Hydraulic Lift Removal
CommTank, Inc. was contracted for the removal of an existing hydraulic lift, located in a former auto repair shop in Kittery Maine.
When CommTank technicians were on-site to perform the removal, the piston was found to be empty of hydraulic oil and no auxiliary holding tank was found. The concrete surrounding the piston was excavated with a machine and removed and disposed of. The piston and associated appurtenances were removed and disposed of at a licensed disposal facility. The soil in the excavation sidewalls and pit bottom was field screened with a RAE Systems MiniRAE Photo Ionization Detector (PID), calibrated to measure Total Volatile Organic Vapors (TVOVs) in parts per million (ppm). Each sample measured 0.00ppm and there was no evidence of any leakage occurring or having occurred from the piston.
The area was backfilled and the surrounding concrete was restored. There were no permits required for this service, per the Town of Kittery Code Enforcement Office. A Dig Safe utility clearance was obtained prior to the start of work. The photographs from the project are included below.
Crew cut the cement around the first hydraulic cylinder.
The soil around the hydraulic cylinder is tested for petroleum components.
Another cylinder is exposed.
Soil is removed from around the old cylinder using an excavator.
The opening is backfilled and patched with cement.
Dan Hoag has worked in the environmental and tank storage industry for 16 years. Dan’s range of expertise includes designing systems for oil spill clean-ups, treating soil contamination through "in situ" oxidation and testing, and inspecting underground storage tank systems. As head of Marketing and Information Technologies at CommTank, Dan draws from field experience to write about fuel, water and chemical storage technologies, and the regulations that affect them. He has developed training courses in home inspection, underground storage tank operator, ultrasonic thickness and tank tightness testing. Over the past decade, Dan has published over 60 articles about industry trends and has documented commercial, residential, and environmental projects through illustration, videos, and photography. When Dan unplugs from technology, he spends his time backyard farming, hiking, and kayaking, while masquerading as a hockey player during the wee hours of the morning.