Tank Decommissioning Contractors in Georgia
Find Georgia contractors for tank decommissioning, UST closure, closure-in-place, and soil testing. Serving Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, and communities statewide.
What to Know About Tank Decommissioning in Georgia
Georgia tank decommissioning must follow the permanent closure path set by state regulators. Owners choose between full removal or closure in place, and Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) reviews the closure report before a site is considered closed. Commercial facilities drive most decommissioning work here, since gas stations, fleet yards, and fuel depots far outnumber residential heating oil tanks. Under the federal 12-month temporary closure limit, a tank that sits idle past that window must be permanently closed, and EPD tracks those deadlines. A buyer or lender often requests an environmental evaluation before a deal closes, which surfaces forgotten tanks that then need closure.
Demand concentrates in Georgia's busiest fuel corridors, from metro Atlanta and the Savannah port district to Augusta, Macon, and Columbus. Coastal Plain sites near Savannah face high water tables, while Piedmont cities like Atlanta and Athens carry decades of older retail fueling sites. The Georgia Rules for Underground Storage Tank Management, Chapter 391-3-15, set the closure procedures EPD enforces statewide. Convenience store chains, trucking terminals along I-75 and I-16, and municipal fleet yards make up most UST removal projects. Older steel tanks installed before the 1990s are the most common closure candidates, and many surface during property sales when a contamination assessment flags them.
Closure in place in Georgia typically runs $1,200 to $3,500, while full removal decommissioning usually lands between $3,000 and $8,000 for a standard commercial tank. Soil sampling at the pit bottom and sidewalls adds $400 to $1,200, and full site closure with documentation generally totals $2,000 to $10,000. When testing reveals petroleum contamination, remediation can push the bill from $10,000 to more than $60,000. The Georgia Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund (GUST) may reimburse eligible cleanup costs for registered tanks, though payment often arrives 12 to 24 months after a claim is filed. Tank size, depth, the groundwater table, and contaminated soil disposal drive most of the cost variation in Georgia.
The typical Georgia closure runs in a set order: notify EPD, empty and clean the tank, then either remove it or fill it in place under inspection. Soil samples go to a lab, results take one to three weeks, and the contractor files a decommissioning report for EPD review. A clean closure can wrap in a few days, but report approval and any No Further Action signoff can stretch two to six months. Crews handling contaminated soil should hold current hazardous materials training, so ask any contractor to confirm their workers are certified. Before hiring, ask for UST closure references in Georgia, confirm the contractor files the EPD notification, and get in writing what happens if soil tests come back dirty.
Tank Decommissioning Contractors in Georgia
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Browse Georgia Contractors →Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to decommission a UST in Georgia?
Georgia does not issue a standalone UST decommissioning license, but the work is regulated and the closure must be documented by a qualified contractor. EPD requires advance notification before closure begins and reviews the closure report afterward. Contractors typically hold environmental, excavation, or general contracting credentials, plus hazardous materials certification for crews handling contaminated soil. Always confirm the firm has completed UST closures in Georgia and carries pollution liability coverage. Listed contractors vary in their specific credentials, so ask before hiring.
How much does tank decommissioning cost in Georgia?
Closure in place in Georgia generally costs $1,200 to $3,500, while full removal usually runs $3,000 to $8,000 for a commercial tank. Soil sampling adds $400 to $1,200, and full site closure with documentation often totals $2,000 to $10,000. If contamination is found, remediation can range from $10,000 to more than $60,000. The Georgia UST Trust Fund may reimburse eligible cleanup costs for registered tanks. Final cost depends heavily on whether soil tests come back clean.
How long does UST closure take in Georgia?
A straightforward UST closure with no contamination can be completed in three to seven days of field work. Soil sample results from the lab usually take one to three weeks. EPD review of the closure report and a No Further Action determination can take two to six months. If contamination is present, cleanup can extend the timeline by many months or longer. Coastal Plain sites near Savannah with high water tables sometimes take longer because groundwater sampling is involved.
Does the Georgia UST Trust Fund cover decommissioning costs?
The Georgia UST Trust Fund (GUST) helps reimburse eligible corrective action and cleanup costs, not the routine cost of pulling a clean tank. Coverage applies to registered tanks that meet compliance and reporting requirements, and a deductible applies before the fund pays. Reimbursement commonly arrives 12 to 24 months after a claim is submitted, so owners pay upfront. Tanks that were never properly registered or that missed reporting deadlines may be ineligible. Filing promptly after a release is discovered protects fund eligibility in Georgia.
What happens during a tank decommissioning in Georgia?
The contractor first files the required notification with EPD, then empties and cleans the tank of all product and sludge. The tank is either excavated and hauled out or cleaned and filled in place with an inert material like sand or flowable fill. Soil samples are collected from the excavation bottom and sidewalls and sent to a certified lab. The contractor then compiles a decommissioning report documenting the work and the analytical results for EPD. Closure in place is sometimes the only option when a tank sits under a building or pavement.
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Browse Georgia Contractors →For Georgia UST regulations, visit the Georgia EPD UST Program. Federal requirements are available from the EPA UST Program.