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Start with what the site is telling us.
Petroleum odors, stained soil, holes in a tank, or laboratory results may prompt further evaluation. We review the removal history and available data before recommending the next scope.
The important questions are where impacts occur, how deep they extend, whether groundwater is involved, and what nearby buildings or site conditions mean for the work.
02 / LEAKING HEATING OIL TANKS
Define the investigation before estimating the cleanup.
Targeted sampling and delineation can help establish the affected area and depth. This information supports planning for excavation, soil disposal, equipment, and any further testing.
Access constraints and impacts beneath structures can change the approach. Where needed, we coordinate with drilling contractors, engineers, or the project’s LSRP to work through those conditions.
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Excavate, manage, and document impacted soil.
For an excavation-based cleanup, work can include removal of petroleum-impacted soil, field screening, loading, transportation, and disposal at an appropriate receiving facility. Facility acceptance and waste characterization requirements are addressed as part of planning.
Disposal quantities, access, groundwater, and the extent of contamination can affect the work. We keep the proposed scope and new findings connected so you understand why additional work may be recommended.
04 / LEAKING HEATING OIL TANKS
Confirm conditions with laboratory data.
Confirmation samples document conditions remaining after excavation. Laboratory analysis is reviewed along with field observations and the investigation history to assess whether further work is needed.
Field screening supports decisions during excavation; the supporting laboratory results and applicable project requirements guide the reporting and next steps. Backfill and restoration are coordinated with the work completed.
05 / LEAKING HEATING OIL TANKS
Groundwater and difficult-access conditions.
Some tank cases require groundwater sampling or further investigation beyond the soil excavation. Temporary wells, monitoring wells, or other measures may be considered depending on the site.
If impacts extend under a foundation or other obstruction, the solution needs to account for both environmental conditions and safe access. We explain those constraints before treating further excavation as a simple next step.
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From cleanup to closure reporting.
We bring together analytical data, disposal and fill records, photographs, and the project history. For applicable NJ UHOT cases, this supports the Remedial Action Report and NJDEP review process toward an NFA letter.
Cleanup cost and completion time depend on what the investigation finds, contractor and laboratory schedules, and agency review. Send us an existing case number or report if work has already started.
NJDEP CLEANUP RESOURCES
Understand the rules behind your cleanup.
For the detailed heating oil tank cleanup requirements, read NJDEP’s courtesy copy of N.J.A.C. 7:26F. For homeowner questions we haven’t answered here, visit NJDEP’s FAQs.
Heating Oil Tank System Remediation Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:26F (PDF, amended February 15, 2026)Read NJDEP’s homeowner FAQsThe PDF is a reference copy. Visit NJDEP’s UHOT program for current program information.
