Case Study: Tank Management

Project Type: Underground Storage Tank System (USTs), Removal/Abandonment and Installation
Services Provided: Tank Handling Activities
Project Location: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
Client Type: Universities, manufacturers, processing facilities, fuel terminals (including aviation), commercial locations and residential properties

Project Description:

TIER is licensed in four states (Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland) to remove regulated underground storage tank (UST) systems. Historically, closures by removal or abandonment of UST systems have closely followed accepted industry practices and guidelines. Appropriately, city, regional, and State protocols have been incorporated and become a part of the closure requirements.

Universally, tank-handling activities have become relatively routine. However, there have been circumstances in which extra steps are needed to successfully complete the project. For instance, the largest UST systems removed by TIER have been two (2) 50,000-gallon tanks. Due to their proximity to a building, the excavation and the building had to be shored. TIER subcontracted a reputable engineering firm to design the system and prepare the drawings. Due to the depth to bedrock, a simple driven sheet pile shoring system was inappropriate. The engineered system was a drilled soldier pile with wood lagging. The whole system was anchored to the soils beneath the building with helical tiebacks. A six-point groundwater extraction system was installed to work in conjunction with shoring. A portion of the wells was outfitted with a liquid ring pump and submersible well pumps to handle the volume of water. The uncontaminated water was stored on site in a 21,000-gallon storage tank and analyzed before being discharged through filter bags. This project occurred during the drought conditions of the summer of 1999. As a result of the conservatory dewatering methods employed by TIER, the tank owner’s grounds department was able to recycle the water by applying it to the shrubbery and landscaping.

As is the case with most tank installations, it is necessary to use many construction disciplines. It is common for TIER to provide in-house personnel for all earthwork, plumbing, concrete, masonry, electrical, and carpentry services. When subcontractors are required, TIER is adept at securing those services in a timely, cost effective manner.