Local Permits

As required by New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (NJUCC), Curren Environmental will prepare and submit the necessary local permits for closure of the tank.  Local permits are required for the removal of residential heating oil Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) in New Jersey.  (In New Jersey, municipalities have up to twenty business days to approve the tank removal permit, although most municipalities approve the permit application sooner than that). Curren typically requests that the client supply a copy of the property plot/site plan prior to Curren submitting the local permits.  Some townships require that the site plan listing the tank location be submitted with the permits.   

NJDEP Tank Closure Certification

On October 2, 2006, the Department of Environmental Protection adopted special amendments and new rules to the Underground Storage Tank Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:14B and amendments to the Department Oversight of the Remediation of Contaminated Sites Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:26C. These amendments and new rule were effective upon filing (October 3, 2006).
The rules establish that companies and individual be NJDEP certified to perform tank closure (tank removal) activities. Curren Environmental is NJDEP certified for tank closure (removal) and for subsurface activities (soil and groundwater sampling) 

Utility Mark out

As required by law, Curren will notify the applicable underground utility location service to obtain a utility mark out at the subject site. Curren will obtain a confirmation number as verification that the utility mark out was requested.  Mark outs take at least three (3) business days to complete. Not all underground utilities are covered by the mark out service. Also, utility mark outs do not include the private portions of service lines which are the owner's responsibility to maintain. It is the responsibility of the property owner to identify all underground utilities prior to commencement of work. Once notified, if there are public utilities in the area of excavation, the utilities will mark their lines. All on-site work will proceed after all utilities have been marked.

 

Tank Closure/Removal Overview

1. All Curren personnel performing tank removal activities are 40 hour OSHA trained and trained for Confined Space Entry. To ensure a safe working environment, Curren personnel will follow a health and safety plan specific to the hazards associated with the tank closure project.  
   
   The following procedures may be applicable during the project: OSHA 2226 - Excavations, OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1926, Occupational Safety and Health Standards - Excavations, OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health Standards and NIOSH "Criteria for a Recommended Standard - Working in Confined Space".
   
   
2. Upon arrival at the site and after completion of a tailgate safety meeting, the tank will be inspected for any remaining liquid.  Any liquids found in the tank will be removed.   Once all liquids are removed, Curren will uncover the buried heating oil tank by excavating all overburden soils, and/or concrete/asphalt necessary to expose the top of the Underground Storage Tank (UST)
   
   
3. After the tank has been exposed and all the liquids removed, the UST will be purged of petroleum vapors to allow for a safe working environment. Monitoring of the atmosphere in the heating oil tank will be performed for potentially dangerous conditions such as a high flammable vapor level or a low oxygen content. If no flammable vapors are present and the tank contains sufficient oxygen, the tank will be cut open and cleaned by having a confined space entry trained technician enter the tank. 
   
   
4. American Petroleum Institute (API) Publication 2015, "Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks," procedures will be followed throughout this phase of the project.   Following API standards ensures that the tank is thoroughly cleaned of any residual liquid, which is required by local and state regulations.  Tank cleaning will consist of wiping, squeegeeing, and removing all liquids and sludges from the tank. All liquids and sludges generated as a result of the tank cleaning process will be transported from the site to a licensed oil recycling facility.
   
   
5. After the tank has been cleaned, the tank will be lifted in its entirety from the ground and set aboveground adjacent to the excavation for inspection. At this time the local construction/fire official can perform an inspection of the oil tank removal.  If no holes are noted in the tank, no evidence of a release is observed in the tank grave, the excavation will be backfilled to original grade.
   
   

Tank Closure Report - Site Investigation Report

Curren Environmental will prepare a Site Investigation Report which will document the tank removal activities.  The report will detail the heating oil tank removal and provide certification of the tank removal.   The report will include the following information:

1. Copy of the local permit for tank removal
2. Liquid receipt from the tank cleaning.
3. A thorough written description of the tank removal activities.
4. Photo documentation of tank removal (if available).
5. A copy of the tank scrap receipt.
6. Any applicable laboratory test results.
7. A detailed text description of the condition of the tank and if any petroleum contamination was noted in the tank excavation.