Oil Tank Leakers = Enemies of the State of New Jersey

Back until the 1960s, the people of New Jersey were not aware of the risks of burying oil tanks to the environment and their health. Almost everybody from the past did it, evident by the number of houses in the state that discovered (and still discovering) the underground oil tanks on their acquired property.

As time passed, people knew why it was a bad idea. Oil leaks were reported here and there, and the damage ranged from simple clean ups to major dig ups.

“They dug and they dug and they dug,” recalled Mark Viggiano, 54, a mechanic. The hole was so deep that “you would think they had dropped a bomb.”

Since then, the government of New Jersey has been actively campaigning for regular check up for leaks and the possibility of removing it and unbury the oil tank to prevent any cases in the future.

Until now, the potential horrors of a leaking oil tank still hover every homeowner in New Jersey. More and more people is discovering that the oil tanks under their houses have started leaking, some found out that they were too late, that the damage it caused was too hard (and expensive) to handle.

In 2010, Tom and Joann Sudo shelled out $50,000 to remove the leaking, decades-old heating oil tank buried in their front yard.

Removing the tanks is generally a straightforward, affordable job, running an estimated $1,500 to $2,500. The trouble starts when a leak is found, which happens in an estimated 30 to 50 percent of cases, according to tank-removal companies. A leak can go undetected for years, but lead to tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

The state, on the other hand, has required measures to prevent the oily disasters waiting to happen. Authorities from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have set ground rules and guidelines on everything related to oil tanks, removals and leaks.

The DEP says remediations were completed on 3,700 leaking underground residential tanks in 2015. Still, the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey estimates that about 92,000 remain in the state, with a concentration in North Jersey’s older neighborhoods.

The state used to reimburse homeowners for at least part of the cost of removing a tank and remediating the damage. But financing for that program ran dry several years ago, and now the state’s DEP website tells homeowners that they can apply for a grant if they want — with no guarantees that there will ever be an infusion of state money to pay them.

Tom and Joan Sudo were one of the few that had taken advantage of the state’s oil tank removal reimbursement program but, they were unsatisfied. Their claim for reimbursement was approved and was expected to take a few months.

They waited for more than three years to have their money back.

Health Hazards and Environmental Mess

More than the headaches it would give you for spending too much, oil spills on land can be more damaging than you thought it would be.

Every oil spill is different, but the thread that unites these disparate scenes is a growing scientific awareness of the persistent damage that spills can do — and of just how long oil can linger in the environment, hidden in out-of-the-way spots.

In cities and towns, the main concern is protecting the health of the residents from the health hazards of oil spills. Since the “urban” banner can encompass everything from paved surfaces to forests and parks, the specific response must be tailored to the affected ecosystem. The aim is to prevent the oil from mixing in with water ways, such as rivers, even the sewage system.

Enemy of the State

House Buyers and sellers can agree, for instance, that both will have some liability if contamination is found after the sale. More than the responsibility of the State, it is the responsible of its people to look after their houses, remove underground oil tanks and save themselves from potential damage, check for leaks and clean up the mess.

The state of New Jersey has been keen of reminding and helping its people to take action now, instead of dealing with the effects later. Authorities and concerned officials have been participating interactively to help people with this dilemma.

The DEP, through their website has been actively calling for collective and preventive action against oil leaks.

If you found your underground oil tanks leaking oil all over the soil, there are step-by-step guidelines on what you should do and who you should contact.

Ultimately, the government repeatedly reiterates that it is as much the responsibility of the home owner as it is of the state to look out, prevent and resolve such disasters. They have not been lacking of reminders and support for their constituents.

So, if you don’t want to be an enemy of the state and your community, do your part and be responsible for your own properties. Just think of the money, time and effort you will be spending if you don’t take action now. Deciding to do it later, like oil spill on land, will just keep you buried a little bit deeper everyday.