Greater Marlboro Programs Underground Tank Closure in Place

The 1000-gallon underground oil tank was located under this porch.

A view of the space under the porch. The cement walkway had to be cut to access the underground tank top.

The underground oil tank is cut open to access the interior for cleaning and testing.

Remaining fuel oil and sludge are placed in a polyester tote.

An inside look at the cleaned underground oil tank.

Small cuts are made in the underground tank floor so that soil samples can be taken.

Previous



Next

Greater Marlboro Programs, Inc. (GMPI) provides nurturing homes for adults with a primary diagnosis of mental retardation, allowing residents to develop skills for more independent living. CommTank was asked to remove an underground storage tank from one of the GMPI properties in Marlboro, Massachusetts. After evaluating the structural risk to the property we proposed a "tank closure in place" instead.

During our site visit we took measurements of the 1000-gallon underground steel tank and discovered that the tank was located in a very unusual spot. The tank had been installed under the floor of an attached porch and the foundation of the porch was determined to be integral to the main foundation of the building. Removal of this tank would require significant excavation directly under the porch foundation wall and probably into the main building. This process and the removal would likely cause undermining of the foundation wall and damage to the building structure. Instead we recommended that the underground tank be left in place and backfilled with a flowable fill. The customer agreed and work began. The area had to be fenced off for the safety of the adults in the group home. A permit for the closure in place was acquired from the Deputy Chief at the Marlboro Fire Department. The tank was then exposed, cut open, emptied, cleaned and soil samples were taken from the bottom and sides of the tank. After getting clean results from the soil samples, flowable fill was poured into the tank, the area above the tank was restored, and the building access was once again opened for the residents of the home.

About the Author: Dan Hoag

Dan Hoag has worked in the environmental and tank storage industry for 16 years. Dan’s range of expertise includes designing systems for oil spill clean-ups, treating soil contamination through "in situ" oxidation and testing, and inspecting underground storage tank systems. As head of Marketing and Information Technologies at CommTank, Dan draws from field experience to write about fuel, water and chemical storage technologies, and the regulations that affect them. He has developed training courses in home inspection, underground storage tank operator, ultrasonic thickness and tank tightness testing. Over the past decade, Dan has published over 60 articles about industry trends and has documented commercial, residential, and environmental projects through illustration, videos, and photography. When Dan unplugs from technology, he spends his time backyard farming, hiking, and kayaking, while masquerading as a hockey player during the wee hours of the morning.