Maryland Oil Tank Removal: MDE Requirements & Costs

Maryland's tank regulations are administered by MDE's Oil Control Program: • **Registration** - Certain tanks require registration • **Closure requirements** - Proper closure procedures mandated • **Soil sampling** - Required during tank removal • **Cleanup standards** - MDE cleanup standards apply • **Reporting** - Releases must be reported • **Oversight** - MDE may oversee contaminated sites

The Baltimore metropolitan area has specific considerations: • **Row houses** - Baltimore city has many with shared walls • **Older suburbs** - Towson, Pikesville, etc. have many tanks • **Access issues** - Urban properties may have challenges • **Real estate** - Tank certification often required • **County variations** - Baltimore County, Howard County, etc. may have local requirements

Maryland tank removal typically follows these steps: 1. **Hire qualified contractor** - MDE-experienced company 2. **Permits** - Local permits as required 3. **MDE notification** - If required by tank status 4. **Tank removal** - Proper excavation 5. **Soil sampling** - Per MDE protocols 6. **Laboratory testing** - Certified lab 7. **Results evaluation** - Compare to MDE standards 8. **Remediation** - If contamination exceeds limits 9. **Documentation** - Closure report 10. **Site restoration** - Final cleanup

Maryland cleanup standards for petroleum contamination: • **MDE cleanup standards** - Published numeric criteria • **Risk-based options** - Available in certain situations • **Groundwater protection** - Critical consideration • **Residential use** - Standards for residential properties • **Documentation** - Required for site closure