Apply for Underground Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement from the Department of Environmental Protection

If you can answer “YES” to all the questions below, you may be eligible for reimbursement.

• Are/were you the tank owner?

• Was the heating oil tank an underground (buried) tank?

• Was the tank capacity 3,000 gallons or less?

• Did the tank store fuel that was used for heating on the premises?

• Was there a release of heating oil to the environment from the tank, the associated lines/pipes, or resulting from a spill or overfill due to a failure of the tank system?

• Did the release occur, or was it discovered, on or after January 30, 1998?

• Has an environmental cleanup been completed, or is one in progress?

Note: Aboveground heating oil tanks are not eligible for this program. This includes tanks on or above the floor in an underground area, like a basement or cellar.

Eligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• Excavating, emptying, cleaning, and disposing of a leaking underground storage tank that stored heating oil for on-site use only. These costs for the removal or decommissioning of the leaking tank are only eligible for reimbursement if environmental cleanup work is also performed.
  
  
• Excavating contaminated soil and/or recovering released heating oil.
  
  
• Transporting and disposing of wastes (e.g. in-tank materials, contaminated soil, contaminated groundwater).
  
  
• Activities to find the extent of contamination. This includes soil borings or installing wells.
  
  
• Design and implement systems to remediate groundwater and surface water contamination. This includes installing and maintaining well water treatment systems. Also, placing absorbent booms in streams, lakes, or ponds.
  
  
• Restoring disturbed or contaminated areas by backfilling, grading, and basic revegetation.
  
  
• Preparing tank closure and environmental cleanup reports that are submitted to DEP.
  
  
• Permit and inspection fees associated with tank removal or closure, or environmental cleanup.
  
  
• Implementing on-site soil treatment technologies (e.g. bioremediation) may be eligible. 
  • Property owners considering remediation methods other than the excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil must contact their respective DEP regional office for guidance on applicability. We need pre- and post-remediation soil tests. They will confirm the effectiveness and establish eligibility.
     
• Costs for sampling and analysis related to:
  • Waste disposal
  • Contamination assessment
  • Cleanup progress evaluation
  • Cleanup confirmation