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OIL STORAGE TANKS

ABANDONING OIL TANKS
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
AFUE DEFINITION, RATINGS
AGE of OIL TANK
ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS

BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE
BOILERS, HEATING

BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED OIL TANKS, FINDING

COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ

DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER
DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE

FILTERS, OIL on HEATING EQUIPMENT
FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS
FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION
FLOATING UP OIL STORAGE or SEPTIC TANKS
FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR
FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
FUEL UNIT, HEAING OIL PUMPS

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GAUGES ON HEATING EQUIPMENT

HEAT LOSS in buildings
HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up

HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table
HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS

HEATING OIL CLOUD WAX GEL POINT
HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS
HEATING OIL - OLD, USEABLE?
HEATING OIL PIPING TROUBLES
HEATING OIL SHELF LIFE
HEATING OIL SLUDGE
HEATING OIL TANKS
HEATING OIL USAGE RATE

HEATING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
HEATING SYSTEM NOISES

HOME BUYERS GUIDE TO OIL TANKS
HOT WATER HEATERS

NO HEAT - BOILER / FURNACE DIAGNOSIS
NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS
NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODORS FROM HEATING SYSTEMS

OIL BURNERS
OIL BURNER INSPECTION GUIDE
OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS
OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT
OIL FILTER MISSING
OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS

OIL LINE CLOGGING FIX
OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES
OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING
OIL PUMP FUEL UNIT

OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION

OIL TANKS
OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE
OIL TANK AGE
OIL TANK, BURIED, ADVICE
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OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES
OIL TANK FAILURE RATES
OIL TANK FLOATING UP

OIL TANK GAUGES
OIL TANK INSPECTION, ABOVE GROUND
OIL TANK INSPECTION REPORTS

OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS
  OIL TANK LEAK ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
  FREQUENCY of OIL TANK LEAKS
  HOME INSPECTOR OIL TANK REPORT
  OIL TANK LEAK IMPACTS
  OIL TANK LEAK CAUSES
  OIL TANK LEAK CLEANUP GUIDE
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING REGULATIONS - ALL
  OIL TANK REGULATIONS - CANADA
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING, NEW JERSEY
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1993
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1991
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1988
  OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
  OIL TANK LEAK TESTING
  LEAKY OIL TANK FILL PIPES
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING BASICS
  WHAT IF AN OIL TANK IS LEAKING?

OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES
OIL TANK LIFE

OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS
OIL TANK PRESSURE

OIL TANK REGULATIONS
  BULK STORAGE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING BASICS
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING REGULATIONS - ALL
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING, NEW JERSEY
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1993
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1991
    OIL TANK ABANDONMENT or LEAK REGS - 1988
  OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
  OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES
  OIL TANK REGULATIONS - CANADA
  OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
OIL TANK REMOVAL COs
OIL TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
OIL TANK REPORT LANGUAGE

OIL TANK SAFETY
OIL TANK SLUDGE
OIL TANK STANDARDS
OIL TANK STANDARDS - Detailed List
OIL TANK SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION
OIL TANK SUPPORT

OIL TANK TESTING
OIL TANK TESTING COs

OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION
OIL TANK WATER REMOVAL

SOOT on OIL FIRED HEATING EQUIPMENT

STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS

WATER HEATERS

More Information

Photograph of - is this heating oil running across the basement floor? Notice the abandoned oil line at the furnace?

New Jersey Buried Oil Tank (UST) & Above Ground Oil Tank (AST) Leak Reporting & Tank Abandonment Regulations
InspectAPedia®  -         

  • Regulations for reporting oil tank leaks in the state of New Jersey
  • Regulations for abandoning oil storage tanks in New Jersey
  • New Jersey state contact points for oil tank regulations
  • List of programs and agencies offering financial aid to replace leaking residential oil storage tanks
  • Questions & answers about oil storage tank leak or abandonment laws & regulations for New Jersey in the U.S.

This document outlines the basic state of New Jersey information and rules for reporting oil tank leaks and abandoning oil tanks which are no longer to be used.

InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.

For small homeowner heating oil storage tanks in New Jersey, see OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING, NEW JERSEY - Details.

To report an environmental incident impacting a property in the state of New Jersey, (including oil tank leaks) call the New Jersey Toll-Free 24-Hour Hotline -1-877-WARNDEP - 1-877-927-633. Readers should also see New Jersey oil tank information listed at our US & Canadian oil tank regulation page - OIL TANK REGULATIONS. Page top buried oil tank sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop.

Leaky indoor oil tank (C) Daniel Friedman

Our main oil tank regulation document, LEAK REPORTING REGULATIONS 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.

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 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Cleaning Up Heating Oil Discharges (Oil Tank Leaks) in New Jersey

September 2003

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Site Remediation Program

Storage tanks containing home heating oil – whether they’re located underground, above ground or in the basement – can rust and leak over time, posing a number of environmental and health risks. In the event of a storage tank discharge – where heating oil comes into contact with soil or ground water – New Jersey requires homeowners to take prompt action to minimize those risks.

The minimum work requirements for cleaning up affected properties are defined in the regulations entitled Technical Requirements for Site Remediation (N.J.A.C. 7:26E et seq.). You may visit the DEP’s web site at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/regs/.

The environmental contractor you hire for your cleanup should be familiar with and follow these rules. This guide is provided as a supplement to help you better understand the cleanup requirements. It should not, however, be used in place of the Technical Requirements.

How Can I Tell If There Is a Problem?

The following could be signs of a leak in your home heating oil tank:.

  1. Any unexpected/unexplained fuel oil consumption increase that doesn’t appear to be caused by additional use of your heating system (such as during prolonged periods of cold weather).
  2. Water in your underground storage tank.
  3. Consistent problems with your oil burner.
  4. Changes in or loss of vegetation in the area over and around the tank.
  5. Oil odors in areas other than around the oil burner.
  6. Tastes, odors or other problems with your drinking water, if obtained from a well.
  7. Staining on basement walls or floors adjacent to the tank.
  8. Presence of oil or a sheen in the basement sump or French drain.
  9. Oil or sheen in any nearby culverts, drainage ditches, storm drains, streams, or ponds.

For 1, 2 and 3, first contact the company that services your heating system to rule out a maintenance problem. To determine whether any of the above problems are caused by a leaking fuel oil storage tank, contact an environmental contractor. Your local health department also may be able to provide you with guidance in determining the source of the problem.

What Do I Do If There Is a Leak?

If some type of heating oil discharge has occurred at your home, regardless of the quantity, you must report it to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Call the DEP’s toll free 24 hour Environmental Action Hot Line at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337) as soon as a discharge is detected. You will be sent an information package that describes in detail your responsibilities, what must be done to clean up the spill and DEP’s oversight role.

Next, if the source of your discharge is a leaking tank, contact your fuel oil company and ask that all residual fuel oil be pumped out from the tank. Be sure to ask if any of the oil is reusable.

You also should contact a qualified environmental contractor to perform the cleanup.

How Do I Choose a Contractor?

Environmental contractors are listed in the telephone book’s Yellow Pages under Environmental Services or Tank Installation and Removal. If you need help in choosing a contractor, consult with your attorney or local health department for recommendations.

The DEP cannot recommend contractors, but provides general guidance on how to select one in its brochure called Choosing an Environmental Consultant for Cleaning Up Heating Oil Discharges. A free copy is available by calling (609) 584-4150 for the Bureau of Southern Field Operations or (973) 669-3960 for the Bureau of Northern Field Operations.

As with any other contract work, you should obtain cost estimates from two or three contractors and request references. You may contact the Division of Consumer Affairs (973) 504-6200 to determine if the contractor has a history of complaints. Make sure that the contractor you select is familiar with the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation. If a contractor does not have a thorough knowledge and understanding of these regulations, this will almost certainly result in project delays and additional costs. Remember that the lowest bidder may not always be the most qualified contractor.

Unfortunately, since contractors cannot guarantee certain aspects of cleanup activities, such as whether contamination will be found and if so, to what extent, it is difficult for them to accurately predict the cost of a total project. Generally speaking, contractors bill on a time and materials basis, and the amount of time required will vary with every project. Since it can be difficult to determine if costs for a cleanup are reasonable, you should take particular care in selecting a contractor.

If contractors require that you sign a contract for the work with specific clauses, you may wish to consult your attorney to insure that the contract protects your rights. Remember that the contractor is working for you; don’t hesitate to ask specific questions and seek justification for any costs that seem unreasonable or unnecessary.

What Is the State’s Role for New Jersey & ASTs or USTs?

Under state laws, cleanup activities must be conducted for discharges of fuel oil; cleanups may take place with or without state oversight. However, to obtain final state approval of a cleanup, a “no further action” letter is needed through the DEP’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.

This letter increasingly is required in real estate transactions. If you will require such a letter at closing, ensure that you leave ample time to complete the cleanup and gain final state approval. The program provides for state oversight through a Memorandum of Agreement in which the homeowner agrees to perform the cleanup and pay DEP oversight costs. The DEP receives no state funding to cover costs for this oversight; costs must be borne by those who require the service. The DEP, in turn, reviews cleanup activities and provides final approval at the conclusion.

A property owner may choose to perform a cleanup without participating in the Voluntary Cleanup Program, but the matter will remain an open case until the Department can review the cleanup. Reviews of cleanups conducted outside this program are conducted on a priority basis, with those sites posing the greatest environmental risks addressed first. A “no further action” letter, however, is available only through the Voluntary Cleanup Program.

What Are the Steps for Cleanup of an Oil Spill in New Jersey?

Following are some of the steps a contractor will take to clean up fuel oil contamination. All cleanups will differ depending on individual circumstances. These steps are described here to help you better understand the general cleanup process.

  • The tank will be thoroughly cleaned and properly disposed of or recycled at a scrap metal facility.

  • If the storage tank is underground and must be removed, it will be removed according
    to local codes and the American Petroleum Institute’s recommended practices. Local construction permits will be required from your municipality.

  • Once the tank has been removed, the contractor will excavate from the area any soils believed to be contaminated above the DEP’s cleanup criteria. Soils over the tank may be separated from the contaminated soil and used as fill material, which will save on disposal and fill costs.

  • Once contaminated soil has been removed, soil remaining in the excavation site will be sampled to document the effectiveness of the cleanup. A certified laboratory will analyze the soil samples, and the results will be compared to the DEP’s soil cleanup criteria to determine whether additional cleanup is needed. Soil disposal may represent the largest part of cleanup costs. Therefore, it is important that your contractor accurately determine which soils are suitable for reuse.

It should be noted that if Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Compounds (TPHC) concentrations are detected in excess of 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in the excavation, the soils must also be tested for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) using the appropriate DEP or USEPA test method.

The VOC test will be required on 25 percent of the samples with the highest TPHC concentrations exceeding 1,000 ppm of TPHC. Concentrations in excess of 10,000 ppm must be remediated. Concentrations below the 10,000 ppm of TPHC may be below DEP soil cleanup criteria, and may not need to be excavated.

What occurs during the tank removal will determine what additional work, if any, will be needed. If ground water is encountered during the excavation and there is fuel oil or a sheen floating on the water, the floating fuel oil should be recovered, and a ground water investigation or ground water cleanup will be necessary. If this situation arises, the cleanup may become more complex.

You may want to contact your DEP case manager once ground water contamination has been confirmed so that they may assist your contractor in this complex stage.

If you have questions about any aspect of the cleanup, contact your assigned case manager or the duty officer at the Responsible Party Remediation Element at (609) 584-4150 Southern; or (973) 669-3960 Northern.

What Are the Typical Oil Tank Removal, Abandonment or Oil Tank Leak Cleanup Cost Issues Involved in New Jersey?

Homeowners should be aware of the following cost issues as they relate to cleanups:

  • Oversight Costs

  • The Voluntary Cleanup Program provides for state oversight through a Memorandum of Agreement in which the homeowner agrees to perform the cleanup and pay DEP oversight costs. The DEP receives no state funding to cover costs for this oversight; costs must be borne by those who require the service.

  • For your convenience, as an alternative to completing a MOA application, a fixed cost of $500.00 has been established for the review of remedial action reports covering removal of leaking, underground storage tanks not regulated by N.J.A.C. 7:14B, as long as discharges from these tanks have not impacted ground water. For more information regarding this alternative contact the Case Assignment Section at (609) 292-2943.

  • If you have any questions regarding oversight costs, contact your assigned case manager or the Division of Remediation Support, Fiscal Support Services, at (609) 292-1966.

  • Insurance

  • You should file a claim with your insurance company as soon as evidence of a leak is discovered. Most policies require at least “prompt” notice of a claim, as well as your assistance in providing information to the insurer. Insurance coverage for cleanup of contamination from leaking residential tanks depends on the language of the individual policy and its interpretation.

  • You also may want to consider underground storage tank protection programs that may be available from your oil company or fuel oil distributor to insure yourself against future problems.

  • Financial Assistance

  • Grant and loan programs are available from the State to provide financial assistance for cleanup costs. To find out if you are eligible, contact the Division of Remediation Support, Bureau of Contract and Fund Management, at (609) 777-0101.

For Additional Information about New Jersey Oil Tank Laws & Regulations

The DEP maintains a web site offering a wide variety of information and forms concerning the Voluntary Cleanup Program that can be found at: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/volclean/

If you have questions regarding the cleanup of home heating oil, contact the Responsible Party Remediation Element’s regional field office duty officer at (609) 584-4150 for the Bureau of Southern Field Operations or (973) 669-3960 for the Bureau of Northern Field Operations, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To better serve you please have the following information available when calling:

  1. Is water to your home supplied by a water company, or do you have a potable well?
  2. Is your oil tank above ground or buried underground?
  3. Does your basement have any water collection devices (i.e. sump or french drain)?
  4. If you are unsure if you have a storage tank, how is your home heated?
  5. Are you required to carry flood insurance?

Remember to call the DEP’s toll free 24 hour Environmental Action Hot Line at
1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337) as soon as a discharge is detected.

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Risk Management Initial Notice and Case Assignment
P.O. Box 434
Trenton, NJ 08625-0434

September 2003

State of New Jersey
James E. McGreevey, Governor

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Bradley M. Campbell, Commissioner

 

To report an environmental incident impacting a property in the state of New Jersey, (including oil tank leaks) call the New Jersey Toll-Free 24-Hour Hotline -1-877-WARNDEP - 1-877-927-6337

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  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING, NEW JERSEY
    OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING, NEW JERSEY - 1991

  OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

  • Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
  • Thanks to: Michael Del Greco, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., West Paterson NJ 973-812-5100 Accurate@aol.com - for contributing to this information.
  • NFPA - the National Fire Protection Association can be found online at www.nfpa.org
  • List of New Jersey Oil Tank Regulations and Oil Tank Replacement Program(s)
  • N.J.A.C. 7:26E Technical Requirements for Site Remediation ("Tech Rules") - These rules constitute the minimum technical requirements to investigate and remediate contamination at any site in New Jersey
  • New Jersey DEP Department of Environmental Protection Regulations - http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/regs/
  • 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"

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, PO Box 380, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
  • "Homeowners Guide to Fuel Storage," Agway Energy Products, Verbank, NY, November 1990
  • ...
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