99% of New Jersey residents are eligible to have their tank removed for FREE!
As we enter 2009 with talk of “green” technology, there is a growing threat that seems to be flying under the radar for most people in the United States.
Oil and fuel tanks that have been long buried beneath lawns on residential homes have become the most widespread threat to our environment, threatening ground water and drinking water supplies. Buried oil tanks raise increasing environmental, safety, legal and economic concerns for home owners because oil leaks can lead to environmental damage and expensive cleanup operations.
Installing a new, above ground indoor oil storage tank involves significant expense. However, the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation, Upgrade and Closure Program provides loans and grants to eligible applicants to help finance project costs for the closure and replacement of a non-leaking residential underground storage tank (UST).
To qualify, consumers must:
1. Have a federal taxable income of less than $250,000;
2. Have a net worth of not more than $500,000 (excluding your primary residence & pension)
3. You spend more than 51% of your income on living expenses (including mortgage, car and insurance payments)
If an oil tank has leaked the cost to clean up contaminated soils can be very significant, But the NJDEP grant program will cover the complete cleanup provided you have been denied by your homeowners insurance policy. While home heating oil tanks are excluded from Federal and NJDEP Regulations about oil storage tank reporting and monitoring, they are addressed by NJDEP regulations once they leak.
More importantly, when you go to sell your home, Banks and Insurance companies make it almost impossible for a buyer to purchase a home with a Underground Storage Tank.
As an environmental services expert, Steve Rich of Steve Rich Environmental Contractors, Inc. shows how this program works.
“First, we have a staff in our office, who will help you fill out all the paper work and help submit it right the first time.” Steve explains, “there are companies who will charge you to fill out the paper work and help with submissions, SREC does not charge, we help every one of our clients.”
Companies must be certified by NJDEP in Tank Closure and sub surface evaluation. What that means is you can’t hire any excavation contractor to complete the work, nor can you do the work yourself and get reimbursed.
“We are committed in making the application process less complicated and you can count on SREC to help you complete the application and get it done right.
“The only thing we need from a NJ customer who meets the criteria is the time to fill out there personal information on the forms, after that, SREC will complete everything that’s needed,
- Getting approval from the state program.
- Securing local permits
- Removing and if applicable, install an new Above Ground Storage Tank.
- Getting appropriate inspections.
- Backfilling you property to grade.
- Most importantly, securing your “Peace of mind”
SREC will expedite paperwork processing and handle all the work from start to finish.”
NJ Homeowners should be pro-active and should take advantage now while funding is available. For more information, visit www.steve-rich.com.
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