• UST’s may be permanently closed by removing them from the ground or by filling the empty tanks with an inert solid material, such as sand, a mixture of sand and soil, foam, or grout.  The inert material must not react with the UST or its contents or allow leaching of residual petroleum from the UST.  Foam is preferred because other materials make the tanks very heavy, making them difficult to remove if they have to be removed at a later date.  In most cases, the EPD recommends removal of the entire UST (as an aside, the removal of UST’s may facilitate real estate transactions).  It is recommended that the in-place closure should be reserved for situations in which a structure, such as the foundation of a building or roadway, would be jeopardized by removal of the UST(s).  The closure of piping requires that contents be first flushed back into the tanks.  If piping is to be closed in place, it should be capped off at the ends.  For additional guidance on closure of UST’s, refer to 40 CFR Part 280.71.  Note: Water is not an inert solid material and cannot be used for in-place closure.
  • Because of the inherent dangers in handling tanks (explosive vapors and potentially hazardous petroleum residuals), the EPD recommends that only qualified and experienced personnel close UST systems.  Knowledge of and experience with EPA sampling procedures, industry standards, and OSHA regulations (29 CFR Part 1910 and Part 1926) are essential.  Fatalities have resulted from mistakes made during tank closures.  In addition, improper handling of the material in the UST’s and piping can result in releases that require costly cleanups. 
  • It is the responsibility of the UST owner and/or operator to ensure that environmental sampling is conducted and that a UST Closure Report is completed & submitted to the EPD.  Sampling should be conducted as soon as possible (the EPD recommends within 48 hours), and the UST Closure Report, along with all supporting documentation, should be submitted within 30 days of receiving the laboratory data. 
  • Not just  any contractor is capable of this there is a lot of regulations involved