Site Inspections

Locating Petroleum Soil Contamination

The purpose of a Cedar Rock site inspection is to locate any underground oil or gasoline tanks on your property of interest, and if site conditions permit, determine whether a tank has leaked and contaminated the soil beneath it. The former locations of underground tanks that have been previously removed from the property may also be determined during a site inspection. Other site factors that determine the regulatory requirements that apply to the property will also be assessed during the inspection.

Whether buying or selling real estate or to safeguard the future sale of your property, a Cedar Rock site inspection is as important as having a building inspection. Previously unknown soil contamination can cause significant difficulties and delays in the sale of a property, and may also cause a loss in property value.

Soil Contamination Must Be Reported

Keep in mind that the main issue is not the tank, but whether or not the underlying soil has been contaminated by leakage from the oil tank. Removal of soil contamination and associated environmental assessment is not required in most cases, but leakage from an oil tank must be reported to the State, and regulatory requirements must be satisfied before the property can be sold.

Reasons for a Site Inspection

• Water Supply Wells - If there are water supply wells on the property, or nearby, whether in use or not, it is EXTREMELY important to check for the presence of tanks and soil contamination. State regulations will normally require the removal of a tank and the excavation of contaminated soil. If soil contamination cannot be removed, abandonment of the well(s) may be required, and either a new water supply well will be required or the property will have to be connected to city water if available. This is expensive.
• Buyers - Prevent the unsuspecting purchase of a property with soil contamination and/or an oil tank that is already leaking or might begin to leak after you buy the property. This will avoid future expenses due to the tank when you are the owner. A Cedar Rock site inspection is an essential due diligence inspection, especially when buying an older property.
• Sellers - Establish that there is no soil contamination issue or to deal with the tank and any associated soil contamination to satisfy State laws prior to selling the property. Taking care of any identified issues prior to listing a property for sale can help prevent delays in a property transaction.
• Realtors - Guard against legal liability issues related to required disclosures, and to provide clients with high quality service and financial protection.
• Check Undocumented Work - If there is no proper documentation verifying previous tank related work, a site inspection can help verify what work was actually done. If an underground tank was removed without documentation, it is very likely that any associated contaminated soil was not removed.

What to Expect (in common situations)

Cedar Rock will search for tanks and/or signs that a tank was formerly located on the property. A metal detector is used to survey the outside perimeter of the residence where underground tanks are usually located. Cedar Rock will also look for and investigate depressions in the yard around the house that may have resulted from the removal of an underground oil tank in the past. Cedar Rock will typically also inspect the basement or crawlspace of the residence looking for fuel lines that may have been cut off when a tank was removed or disconnected, an old flue or furnace, or other evidence that an oil tank was previously used at the property.

When an underground tank is confirmed, Cedar Rock will mark the ends of the tank with flags, and when possible, determine the depth below ground, dimensions, and orientation of the tank, and measure the quantity of fluids remaining in the tank. A soil boring is typically made at one end of the tank to a depth of about 1-2 feet below the bottom of the tank. The soil is examined for signs of contamination such as a petroleum odor or discoloration. If no contamination is apparent, a second boring is performed at the other end of the tank. Soil samples may also be collected and submitted for laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or absence of contamination in the soil.

If there is no contamination in either sample then no further work is required. However, Cedar Rock strongly recommends that the tank be properly abandoned in place or removed to prevent inevitable future leakage.

If contamination is observed, Cedar Rock will make recommendations for the abandonment or, depending on site factors, the removal of the tank. If site conditions indicate that soil removal may be required, Cedar Rock will advise on the recommended work. If requested by the property owner, Cedar Rock will provide a proposal for the necessary work.

Aboveground tanks are inspected for signs of leakage, and if there appears to have been an oil leak from the tank, a soil boring will be performed beneath the tank to check for soil contamination.

A report stamped by a NC Licensed Geologist will be prepared detailing the results of the site inspection and the recommended actions.

A typical inspection takes about 30 minutes to an hour and costs as little as $400 depending on location. To protect your investment and provide peace of mind regarding the sale or purchase of your property of interest, please call us at (336) 684-2734 or use our contact form.

See the Locating Hidden Tanks page for more information on how unknown tanks can be located.