If you own an underground oil tank, it is possible for you to have it emptied by a professional and left safely underground. The Legislature passed a State Law in 1996 that requires both aboveground and underground tanks to be cleaned and purged of vapors.  If left in place, the vent line has to be open and intact. Additionally, the fill line should be capped or removed.  Recent updates to the laws tighten the requirements to tank abandonment regulations. As of January 2015, a tank can only be professionally abandoned if it lies directly under a building or if the removal of the tank would jeopardize the structural integrity of surrounding buildings or underground utilities.

The abandonment of an underground fuel tank must have written proof by the local government. It is of course best practice to have the tank removed. By doing this, you can inspect the area for soil contamination.  In instances where you are considering selling your home, both the bank and buyer may ask for environmental testing or removal of the tank. This will ultimately lead to a costlier tank removal than taking it out of the ground to begin with. For more information on the regulations regarding tank abandonment in Massachusetts visit the Mass DEP website.  When you are in need of fuel tank removal in Wakefield of the Greater Boston area, contact Petroleum Management Services, Inc. We are happy to provide you with a free quote on your tank removal.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/toxics/ust/newregs.html