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site remediation

Rapid response from CommTank helps Charlton Manor Rest Home quickly restore critical fire protection for its residents.

WAKEFIELD, MA…
Anthony Iandoli, the owner of the Charlton Manor Rest Home in Charlton, MA recently faced a dilemma. He had been informed by a state inspector that the water suppression tank for the sprinkler system did not meet regulatory standards and they would have to replace it. Protecting the residents of the home was the first priority. How to do it most quickly and efficiently was the question.

CommTank, a Wakefield, MA based company that specializes in the removal and replacement of storage tanks was called to the scene. Upon inspection of the over forty year old partially buried pressurized water holding tank for the facility’s sprinkler system, CommTank found that the tank was corroded, but repairable. In the meantime, with no functioning fire protection at the facility, the fire department required a 24-hour fire watch, stationing a fire truck with a crew on site, providing an immediate, but costly, short-term solution paid for by Charlton Manor.

To mitigate this cost, CommTank obtained a 2,000-gallon pressure vessel, setting it up at the site. CommTank was able to work with Colby Fire Protection and the state inspector to quickly remedy the situation. Within 36 hours of diagnosing the problem, CommTank had worked with the sprinkler company to hook the system up to this temporary tank, removing the need for the fire watch. The old tank was then sandblasted, inspected, professionally lined with a two-part epoxy, inspected again and certified for use.

Charlton Manor owner Iandoli, who was very pleased with the solution to his dilemma, said, “If it wasn’t for CommTank, I don’t know what we would have done. A state inspector had informed us that the water suppression tank for our sprinkler system did not meet standards and we would have to replace it. CommTank arrived on the scene and after further inspection, was able to work with the Colby Fire Protection (commercial fire safety service) and the state inspector to remedy the situation. These guys are great. A specialty service without which, I don’t know where we would be.”

About CommTank
CommTank, founded in 1994 and located at 84 New Salem Street in Wakefield, MA, specializes in the removal and installation of above and underground storage tanks and site remediation, including emergency spill response, site assessment, excavation, and site closure.

CommTank’s services are available Monday through Saturday, with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CommTank’s service area includes most areas of Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Maine. For further information please visit www.commtank.com or call 1-800-628-8260.

Rapid response from CommTank helps Charlton Manor Rest Home quickly restore critical fire protection for its residents.Read More

Avoiding a sticky situation – many MA homeowners with oil heat will need an upgrade under new law.

WAKEFIELD, MA…
Imagine striking oil – in your basement! Under normal circumstances, you never actually see the fuel oil that heats your home. To keep it that way, Massachusetts homeowners who heat with oil will need to upgrade their home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to their furnace under the provisions of a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2010.

This law has two major provisions:
• Fuel supply lines or return lines in direct contact with concrete, earth or other floor surfaces shall have a continuous non-metallic sleeve installed to enclose the fuel line, or have an oil safety valve installed at the tank end of a fuel supply line.
• Insurance companies that write homeowner policies are required to offer elective coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.

Installation of oil safety valve devices or the installation of a protective sleeve must be performed by a licensed oil burner technician. Heating oil systems installed on or after January 1, 1990 are most likely already in compliance with the new law since state fire codes started implementing these requirements on new installations at that time.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), “The typical cost of installing either an oil safety valve or oil supply line with a protective sleeve ranges from $150 – $350 (including labor, parts, and local permit fees).” Compare that to the cleanup cost for a “simple” leak which MassDEP claims, “can be as much as $15,000. In cases where the leak impacts the groundwater or is more extensive, the cleanup costs can reach $250,000 or more.” This new law makes both good financial and environmental sense for homeowners who will spend a little now to potentially save a lot later.

Homeowners who have been certified to be in compliance with the leak prevention measures will also be qualified to purchase new insurance coverage that:
• Provides “first party coverage” of at least $50,000 for the cost of cleaning up a leak to soil, indoor air, or other environmental media from a home heating system at the residence itself and reimbursement for personal property damage, AND
• Provides “third party coverage” of at least $200,000 for the cost of dealing with conditions on and off the insured’s property if the leak has or is likely to impact groundwater or someone else’s property. The coverage also includes costs incurred for legal defense, subject to a deductible not to exceed $1,000 per claim.

About Commonwealth Tank
Commonwealth Tank, founded in 1994 and located at 84 New Salem Street in Wakefield, MA, specializes in the removal and installation of above and underground storage tanks and site remediation, including emergency spill response, site assessment, excavation, and site closure.

Commonwealth Tank’s services are available Monday through Saturday, with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Commonwealth Tank’s service area includes most areas of Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Maine. For further information please visit www.commtank.com or call 1-800-628-8260.

Avoiding a sticky situation – many MA homeowners with oil heat will need an upgrade under new law.Read More

Nourishing a paralympic dream. Commonwealth Tank announces its support of the American Amputee Hockey Association.

WAKEFIELD, MA…

Commonwealth Tank of Wakefield, MA is proud to announce its support of the American Amputee Hockey Association, helping the Association progress toward their goal of reaching the 2010 World Amputee Hockey Championships in Montreal from April 27 – May 2, where they will go for the gold.

Project Manager Dan Hoag of Commonwealth Tank, a longtime supporter of the AAHA, convinced Commonwealth Tank to become a corporate donor to AAHA this year. “It’s truly inspiring to watch these guys play hockey at the level they do,” said Hoag. “In particular, it offers many disabled veterans an opportunity to compete in a way they never thought they could.”

Amputee Hockey is played the same way as amateur ice hockey, except the athletes are missing one or more of their upper or lower extremities. Competing with other amputees helps to increase self-esteem through participation in a fast-paced, exciting sport on a “level playing field”, the hockey rink. The AAHA’s motto is “put your disability on ice,” encouraging amputees and other athletes to look beyond impairment and disability toward participation performance in a competitive team sport.

Although Standing (Amputee) Hockey is not yet a Winter Paralympic Sport the AAHA is leading an international effort to change that for future paralympic games. This year’s 2010 Paralympic Games will be played in Vancouver, following the Winter Olympic Games. Currently Sledge Hockey is a designated Paralympic sport

The American Amputee Hockey Association (AAHA) is a non-profit sports organization founded in 2000 to develop opportunities for amputee and other disabled athletes to learn and play competitive hockey. The AAHA is a member of the Disabled Hockey Section of USA Hockey and is working to promote a fun and safe environment for the growth of hockey in the United States. The AAHA provides numerous activities throughout the year for athletes of all ages and disabilities.

About Commonwealth Tank

Commonwealth Tank, founded in 1994 and located at 84 New Salem Street in Wakefield, MA, specializes in the removal and installation of above and underground storage tanks and site remediation, including. emergency spill response, site assessment, laboratory analysis, excavation, and site closure.

Commonwealth Tank’s services are available Monday through Saturday, with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Commonwealth Tank’s service area includes most areas of Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Maine. For further information please visit www.commtank.com or call 1-800-628-8260.

Nourishing a paralympic dream. Commonwealth Tank announces its support of the American Amputee Hockey Association.Read More

CommTank announces Luis Diaz listed as Third-Party UST Inspector by MassDEP.

WAKEFIELD, MA…

CommTank of Wakefield, MA has announced that staff member Luis Diaz is eligible to conduct inspections of Underground Storage Tank Systems in Massachusetts as a trained Third-Party Inspector. Diaz is included on MassDEP’s most recent Third-Party UST Inspector List issued on January 15, 2010.

Recent changes to Massachusetts Underground Storage Tank Regulations stipulate that
by August 8, 2010, the owners/operators of most underground storage tanks (USTs) in Massachusetts are required to have their USTs and associated piping inspected by Third-Party Inspectors.  Inspections must be repeated every three years.

Third-Party Inspectors conduct detailed inspections of USTs and piping systems. Their work includes: documentation of the results of their on-site inspections; review of facility record keeping to ensure that it meets UST Program requirements; and submission of reports on their findings to the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

Third-Party Inspectors are hired directly by tank owners and operators and report UST facts to directly to MassDEP.  While they provide advice to their clients about compliance issues, they are not authorized to enforce laws and regulations.

CommTank’s trained third party inspector works closely with businesses to ensure that all regulation requirements are met in a timely and economical manner. In addition, CommTank performs an initial evaluation prior to the actual inspection.

About CommTank

CommTank, founded in 1994 and located at 84 New Salem Street in Wakefield, MA, specializes in the removal and installation of above and underground storage tanks and site remediation, i.e. emergency spill response, site assessment, laboratory analysis, excavation, and site closure.

CommTank’s services are available Monday through Saturday, with emergency service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CommTank’s service area includes most areas of Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and Maine. For further information please visit www.commtank.com, or call 1-877-66 TANKS or 1-800-628-8260.

CommTank announces Luis Diaz listed as Third-Party UST Inspector by MassDEP.Read More