Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Hurricane Sandy Clean Up

Hurricane Sandy battered the New Jersey coast over 2 months ago, but for many in the area the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase has yet to begin.  There are numerous resources available to help home and business owners with the clean up process, the first step in restoring property. State and federal agencies stress the importance of taking the proper safety and environmental precautions before starting any work.  The websites listed below offer information on how to safely begin property rehabilitation.




Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Underground Oil Tank Investigation Using Ground Penetrating Radar

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is the latest secret weapon for underground oil tank investigation and removal. This state of the art technology has aided scientists for years, but its recent crossover into the environmental industry has yielded a slew of attractive benefits. Because of its ability to assess underground oil tanks without digging, GPR can:
Using ground penetrating radar to assess leaking underground oil tanks
Assessing Underground Oil Tanks with GPR
  • Locate oil tanks easily and precisely
  • Reduce project costs
  • Increase project efficiency
  • Pinpoint accurate assessment
  • Eliminate risk to property and professionals
Recently, we were called to investigate a property pending a sales agreement. Although currently heated with gas, the home inspector uncovered evidence that at some point, it had most likely used oil. Using a GPR we were able to quickly discover the buried oil tank. We removed the potential threat before it had a chance to leak, saving both homeowner and potential homeowner from an expensive future cleanup.

There are some who fear that ground penetrating radar means that there is a potential for exposure to harmful radiation. This is not true. GPR systems create no harmful radiation when in operation. Using this instrument is a safe and effective way to find what is harmful to families and our environment: Buried oil tanks.

Determining the condition of underground oil tanks has never been safer, quicker, and more cost effective for contractors and homeowners. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We encourage you to leave comments regarding your underground oil tank problems and solutions. Our hope is to inform, as well as learn, from both contractors and homeowners alike. By sharing information we can avoid the costly mistakes that affect our wallets, the environment, and our community as a whole.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

What you Should Know About the NJ Site Remediation Reform Act

Site remediation in NJ due to a leaking underground oil tank

As of May 2012, any site remediation projects (there are a few exceptions, such as certain Federal-lead cases and residential heating oil tanks) in the state of NJ are no longer directly overseen by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Remediation projects are now supervised privately by a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP). This was done for a number of reasons. According to the State of NJ’s own website http://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/, the primary reasons were “...to increase the pace of remediation, thus helping to decrease the threat of contamination to public health and safety and of the environment, and to quickly return underutilized properties to productive use.”

What does this mean for you? It means you are required to:
  • Hire a licensed site remediation professional to perform the remediation. Although you no longer need prior approval from the NJDEP, you must notify the department and provide the name and licensing information of the contractor hired to perform the remediation.
  • Obtain all required permits and pay any applicable fees.
  • Establish a remediation funding source if a remediation funding source is required. This is the tricky one. You will want to carefully research the contractor. The best LSRP in NJ will be able to guide you through this.
  • Meet all mandatory remediation time frames established by the NJDEP

Often, to a property owner, remediation of their property is viewed as an added expense. While this is true, I would like to point out the importance of inhabiting a clean and safe environment, not only for ourselves and our children, but for future generations to come. The number one priority of any LSRP is, and should be, the protection of public health and safety and the environment. 

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Truth About Underground Oil Tanks

It's understandable. Your underground tank was put in eons ago, and you've probably never even seen it. There's a lot of controversy and misinformation surrounding buried oil tanks, and it's hard to know what to believe. Hopefully this post will help guide you through the process of tank testing and removal.

Unfortunately, you won't know the full story about your underground tank without a site assessment of the property. Here are some of the issues to consider:

  • The timeline for tank failure is based on a number of parameters including soil pH, tank construction and depth to groundwater.
  • The truth is that your underground tank can leak at any time, but the longer it’s in the ground, the more it’s subject to failure due to corrosion.
  • If a tank fails and leaks, remediation costs can escalate quickly
  • There is no way to tell a tank's condition from the grass and soil above it
  • There are only two kinds of underground tanks: those that are leaking, and those that will leak.
When it comes to underground oil tanks, there are a stack of variables you should keep in mind that factor into your tank's integrity. The only constant? There are no leak proof underground oil tanks. But don't panic! You can tackle your tank before it turns into a headache. Here's what underground oil tank removal involves:
  • Uncovering and opening the tank
  • Cleaning the tank of any contents including liquid and sludge
  • Safely emptying the tank of contents
  • Removing and disposing of tank under all necessary protocol
  • Backfilling area with certified clean fill material
Now that you have the facts, you can stop your underground tank problems before they start. Make sure you use a licensed professional to do the work, and thoroughly review all the options available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us.