand. Contact Us today for the peace of mind of a job done right.
]]>