In May of 2010, Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary received an order from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that it is necessary to comply with new regulations, forcing HTM/HTS to remove and replace single-walled underground heating oil and fuel tanks, among other regulations. The first assessment required action on 24 tanks on Monastery grounds.  Work began in fall of 2010.  This was an unfunded mandate, so Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary had to foot the entire bill. Work included removing and replacing all tanks, connecting lines, and accessories with new double-walled tanks, lines, and accessories. The Monastery’s insurance company would not pay. This job was so big, it had to be done in stages, and was completed only in 2014. The final bill was in excess of $800,000.  Approximately half of the payment came from Seminary funds, putting a serious financial strain on the Seminary. 

There are positive results. With the installation of the new tanks come improvements towards heating efficiency and environmental standards.  It is now possible to monitor how much oil is being used with sensors and computers. Therefore, we can now determine exactly how much oil to buy and when, and calculate a return on investment to improve efficiency and lower our operating costs. The new tanks are guaranteed for 30 years and should last 50 years or more.

On behalf of the administration, faculty, and students of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, we express our deep and sincere gratitude to all the donors who have helped defray the expenses of this enormous project. The financial burden would have been impossible without our donors’ support. God bless you for your generosity!

Click here to view the violation letter 

Click here to view a map of the oil tanks