Before posting this , I did a search for "oil tanks" in this group.
I got 84 results that ended up getting OFF TOPIC.

I saw some stupid advice, about "playing stupid" or "claiming
ignorance" of the EXISTENCE of an underground tank. I thougth I could
get away with this.

That no longer works.

Here in NJ, my next door neighbor is selling his house.
He had ( for whatever reason ) NOT ONE BUT TWO tank detection companies
come down and wave their magic wands looking for a tank.
The act of "playing dumb" about the existence of a tank won't work
here.

My neighbor and I got into a discussion about locating our tanks.
I plan on having a company come in and check and sand or remove it and
hope for no MAJOR $$$$ problems with contaminated soil.

My neighbor ended up sucking out sludge and sanding his tank HIMSELF.
He has NO paperwork and NO inspection was done when he cut the top
open.
Half his tank is under an extension on the house and the other half is
in the yard.

He tells me it is about 4 FEET to the top of the tank.
My tank then is about 4 FEET deep and under a 4 inch patio slab - more
work and $$ to remove and replace the patio in order to work on the
tank.

The MAGIC WAND that the tank detector companies use
How deep can they detect a tank ???
Do they detect straight down or can they detect tanks on an angle such
as under edge of a foundation ???
I say concrete is NO barrier to them. My neighbor thinks they may NOT
detect my tank. I disagree.

I found no posts on any of the above.

TIA

"Zing" wrote in message
ups.com...
My neighbor and I got into a discussion about locating our tanks.
I plan on having a company come in and check and sand or remove it and
hope for no MAJOR $$$$ problems with contaminated soil.

I know that both solutions are legal in NJ, but if I wanted to purchase your
house you would HAVE to remove your tank before I would part with a dime,
even if you had legal paperwork for a sanded tank. The chance of concealed
contamination is just not worth it to me, and I suspect many lawyers would
have the same reaction.

And I am now in the process of digging up my tank, so I know just how
expensive it is.

--
George Eberhardt
(732)224-8988

On Wed, 20 Jul 2005 23:11:22 -0400, in alt.home.repair
Underground OIL TANKS - particularly in New Jersey "George Eberhardt"
wrote:

"Zing" wrote in message
oups.com...
My neighbor and I got into a discussion about locating our tanks.
I plan on having a company come in and check and sand or remove it and
hope for no MAJOR $$$$ problems with contaminated soil.

I know that both solutions are legal in NJ, but if I wanted to purchase your
house you would HAVE to remove your tank before I would part with a dime,
even if you had legal paperwork for a sanded tank. The chance of concealed
contamination is just not worth it to me, and I suspect many lawyers would
have the same reaction.

And I am now in the process of digging up my tank, so I know just how
expensive it is.

Don't think of it as an expense. Think of it as an investment in the
environment.

--
To reply to me directly, remove the CLUTTER from my email address.

My neighbor ended up sucking out sludge and sanding his tank HIMSELF.
He has NO paperwork and NO inspection was done when he cut the top
open.

Maybe his efforts give him piece of mind but they won't amount to squat
if he tries to sell his home. Its not what was or is in the tank that
counts. What counts is that an EPA certified professional signs off on
a piece of paper certifying that there is no soil contamination from
the tank. Did your neighbor check or any leaks or cracks in/around the
tank?

Your neighbor is lucky that his tank had no combustible material in it
or didn't create enough spark while cutting through the metal to ignite
anything that would have blown up in his face. Before or after sucking
out the sludge.

A friend of mine in NJ did tank remediation for a number of years
before moving to FL. The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

Do you feel lucky?

wrote in message

Your neighbor is lucky that his tank had no combustible material in it
or didn't create enough spark while cutting through the metal to ignite
anything that would have blown up in his face. Before or after sucking
out the sludge.

The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

Do you feel lucky?

Why do you think luck has anything to do with it? Just because the guy did
it himself does not mean he did not have the proper knowledge to do it
correctly. There are many competent welders and metal fabricators that have
the ability to work on tanks that contained flammable products.

Do you feel lucky?

Why do you think luck has anything to do with it? Just because the guy did
it himself does not mean he did not have the proper knowledge to do it
correctly. There are many competent welders and metal fabricators that have
the ability to work on tanks that contained flammable products.

Of course there are.

Then let's assume the OP's neighbor is one of these people. Let him
respond to the OP's questions and make sure he is doing any inspecting,
venting, sucking and cutting safely.

Because I don't think anyone on this forum would want to empower the OP
with enough information to properly blow himself up.

After all, what are neighbors for besides using your front lawn as
their pet's toilet? He must be getting the help and instruction he
needs if he's posting on this forum.

wrote in message
oups.com...

After all, what are neighbors for besides using your front lawn as
their pet's toilet?

Uh oh. Sounds like you've got a dog catcher just like mine. Defines "animal
control" as "sitting in the office watching soap operas all day", and
getting in the truck only if someone reports a giraffe on the loose. In
Rochester NY. :-)

Actually these are the pets people walk on leashes required by town
ordinance. They owners actually witness and ignore the mess they leave
on other people's property. If you catch them they can be fined $100.

I know because when I walk my dog I sometimes get "looks" from people
on the other streets. I just hold up exhibit A in my plastic bag for
them to see.

wrote in message
oups.com...
My neighbor ended up sucking out sludge and sanding his tank HIMSELF.
He has NO paperwork and NO inspection was done when he cut the top
open.

Maybe his efforts give him piece of mind but they won't amount to squat
if he tries to sell his home. Its not what was or is in the tank that
counts. What counts is that an EPA certified professional signs off on
a piece of paper certifying that there is no soil contamination from
the tank. Did your neighbor check or any leaks or cracks in/around the
tank?

Your neighbor is lucky that his tank had no combustible material in it
or didn't create enough spark while cutting through the metal to ignite
anything that would have blown up in his face. Before or after sucking
out the sludge.

A friend of mine in NJ did tank remediation for a number of years
before moving to FL. The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

Do you feel lucky?


I got a buddy of mine that specializes in ground water remediation due to
leaking in-ground oli tanks in NJ. Cleanup can be costly; I've heard him
quote some sites as going to $50,000.

That is in the ballpark for excavation, removal and containment of
contaminated soil, etc.

On 21 Jul 2005 07:36:04 -0700, in alt.home.repair Underground
OIL TANKS - particularly in New Jersey wrote:

The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

NJ is a great state. You are not even allowed to pump your own gas. It
must be pumped by a station employee. Too dangerous for a citizen to
handle. Just about everyone there has a scam going.

--
To reply to me directly, remove the CLUTTER from my email address.

"Vic Dura" wrote in message
news
On 21 Jul 2005 07:36:04 -0700, in alt.home.repair Underground
OIL TANKS - particularly in New Jersey wrote:

The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

NJ is a great state. You are not even allowed to pump your own gas. It
must be pumped by a station employee. Too dangerous for a citizen to
handle. Just about everyone there has a scam going.

What's wrong with that? Geez, I wish I could get my gas pumped for me here
when it's 5F out.



--
To reply to me directly, remove the CLUTTER from my email address.

"Vic Dura" wrote in message
news
On 21 Jul 2005 07:36:04 -0700, in alt.home.repair Underground
OIL TANKS - particularly in New Jersey wrote:

The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

NJ is a great state. You are not even allowed to pump your own gas. It
must be pumped by a station employee. Too dangerous for a citizen to
handle. Just about everyone there has a scam going.

Scam? Do you think you will save money standing out in the rain or cold
pumping gas? Think again. In MA each town decides it the citizenry is
capable of pumping gas. The full service towns are the same price as the
self service. Self service just screws you.

"Vic Dura" wrote in message
news
On 21 Jul 2005 07:36:04 -0700, in alt.home.repair Underground
OIL TANKS - particularly in New Jersey wrote:

The professionals that work on underground tank
remediation, at least in NJ, are trained in hazmat and fire/explosion
prevention for good reason.

NJ is a great state. You are not even allowed to pump your own gas. It
must be pumped by a station employee. Too dangerous for a citizen to
handle. Just about everyone there has a scam going.

--
To reply to me directly, remove the CLUTTER from my email address.

One more thing, you can pump your own gas if you'd like in NJ. I used to do
it when I didn't feel like waiting.