Buried Oil Tank (UST)

A buried oil tank, also called an underground storage tank or UST, is a heating-oil tank installed below ground, often in the yard of an older home. Many were put in decades ago and later abandoned when homes switched to a basement tank, natural gas, or another heat source. The concern is that a buried steel tank can corrode and leak oil into the soil, which creates an environmental cleanup liability that can be expensive and can complicate a sale. Older Rhode Island and Massachusetts properties are prime candidates for having one. A home inspection, a tank sweep, or old records can flag a buried tank. If one is found, buyers typically want it tested, and if it leaked, properly removed or remediated, with responsibility negotiated between the parties before closing.