ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, CHAPTER
9: UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025 UPDATE.
If the seller does not know about the presence of an underground oil tank but a visual inspection
suggests that there might be one, what should be done? - ANS Recommend that a professional be
hired to inspect the property.
When trying to identify if a buried oil tank is on a property, which of these would you look for? -
ANS *Oil tank fill cap.
If an oil leak is discovered by soil testing, what should be the first priority? - ANS Pump out the
oil.
SYMPTONS of a failing underground storage tank? - ANS Leaking oil is discovered, the first
priority is to stop further leaking. This is done by removing oil in the leaking tank, usually by
having the OIL PUMPED OUT. If the tank is currently being used to supply furnace oil, the oil
distributor or company performing the remediation may supply a temporary above ground tank
while the work is being performed.
Decommissioning an Underground Storage Tank means taking the taking out of active service
and taking steps to ensure that the tank will not be the source of soil or ground water
contamination in the future. The three basic methods are: - ANS * Removal. This option requires
pumping out of any remaining fuel in the tank. After this step is completed, the tank is dug up
and removed. It must be disposed of in an approved disposal site. The hold is then back-filled to
grade with sand or gravel.
* Place with Sand or Pea Gravel. Also known as DIP or Decommission In Place. Tanks located
under concrete, asphalt or more than 24" if soil make this method impractical. This option also
requires pumping out any remaining fuel in the tank is then cleaned and visually inspected for
leakage. If there is no leakage, the tank is be filled with sand or pea gravel, the top replaced, and
the hole back filled to grade. The vent pipe and fill pipe are removed.
* Place with Slurry. Requires the pumping out of any remaining fuel in the tank. Since an
inspection of the tank is impossible with this method, soil samples should be taken to determine
if there has been leakage prior to using this method to decommission.
When a soil test is conducted, at what minimum point is remediation (soil cleanup) required? -
ANS 500 PPM
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, CHAPTER
9: UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025 UPDATE.
If the seller does not know about the presence of an underground oil tank but a visual inspection
suggests that there might be one, what should be done? - ANS Recommend that a professional be
hired to inspect the property.
When trying to identify if a buried oil tank is on a property, which of these would you look for? -
ANS *Oil tank fill cap.
If an oil leak is discovered by soil testing, what should be the first priority? - ANS Pump out the
oil.
SYMPTONS of a failing underground storage tank? - ANS Leaking oil is discovered, the first
priority is to stop further leaking. This is done by removing oil in the leaking tank, usually by
having the OIL PUMPED OUT. If the tank is currently being used to supply furnace oil, the oil
distributor or company performing the remediation may supply a temporary above ground tank
while the work is being performed.
Decommissioning an Underground Storage Tank means taking the taking out of active service
and taking steps to ensure that the tank will not be the source of soil or ground water
contamination in the future. The three basic methods are: - ANS * Removal. This option requires
pumping out of any remaining fuel in the tank. After this step is completed, the tank is dug up
and removed. It must be disposed of in an approved disposal site. The hold is then back-filled to
grade with sand or gravel.
* Place with Sand or Pea Gravel. Also known as DIP or Decommission In Place. Tanks located
under concrete, asphalt or more than 24" if soil make this method impractical. This option also
requires pumping out any remaining fuel in the tank is then cleaned and visually inspected for
leakage. If there is no leakage, the tank is be filled with sand or pea gravel, the top replaced, and
the hole back filled to grade. The vent pipe and fill pipe are removed.
* Place with Slurry. Requires the pumping out of any remaining fuel in the tank. Since an
inspection of the tank is impossible with this method, soil samples should be taken to determine
if there has been leakage prior to using this method to decommission.
When a soil test is conducted, at what minimum point is remediation (soil cleanup) required? -
ANS 500 PPM
