Homeowner Spill Assistance
If you had a spill of oil at your home or business, or are aware of contamination related to your oil storage tank or delivery line, your first point of contact should be the local fire department. Certain matters are under their direct jurisdiction (e.g., tank removal, public safety issues), and they will in many cases provide advice on how to best proceed. Under state law, you must also contact the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) if certain reporting thresholds are reached or exceeded. In all, there are twenty-two specific threshold conditions that would require notification to MassDEP – in as little as 2 hours after becoming aware of the problem. The most common reporting conditions at homes and small businesses are listed below:
- A spill of more than ten gallons of gasoline or oil within a 24-hour period;
- A spill of any quantity of gasoline or oil that creates a sheen on a surface water body;
- A discovery of oil floating on the surface of the groundwater table;
- the presence of explosive concentrations of petroleum vapors in a building or confined space.