|
Question: What is a "UST"?
Answer: UST stands for Underground Storage Tank. A UST may contain petroleum products or certain hazardous substances. A UST is defined as a tank and any of its associated piping that has at least 10% of its combined volume underground.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What does "AST" stand for?
Answer: AST stands for Aboveground Storage Tank.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What is the EPA Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) Law?
Answer: The EPA requires that all USTs 1,100-gallons or greater storing petroleum or certain hazardous substances conform to EPA regulations after December 22, 1998. Regulations require owners of USTs to upgrade their sites as to prevent releases, detect releases and correct the problems created by prior releases from their USTs.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What if I do not upgrade my site to conform to EPA PBS requirements?
Answer: If owners and operators of PBS sites do no comply, fines may be significant. State and Local municipality fines may also occur.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What does a UST removal consist of?
Answer: A UST (underground storage tank) is uncovered, rendered free of ignitable vapors, cut open and cleaned of all product and product residue. The UST is then excavated and removed along with all associated piping. The tank is inspected for holes and the tank “grave†is inspected for product release. The tank grave may be sampled for soil contamination by extracting soil from the base and sidewalls of the tank grave. The soil sample is then analyzed at a certified laboratory.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What does a UST abandonment consist of?
Answer: The UST is uncovered, rendered free of ignitable vapors, cut open and cleaned of all product and product residue. The tank is then entered by a technician and visually inspects the tank for breaches. Soil may also be extracted from the perimeter of the UST by means of drilling through the UST and extracting soil samples or by “geoprobing†around the UST from the surface. If any contaminated soil is detected or breaches in the tank are observed, the tank must be removed from the ground and the site remediated. If no problems are observed with the UST, the tank may be filled with sand or concrete slurry, depending on local municipality regulations.
[Return to top of page]
Question: How does my property become rendered free of contamination?
Answer: If contaminated soil or groundwater is encountered, it is required by law, in most states, that the acting state environmental agency is notified. The remediation process begins by excavating contaminated soil and/or contaminated liquids which will be pumped and removed from the site. Long term remediation may be necessary by means of such methodologies, but not limited to: pumping and treating contaminated ground water and/or soil vapor extraction of volatile organic compounds.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What happens to the contamination once it has left my site?
Answer: Platinum Energy Group will arrange to transport all waste to fully licensed facilities. Liquids are treated by separating petroleum products from water. The petroleum is then recycled for industrial use. Soils are treated by burning all volatile compounds leaving clean fill as the end result.
[Return to top of page]
Question: Can Platinum Energy certify my site as free of contaminates at the conclusion of the site remediation?
Answer: Platinum Energy Group can provide its clients with tank abandonment certifications, tank removal certification, PBS closure reports, and site remediation reports.
[Return to top of page]
Question: Can Platinum Energy provide services for hazardous materials?
Answer: Platinum Energy Group is trained for the handling of hazardous materials for the proper clean up, classification, packing and transportation to certified disposal facilities.
[Return to top of page]
Question: What is toxic black mold?
Answer: The technical name is Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys alra) sometimes referred to as stachy for short. It is a greenish-black mold. It can grow anywhere moisture occurs.
[Return to top of page]
Question: Are there any circumstances where people should vacate a home or other building because of mold?
Answer: These decisions have to be made individually. If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold, you should contact your physician to determine the appropriate action to take
[Return to top of page]
Question: How do I know if I have toxic black mold?
Answer: Not all mold is Stachybotrys chartarum mold. Please remember that mold is everywhere, on surfaces and in your home. Not all mold presents a problem. If you suspect you have a problem, please contact Platinum Energy Group or a local professional who can help.
[Return to top of page]
| 
