From: "Harry K" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: oil tank(with oil) in the back yard...
Date: 25 Feb 2005 18:41:38 -0800
   posting-account=3X3iVQwAAAA5qeF0JLSgIGYnZgL6amWt


John/Charleston wrote:
> On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 17:15:37 -0500, Speedy Jim  wrote:
>
> >John/Charleston wrote:
> >> I have a 1959 house that I'm fixing up and there seems to be an
oil
> >> tank buried in the back yard.  The house no longer has an oil
furnace,
> >> but I poked a stick down the fill tube in the yard and it was
coated
> >> with 12" or so of oil when I brought it back up.  I have no idea
of
> >> the capacity or shape of the tank so I don't know if this
represents
> >> 20 or 200 gals of oil!    What can I do with this?   Do I need to
call
> >> a toxic waste disposal co and pay  big$$$ or should I apply for a
> >> federal grant as a superfund site?
> >> Located in Charleston, SC
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> John
> >
> >  Maybe start with a call to a local fuel oil supplier.
> >  Ask what local practice is.
> >  The co. may even offer a de-commissioning service
> >  or know who to call.
>
> That's a good idea...there's got to be a simple way to pump whatever
> remaining oil out of the tank and dispose of it properly.  I can't
> imagine I'm the only one with an oil tank in the backyard.
>
> Thanks again,
> John

You will find that you also have to decommission the tank.  Just
getting rid of the oil isn't enough.  May have to dig it up or fill
with some inert substance.

Harry K