These two heating oil tanks had been abandoned and out of commission for over 50 years. The tanks were closed off between a concrete wall and surrounded by soil. With the client’s permission and meeting the specific engineering requirements, RW Collins removed the wall and exposed the tanks so our environmental technicians could begin the removal process. The team took extra precautions while breaking the wall and exposing the tanks due to safety concerns such as flying debris, structure collapses, and material spills.
Once the wall was opened and the tanks exposed, our team removed the existing backfill to create safe working conditions for the technicians to begin dismantling the tanks. All tank-related debris was safely disposed of at a landfill. Keeping a clean workspace and keeping any contaminated soil from exposed asphalt areas is critical. Our team carefully laid out polyethylene plastic to place soil in stockpiles until it was ready for transportation and disposal.
Once the tanks were decommissioned, more areas were remediated through excavation and disposal and backfilled with virgin quarry CA-6 and CA-1 limestone. This process continued for multiple weeks to remove tanks, concrete, and soil while ensuring the crew’s safety and the building’s integrity. Teamwork and experience were crucial to completing this job safely and promptly.
- Project Facts
- 2-month project
- Decommissioned and removed (2) 30,000-gallon heating oil tanks
- Removed and disposed of approx. 1,000 tons of contaminated materials
- Crew size: 2 operators, 2 laborers
- Equipment used: Hand tools, Bobcat E26, Bobcat B84, CAT 906
