Mount Vernon Properties Emergency Spill Response
The property manager of Mount Vernon Properties in Boston contacted CommTank regarding leaking 275-gallon aboveground storage tanks containing No. 2 fuel oil. Four 275-gallon ASTs were located in the basement of the multi-family residence. In response to this call, CommTank conducted a site visit. Based on the conditions observed, which consisted of oil on the basement floor, size of the stain, etc., CommTank removed the four tanks and installed one temporary tank.
After receiving complaints of odors from tenants, a soil sample was collected and submitted to a state-certified analytical laboratory. The analytical laboratory results indicated that the soil sample had extractable petroleum hydrocarbon (EPH) compounds detected in concentrations that exceed MADEP reportable concentrations for S-1 category soil (RCS-1).
Based on the analytical laboratory results the property owner contracted CommTank to conduct a Limited Removal Action (LRA) consisting of the excavation, transportation and disposal of up to ten tons of petroleum contaminated soil (PCS). Excavation and stockpiling of PCS into a roll-off container provided by CommTank began after the MADEP was contacted with oral notification of the LRA.
The removal of PCS performed at the Mount Vernon Properties apartment building was completed under the provisions of a LRA. A total of 5.9 tons of oil contaminated soil was excavated and transported under a bill of lading from the Boston apartment building to ESMI for disposal. Following completion of the PCS excavation, post-remedial soil samples were collected from the remaining soil in the excavated area and analyzed for EPH. The analytical laboratory results indicated all contaminant concentrations were below applicable MCP RCS-1 standards.
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.