Abandoned Oil tank

[OSU Beavers]

O.f.f.s. A.d.a.c.q.

 

[William Rightsell]

Something else to consider....

If the tank (or a portion of it) is under a foundation wall, or totally within the confines of the foundation, there is the possibility that the tank, if not properly abandoned, could "float" out of the ground due to a rise in the groundwater level. I have seen this happen, and the result was a cracked and destroyed foundation.

Often they are filled with some substance (many times concrete or gravel) to prevent just such an occurence.

Because of this, I would reccomend that the underwriter obtain certification that the tank was properly abandoned, but not require it. Put it in the DEU's court. Who they call (or DONT call) is up to them.

todd

 

[Metamorphic]

Well I got ahold of FHA in Atlanta and Curt said its not an FHA issue, but a state issue. So I called the State and the only requirement is the tank to be empty and the fill and vent pipe removed. The tank does not need to be filled with anything.

I will be stating in the report the requirement for having properly certified personel do the work as noted above.

Thanks for all the replies.

I suggest you call again and try to get someone other than Curt.

While its true that USTs are not FHA's purview, the whole point of the FHA inspection program seems to be to prevent marginally qualified buyers from experiencing unforeseen costs of ownership.

Its quite possible that right now there's a gas station or some other commercial facility a couple blocks down the street from your subject that's under an order from Environmental Health to clean up and abate. If the well their consultant drills on the up gradient side of the site shows contamination they'll move off site tracking that contamination to its source so they can hang that property owner with the investigation and clean up expenses they've already incurred, and the cost for all future work; a sum that could quite easily exceed the entire value of the home, perhaps many times the value of the home. I know this because I've been the consultant tracking the contamination and preparing the data and reports to go after the upstream property owner.

I've also investigated and removed a bunch of tanks. And I can tell you every tank I've pulled that installed before tank regs got stiff (say mid 80's), has leaked to some extent. They just dont last that long in the ground. Even in relatively arid conditions your basic steel tank buried in native soil goes to heck pretty fast. If its just a fuel oil tank, and if ground water isnt too shallow, and if it has not been used in a while there's a good chance there's no significant problem. But an UST represents a potential liability to the property owner far greater than a bad roof or an unpermitted addition.