Why are underground heating oil tanks a concern?
A1. Historically, petroleum products have been stored in steel Underground Storage Tanks, (UST’s). These steel tanks have a finite life expectancy (rust never sleeps) and when corrosion holes breach the tank shell or the welded seams of the tank fail, petroleum will leach into the environment. In response to both state and federal environmental requirements and emerging technology’s, replacement of single wall steel UST’s have become a growing trend in order to remove the environmental liabilities associated with Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, (LUST’s). Buried heating oil tanks raise a variety of environmental, safety, legal and economic concerns for home owners and home buyers. The largest concerns relating to environmental issues are heating oil leaks that cause soil or groundwater contamination. Economic issues consist of the cost and risks associated with testing, tank removal and site cleanup.
