This document summarizes updates to Oregon's DEQ Heating Oil Tank Program. It was developed in 2000 to set standards for soil sampling, tank decommissioning, and cleanups to protect human health and the environment from groundwater and indoor air contamination. New regulations have been adopted where ethylbenzene and naphthalene levels driving cleanup activities must be below 0.82 ppm and 6.5 ppm respectively. This means that many residential heating oil tank sites will now require additional evaluation like air sampling or excavation, making the cleanup process more expensive, impactful to property, and time-consuming.

1. Oregon DEQ Heating Oil Tank Program
Update
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By: Matthew Lowrance
www.eworksnw.com

2. ODEQ Heating Oil Tank Program
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• Developed in 2000
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• Set standards for Soil Samples, Decommissioning and
Cleanups
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• Purpose is to Protect Human Health and Environment
– Contaminating Groundwater
– Indoor Air Quality
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• 20,000 closed files
• ~ 50,000 open files
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3. DEQ Requirements
Soil Samples
Decommissioning
• One sample from each
end of the tank
• Within 6” of the end of
the tank and from 1-2’
below
• Must have Soil Samples
• Fill and Vent Pipes
removed
• Cleaned and Filled
! • *Voluntary Certification
Clean Soil Samples may be used for DEQ Certification if
decommission takes place within 90 days
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Contaminated Samples (>50 ppm) must be reported to DEQ
within 72 hours
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Database (LUST): www.deq.state.or.us/lq/
tanks/LUST/LustPublicLookup.asp
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4. DEQ Requirements….
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DEQ considers who ever owns the property when
contamination is identified as the responsible party
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Source of contamination must be removed immediately (tank
pumped & cleaned)
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5. Three options for DEQ Cleanup &
Certification
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Soil Matrix (50 – 500 ppm)**most often seen after excavation has taken place
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Generic Remedy (500 – 2500 ppm)
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Depth to groundwater
Annual precipitation
Native soil or rock type
Sensitivity to upper most aquifer
Potential receptors
Contamination limited to soil
No free product
No ecological risk posed by release
Volume of soil >2,500 ppm doesn't exceed 65 cubic yards
At least 3 feet of non contaminated soil above contamination
Contaminated soil above seasonal high groundwater
Risk Based (2,500 – 39,000 ppm) (air sampling)
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No free product
Full vertical and lateral extent of contamination has been delineated
Representative sample has been evaluated for BTEX (benzene) and PAH (ethylbenzene & naphthalene)
Exposure pathways of constituents of concern are explored and no human or ecological risk is present
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If Soil Samples > 2,500 ppm new regulations come into play
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6. In The Past
• Diesel levels up to ~40,000 ppm could be left in
place
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• Benzene was the driving factor determining if a site
meet DEQ Standards
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• Under most circumstances contamination could be
left in place
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• Only a small portion of sites required soil removal
or further investigation
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7. !
•
New DEQ Regulations
In 2008 EPA changed the classification of two constituents contained
in Diesel (ethylbenzene & naphthalene) from non - carcinogenic to
carcinogenic
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Created new screening levels for evaluating the effects on human
health from volatilization and vapor intrusion into indoor air
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•
Recently the DEQ’s Heating Oil Tank Program adopted these
screening levels for residential heating oil tank projects
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Ethylbenzene and Napthalene will be the driver determining cleanup
activities
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Ethylbenzene must be < .82ppm
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Napthalene must be < 6.5ppm
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8. Evaluating Risk from Vapor Intrusion
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• Ethylbenzene must be < .82ppm (in
soil)
• Napthalene must be < 6.5ppm (in
soil)
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Extremely overprotective of
human health due to
uncertainties associated
with environmental
modeling
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Excavation or Soil Gas
Sampling is the next
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step

9. Excavation vs. Air Sampling
Many variables to consider
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volume of soil
depth to groundwater
concentration
potential impacts to property
projected costs
Overall likelihood to meet
DEQ requirements
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10. Soil Gas Sampling
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Valuable in situations where
excavation is not an option
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Collect air samples from soil pore
space ~5ft below ground surface
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1-2 samples needed
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More direct evaluation of risk
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$1,800 - $2,500.00
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11. What does this mean for your clients?
• Only sites with minimal contamination will meet Risk Based
Standards and not require further evaluation
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• Many more residential heating oil tank sites will require
additional work (air sampling or excavation)
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• More Expensive
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• More impact to property (removal of fences, landscaping,
decks and porches)
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• Take more time
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12. Get it all with one call!!
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Radon - Heating Oil Tanks Sewer
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