Thieves Turn Attention to Aboveground Fuel Tanks

By Jane Fyksen, Crops Editor
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 4:23 PM CST

Anhydrous ammonia tanks have been favorite targets of methamphetamine makers, making farmers a target for theft. Many have had their nitrogen fertilizer stolen by drug manufacturers with rural bases of operation.

The rising price of fuel has thieves turning their attention to producers’ above-ground petroleum tanks.

"With the price of gas and diesel fuel going up, some people are now a little bit more apt to help themselves to your fuel tanks," warns Fred Whitford, coordinator of Purdue University’s Pesticide Programs, West Lafayette, Ind.

He tells farmers they’re “lucky if all you lose is the gas or diesel.”

"The real problem is when these thieves and vandals turn the power to the tank on. They put as much fuel as they need into their truck and then let the rest run onto the ground. Now you’ve not only lost a product, but you’ve also got soil contamination,” and worse yet, the potential for spilled fuel to reach surface water and/or groundwater.

Whitford says it “isn’t that hard” to prevent thieves from helping themselves to your on-farm fuel.

Purdue Extension has just released a new four-color publication, loaded with photos of real-life farm fuel tanks n good and bad. Tanks are critiqued in terms of these issues: Safeguarding the tanks, selecting the right type of tank, handling spills and other emergencies and more. Titled “Aboveground Petroleum Tanks,” this publication is available in print or online. Whitford is the lead author.

Fuel tanks vary in size, with most holding 500 gallons or more. For years, many farmers stored fuel belowground. Because they weren’t visible, the underground tanks provided natural security from thieves. But when some underground tanks began to leak and create environmental problems, stricter federal regulations governing the construction and use of buried fuel tanks were introduced. Most farmers abandoned the underground tanks and started storing fuel above ground. Recently, as fuel prices topped $3 a gallon, petroleum thefts on farms have been rising, says Whitford.

"You can install lights around the tank and put locks on the tank," Whitford advises. "At nighttime you can turn the electricity off to your tank. You can even turn the circuits off from inside your barn or farm building. Some people have even gone so far as to put up security cameras."

The new 110-page publication is loaded with illustrations. More than 230 photos show examples of both proper and improper fuel tank practices. The photos come from 15 years of Whitford’s travels to rural commercial businesses and farms across Indiana. Four primary themes run throughout the publication, Whitford mentions.

"One important thing you need to do is have a tank in the right place so that if a spill takes place fuel does not get into surface water," he states. "Second, do everything you can, within reason, to keep the area clean. Third, do a little security to at least make it more difficult for a person to cause you harm. Then lastly, you want to prepare for an emergency. Most of our insurance policies will not cover cleaning up contamination. So if you had a fuel spill, the cleanup would come out of your pocket.”

Storage tanks visible from the road are the most vulnerable to vandals and thieves. Vandals may slash the hoses, releasing fuel onto the ground, or pollute the tank contents. Thieves simply help themselves to a tank of gas, says Whitford.

Locking the fill portal and power supply makes it difficult for thieves to steal fuel. Thieves can access fuel by cutting the switch lever to turn on pumps. A padlock designed to resist bolt cutters is recommended.

Thieves have also been known to break into a building and turn on the power and break the switch housing to get power to the pump.

Sometimes theft is very difficult to prevent, Whitford admits, noting where thieves unscrew the filler pipe and a cap that’s locked and then siphon fuel or use a portable pump to remove it.

He says there are various strategies for protecting unattended tanks, starting with a good padlock. Expect to pay a good price for a superior lock that can withstand a blade or bullet.

A series of locks and combinations used in combination can greatly deter a thief. Nozzles as well as outside pumps and switches should be locked. Indoor switches should be turned off when not in use. The fuel pump breaker can be turned off at the main box, and if your breaker box has a hinged lid, it also can be locked.

Timers can be used to control electricity to your fuel pumps. If you place them inside a building, choose a secure location and padlock the cover. They may be placed inside a vandal-resistant enclosure located a safe distance from the tank.

Whitford suggests farmers keep a log of the fuel dispensed from their tanks. This will enable you to calculate the amount missing in the event of theft.

Security lighting around your fuel tanks also deters thieves; it also can aid in the discovery and cleanup of spills. When considering lighting, request vandal-proof glass.

Also covered in this new publication from Purdue is, as noted, selection of tanks. Here are some things you should know up-front:

- A tank intended for outdoor use should have an Underwriters Listed (UL) outdoor-use designation.

- Indoor basement tanks are not intended for outdoor use.

- Tanks designed for flammable liquids such as gasoline should be fire-guarded or vaulted to prevent fuel ignition for two hours during a fire.

- Diesel fuel tanks do not have to carry a two-hour fire rating if the flash point is greater than 100 degrees.

- A “secondary containment” area must have the capacity to hold the contents of the primary tank, should it fail.

- Double-walled tanks satisfy secondary containment requirements, as do dikes or “bathtubs” in which the primary tank is situated.

- Double-walled tanks are preferable because rainwater is not a problem; conversely, removing accumulated rainwater from dikes can be a hassle.

Every fill-up poses a spill risk, so Whitford suggests limiting fill-ups to once a month by selecting a tank that will hold a month’s supply of fuel. In selecting a tank size, calculate its usable volume, giving consideration to the fact that the pump intake is situated several inches above the bottom of the tank, which reduces the volume of usable fuel. Also, allowing for expansion, tanks should be filled to no more than 95 percent capacity.

When your tank is installed, you’ll receive a chart for converting inches of fuel in the tank to gallons. Measure the depth of fuel by carefully lowering a marked dipstick into the tank and removing it. Note the depth of fuel indicated on the stick and use the tank chart to convert inches to gallons. Tank charts are specific to tank configuration, so always use the chart that correlates to your specific tank.

Placement of aboveground tanks is critical n not solely from a theft-prevention standpoint. Safety of people and property is primary consideration. Tanks have to be accessible to employees, fuel delivery drivers, and emergency responders but shouldn’t be near traffic patterns.

They should be located a minimum of 50 feet away from buildings, creeks, roads, wells, power lines, grain bins, and property lines. Don’t place tanks where ignition sources such as welding and cutting torches are likely to be used. Avoid roof drip-lines; water may freeze as it flows from the eave of the building onto the tank, or snow may fall from the roof onto the tank. Flat ground is a must so a spill or leak won’t run downhill toward a creek, ditch, tiles or drains before you can deal with it. Also make sure tanks aren’t placed above underground utilities or directly beneath overhead power lines.

Whitford says the area where delivery trucks park to fill your tanks should be close to and within clear sight of the tanks. Trucks shouldn’t have to back up or make sharp turns. Bollards should be installed to prevent trucks from backing into the tanks. Pipe bollards installed around fuel tanks are normally 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Common spacing is 3 to 4 feet apart and at least 3 feet from the nearest tank.

Tanks should be placed on reinforced concrete at least 6 inches thick. They should be at least 6 inches off the ground to prevent corrosion, for inspection and to permit painting of the undersides.

Proper labeling is also important for safety reasons. It includes identifying contents, tank volume, hazards and warnings that ensure the correct fuel is delivered to the appropriate tank, that equipment is filled with the proper fuel (i.e. gas versus diesel), dyed and undyed fuels are used in the appropriate vehicles, and so emergency responders can easily determine what product they’re dealing with when responding to an emergency.

According to Whitford, each tank should have clearly visible labels indicating its contents and associated hazards. Each tank should also bear the words “Flammable: No Smoking.” Post danger signs in both English and Spanish if you have Hispanic employees, he reminds. Product signage should be 5 by 14 inches with black lettering on a white background. “Flammable; Keep Fire and Flame Away” placards should be 10 by 14 inches with red letters on a white background. “Dyed fuel” and “undyed fuel” should be 10 by 10 inches, black-on-white.

Venting is a safety requirement to keep vapors from forming in the tank as the thermometer rises. Venting allows vapors to escape, decreasing the likelihood of explosion. Aboveground storage tanks should have both primary and emergency vents. The primary vent should be at least as wide as the fuel fill pipe. It should extend above the normal snow level for combustible fuels, or 12 feet aboveground for flammable fuels such as gasoline. The primary vent pipe should be checked regularly for obstructions such as bird and insect nests.

An emergency vent also should be installed on the tank, according to Whitford. The most common type is called a long bolt manhole vent. In case of fire, the increased tank pressure lifts the weight, venting the tank. The weight should be lifted manually, periodically, to ensure that it remains free-moving. In other words, make sure it hasn’t rusted to the tank. Double-walled tanks require two vents, one for the inner tank and one for the outer tank, he adds.

Small amounts of fuel that are spilled when filling equipment or during careless fuel delivery can slowly contaminate soil. What’s more, a leak of only one drop per second can release about 400 gallons of petroleum into the environment in one year, resulting in significant pollution. In addition, 400 gallons at $3 per gallon represents a loss of $1,200 from your farm budget.

Whitford warns that many insurance policies won’t pay for remediation of contaminated soil and drinking water. It’s important to review your policy to see what coverage you have.

You’re responsible for spills made during the delivery of fuel to your farm. He suggests farm owners “be there” or assign an employee to monitor fuel delivery to ensure the following:

- The correct fuel is placed in the tank.

- The correct amount of fuel is dispensed (calculate beforehand to prevent overfill). Order enough fuel to fill the tank to 90 percent capacity.

- Spills are cleaned up immediately.

Whitford also suggests all farm personnel who pump fuel should be trained on good fueling procedures. They should know how to prevent overfills and how to react if an emergency occurs. Employees periodically need to be reminded of routine filling procedures such as turning pumps on and off, locking tanks, inspecting hoses and fittings, and completing the use log. “They must always be reminded to stay present at the tank when fueling,” he adds.

Another consideration for aboveground fuel tank owners is accumulation of water in tanks that can cause them to rust on the inside. He says it’s a good idea to check stored fuel for water content by using a special paste on a dipstick. The paste changes color if water is present. If water is detected, contact your fuel company and ask them to remove it. The paste is “Kolor Kut.”

Putting fire extinguishers near aboveground storage tanks is recommended, and Whitford says the importance of these inspections cannot be overemphasized. Fires often occur during busy farming seasons when equipment is hot while refueling. The risk of a fire caused by overfilling is greatest at this time. A well-maintained fire extinguisher can save machinery, and he stresses, possibly your life.

These are only some of the suggestions covered in the new fuel tank guide (Purdue Extension publication PPP-73). It can be ordered for $1 plus shipping by calling toll free 888-398-4636. It’s also free online at http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP/PPP-73.pdf.

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