New
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The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) federally mandated deadline for upgrading or removing Underground Storage Tanks was December 22, 1998. If upgrading, some form of leak detection is necessary and if the tank is steel then corrosion protection is required. There are two exceptions to the mandate: (1) Tanks used exclusively for area heating and hot water on the premises. (2) Diesel generator tanks - these do require cathodic protection but not leak detection.
Recently, Cathodic protection has become a more viable option for upgrading USTs. Cathodic protection uses electric currents to prevent metal from corroding. A recent EPA ruling allowing certain non-invasive technologies to determine the "holiness" of a tank, may be utilized in lieu of a costly internal tank inspection.
Tank Environmental Profile (TEP) is one newly approved technologies by the EPA and by the state of Massachusetts. This technology was developed by International Lubrication and Fuel Consultants, Inc. (ILFC), an associate member and preferred vendor of the Massachusetts Oilheat Council (MOC).
Using TEP, soils are taken from various depths
around the tank and analyzed to reveal information that determines
the suitability of cathodic protection. The configuration of the
protection needed is also revealed. The test informs how many
anodes and the amount of electrical current that is required.
With this information a plan for cathodic protection is devised using one of the two methods, a passive system or an impressed current system. The passive system uses galvanic anodes, which are more corroding in the electromotive series that the steel of the tank. The second method uses high silicon cast iron or granite anodes. These materials work with a rectifier to generate the counteracting current that is needed to prevent further UST corrosion. The rectifier is designed to allow easy "EPA required" 60 day inspections.
TEP is designed to benefit tank owners who have yet to update their tanks to EPA's requirements. It is proven to save substantial investments into making the wrong decision about removing a tank that may have many years of service left.
New England Environmental Technologies (NEET) Corp. is also certified by ILFC to use the TEP technology. NEET is also an associate member/preferred vendor of the MOC. Inquiries should be directed to John Clement at 978-521-1111 or e-mail: John.NEET@Comcast.net
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