RESIDENTIAL

PETROLEUM STORAGE TANK ASSESSMENT & CLOSURE

SERVICES

Tank & Soil

Inspections

The fill and vent pipes are not always visible. Therefore, it is always good to have a professional inspect the property for an UST and former heating oil use and storage. Call or write for additional information. It is very important to understand what is and is not required.

Storage Tank Removal

Removal was the primary method of tank closure prior to 2016. But removal is no longer required to obtain closure of a release incident. Removal is the most costly and invasive method of closure, which is why more tank owners are opting for in-place decommissioning. Tank removal costs range from about $4,850 (non-leaker) to about $11,500 (starting cost for removal and cleanup of a leaking tank). Incident closure cost for a leaker can easily exceed $12,000 (with no guarantee of success). And, sometimes closure of the release incident is not possible (that is why it is so important to understand ALL of the closure options and how best to proceed).

UST In-place

Decommissioning

This above ground tank was filled with foam and cut open to show how well foam works (for USTs only). The process of cleaning and filling an UST is so non-invasive that, when completed, most people would have trouble telling that any work was done. That is why we include photographs in the tank closure report. Decommissioning cost starts at around $4,100 for an average size tank (includes tank closure report).

SERVICES

ABOUT

Mark Hosler graduated in 1988 from NC State University with a B.A. in Geology. Right away, he started working for an environmental company in Raleigh, NC. His main duties were the supervision of UST removal field work and the writing of tank closure reports for hundreds of commercial UST projects. He was also involved on hazardous waste groundwater assessment projects. Other duties included air toxic inventories, computer dispersion modeling, and air permitting for large, Fortune 500 companies' manufacturing plants across North Carolina.

In 1996, Mr. Hosler started Sensible Solutions Environmental, concentrating on the closure of residential home heating oil storage tanks. Innovative and sensible solutions to tank owners' dilemmas set Sensible Solutions apart from other environmental companies. Hence the name - Sensible Solutions!

ABOUT

1988

1000s

1569

Self

Career

Started

Tanks

Closed

NC Geology

License Number

Number

Employees

PROJECTS

PROJECT PHOTOS

Every job starts with an industrial vacuum truck. The oil, sludge, and cleaning fluid are removed for proper disposal.

The tank is cut open for additional cleaning.

These holes likely developed long after the tank was taken out of use. However, oil and sludge often remains in the tank after use is discontinued.

The success of a soil cleanup is not guaranteed. One to two truckloads is about all that can be removed on most residential properties.

The UST was located between the driveway and the house. This is the before photo.

Although not in the scope of services, SSE did a bang up job on site restoration.

In-place decommissioning with foam is significantly less invasive than removal. The fill and vent pipes are removed.

After cleaning, the foam is injected into the tank. Note how clean the foam is, evidence of successful tank cleaning.

The foam continues to expand out of the fill and vent pipe ports, completely filling the UST. The ports are capped with concrete to seal the tank.

This hole was cut in the end opposite the fill and vent pipes. Foam is seen expanding from the injection site. Note how clean the foam is.

The foam expands so well that "snakes" often form while expanding out of the ports or cut hole.

Note how much area is disturbed in order to access the interior of the UST for filling with cement slurry. Plus, cement often makes a mess of the landscape.

REGULATORY

UST Section Contact Information

The NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Waste Management (DWM), UST Section (7 regional offices) enforces assessment and cleanup activities.

Asheville Regional Office, 828-296-4500
Fayetteville Regional Office, 910-433-3300
Mooresville Regional Office, 704-663-1699
Raleigh Regional Office, 919-791-4200
Washington Regional Office, 252-946-6481
Wilmington Regional Office, 910-796-7215
Winston-Salem Regional Office, 336-776-9800

CONTACT

CONTACT SSE

Inquiries

I am happy to answer any questions and provide a preliminary proposal. Please call: 336-214-5742 or fill out the following form. Or send an email to mark.hosler.sse@gmail.com.

Office Info

P. O. Box 511

Snow Camp, NC 27349

info@mysite.com

Cell: 336-214-5742

Office: 336-214-5742

Contact Us

Service Area

Local service areas include Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Burlington, Greensboro, Winston-Salem. SSE has had former project sites in the mountains and at the beach. Pleased to provide a proposal for services no matter your location.

Get a quote: 336-214-5742