A Homeowner’s Guide to Cleaning Up Heating Oil Discharges

I just received this letter from a concerned resident in New Jersey, so I thought I would post the information so that anyone else who has similar questions can find some help...

"I'm sorry to bother you but I'm not really sure who to contact for an answer to my question since my township and the DEP have not responded to my phone calls. The building I rent from was up for sale and closed on 10/31/2007. There is an oil tank which is currently active underground in the driveway. The first one ruptured about 25 years ago, and I was told this one leaks. I thought it was NJ law that the tank and the soil should be tested before the sale is complete. Is there somewhere where I can find the law on that? When the inspector came out to issue the C of O I told him that there was a tank and he was horrified because it wasn't on any paperwork for the township and he said that he shouldn't have issued the C of O. The tank is serviced by the former owners family member. The new owners had someone scheduled to test the tank and soil, PSE&G and the water company came out to mark the lines, and when the man came to dig, they said that they didn't call him to come out so he had to leave. Myself and the neighbors are both being blown off by the township and other organizations. I'm desperate. Do you know anyone we can contact?"

My response is...

Below you can find a website that answers a lot of questions about the repair and clean up of leaking underground storage tanks in the State of New Jersey. There are phone numbers for many agencies and offices that you may be able to get help from. I am not an expert at the clean-up of these problems, but I am sure with this information you can find someone who can help you. I am very surprised that anyone would buy any property that has an underground oil tank without first determining how stable the tank is. The cost for clean-up and obtaining a "no further action" letter from the DEP can prove to be quite excessive.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/publications/brochures/homeowner/#ifleak

Sections covered by this site include:

Posted Thursday Nov 01