1. Nassau County Underground Oil Tank Requirements
USTs for petroleum storage regulated under Article XI of the Nassau County Public Health Ordinance: “Toxic and Hazardous Materials Storage Handling and Control”
Effective August 1, 1986
Tanks with storage capacity greater than 1100 gallons are regulated
Rules apply for abandoning or removing residential oil tanks with less capacity
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2. Nassau County Underground Oil Tank Requirements
Underground Oil Tanks
If you use fuel oil to heat your house or for hot water and if you store that oil in an underground tank you should consider the following facts:
Fuel oil contains chemicals which can pollute drinking water and has been found in shallow wells.
This oil has not YET reached our drinking water supply.
We know that the movement of groundwater is such that we are currently drinking water which was recharged into the ground many years ago. Fuel oil that is leaking now may reach our drinking water wells in future years.
If your oil tank is 30 years old or older it may be about ready to fail. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! A TANK THAT HAS LEAKED CAN BE VERY COSTLY!!
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3. Nassau County Underground Oil Tank Requirements
WHAT DOES THIS INVOLVE?
The contractor completely empties the old tank. All lines to the tank are cut below grade and plugged. If the tank is to be abandoned in place a hole is cut in the tank and sand, concrete slurry or foam is used to fill the tank.
If you continue to heat with oil the contractor installs a new fiberglass underground tank or a steel aboveground tank. The new tank is then connected to your heating system using all new materials.
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4. Nassau County Underground Oil Tank Requirements
ABANDONMENT OF NON-LEAKING UNDERGROUND TANKS: The following abandonment procedure is for those facilities with a petroleum storage tank of a capacity of 1100 gallons or less use solely for on-site heating and/or hot water.
You are required by the terms of Article XI of the Nassau County Public Health Ordinance to notify the Department, in writing, seven (7) days prior to abandoning any underground fuel oil tank. In addition, you must attach a separate notarized * statement attesting that to the best of your knowledge your underground tank is not leaking. Along with this paperwork you must include a check made payable to the Nassau County Department of Health for $50.00 for each tank to be abandoned.
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7. Nassau County Underground Oil Tank Requirements
The tank and all underground lines, including the vent, suction, return and remote fill ports must be emptied of fuel oil.
The vent, direct fill and remote fill lines must be cut or removed to a point below grade. The lines must be permanently capped or filled with an approved inert material to prevent any possibility of an accidental delivery after abandonment.
The tank must be completely filled with an inert material such as sand, concrete or an approved foam product. Since the Department wishes to prevent the flotation of abandoned tanks, only sand or concrete may be used where water conditions are likely to be encountered.
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