Underground & Aboveground Storage Tank Removal in California
Encon Environmental removes steel and fiberglass underground storage tanks (USTs) and aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) at fueling, fleet, and industrial facilities throughout California.
Our teams manage the full removal process—from uncovering the tank, pumping and cleaning, and degassing, through safe removal, transportation, and disposal—while coordinating with your environmental, real estate, and redevelopment objectives.
- Turnkey UST and AST removal for active and inactive facilities.
- Tank cleaning, de-gassing, and vapor inerting for safe removal.
- Coordination with subsurface sampling, remediation, and closure programs.
UST / AST Removal Process and Site Preparation
Encon manages UST and AST removal from early planning through backfilling and surface restoration, coordinating work with facility operations and regulatory requirements.
The process typically begins with uncovering the tank (for USTs), exposing appurtenances, and confirming utility clearances. Remaining product, sludge, or waste oil is removed and managed for proper off-site disposal or recycling prior to tank removal.
Once cleaning and gas-free verification are complete, the tank is carefully lifted from the excavation or pad, staged for inspection and documentation, and loaded onto a truck for transport to an approved receiving facility. Many tanks can be recycled as scrap metal after proper cleaning and certification.
- Pre-removal planning, permitting, and utility clearance.
- Pumping and management of fuel, sludge, and waste oil.
- Tank cleaning, de-gassing, and vapor inerting.
- Safe lifting, staging, and off-site transport for disposal or recycling.
- Backfilling, compaction, and surface restoration following removal.
Coordinating Tank Removal with Investigation and Cleanup
Tank removals often present the best opportunity to assess subsurface conditions in and around the former tank pit. Encon routinely integrates removal activities with sampling and evaluation so that you can understand whether a release has occurred and what, if any, follow-up action is needed.
Where impacts are identified, we can connect UST removal projects with Phase II investigations and Phase III cleanup programs designed to support regulatory closure, including low-risk closure strategies for qualifying sites.
- Field screening and documentation of tank pit conditions.
- Soil and groundwater sampling beneath and around the tank.
- Identification of potential releases and extent of impacts.
- Development of follow-on investigation or cleanup scopes.
- Coordination with regulators on reporting and next steps.
Supporting Real Estate, Risk Management, and Redevelopment
For many properties, removing USTs or ASTs is a key step in making a site marketable or suitable for new use. Encon understands the timing and documentation needs associated with sales, refinancing, and redevelopment throughout California.
Our removal projects are documented with photographs, disposal manifests, and field records that support not only regulatory reporting, but also real estate due diligence and risk management needs for buyers, sellers, and lenders.
- Sale or refinancing of operating or former fueling facilities.
- Redevelopment of auto-related and industrial properties.
- Reduction of long-term environmental and operational risk.
- Transition from older tank systems to new infrastructure.
- Cleanup and closure strategies for contaminated sites.
Need UST or AST Removal Services in California?
Whether you are retiring a single tank or planning a broader facility upgrade or redevelopment, Encon Environmental can manage safe removal and connect you with investigation and cleanup services as needed.
