Underground Tank Removal

TSSA states that underground storage tanks governed by Ontario's Liquid Fuels Handling Code and Fuel Oil Code must be removed within two years of disuse. If removal is not feasible, leaving a tank in place requires a formal variance and environmental-assessment path. Harrowgate plans physical removal as the standard project outcome.

Useful records include tank registration, size, product, construction, last use, remaining inventory, piping layout, environmental reports, utility plans, groundwater information, access limits, and required restoration. Harrowgate also reviews truck and crane access, adjacent foundations, operating constraints, expected sampling, soil destinations, and whether the site is entering a Record of Site Condition process.

Yes, but product and sludge must first be recovered and directed to an approved destination using the planned fuel-handling process. The tank is isolated, cleaned, and tested for safe handling before lifting. An apparently empty gauge does not establish that the tank is free of liquid, residue, or hazardous vapour.

Harrowgate segregates the affected material, protects the excavation, and works to the environmental qualified person's sampling and delineation direction. Soil is characterized and sent to an appropriate reuse, treatment, or disposal destination under the approved Ontario process. We track excavation limits and loads so clean overburden is not mixed with impacted soil.

The retained environmental consultant or qualified person directs and documents soil and groundwater sampling. Harrowgate exposes safe sample locations, maintains the excavation, provides equipment for additional test pits or approved delineation, and holds backfill until release. This separation preserves the consultant's independent environmental conclusions while keeping field work efficient.

Only through the applicable TSSA variance and environmental-assessment process when removal is not feasible. Filling a tank without that review does not satisfy the stated Ontario removal requirement. Physical removal also exposes the tank nest for observation and sampling, which is often essential for redevelopment, financing, and environmental due diligence.

After required inspection and sampling hold points are released, Harrowgate places the specified approved backfill in controlled lifts and compacts it for the future use. Restoration can include granular base, concrete, asphalt, or a redevelopment subgrade. Testing, grades, drainage, and tie-ins are defined by the engineer and project documents.

Duration depends on regulatory coordination, tank size and contents, utility clearance, access, excavation support, groundwater, environmental sampling, soil destinations, and restoration. A straightforward removal can progress quickly once prerequisites are complete. Multiple tanks, impacted soil, analytical hold points, deep shoring, or continued facility operation require a phased schedule with explicit decision points.