UST Release Abatement Measures Framingham, MA
Contents
CommTank removed a 500-gallon underground storage tank (UST) containing home heating oil located beneath the kitchen floor of this property in Framingham, Ma. The property was unoccupied at the time of the tank removal. An oil tank had been abandoned after the homeowner had converted to propane. The Executor for the Estate hired CommTank to locate, empty, clean and remove the abandoned UST. To access the UST crews cut the floor and joists and lifted the tank through the floor. After cleaning the tank crews found the steel had corroded and holes were visible on the tank bottom. A soil sample was taken from the bottom of the excavation after the crew and Framingham Fire Department observed stained soil. Soil readings showed Total Volatile Organic Vapor (TVOV) concentrations of 88ppmv.
CommTank provided service for activities related to a Release Abatement Measure (RAM) to address the release of petroleum at this home. Based on the lab results from soil excavation, the Licensed Site Professional (LSP) recommended removal of petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) and contaminated groundwater. The scope of work is detailed as follows.
Release Abatement Measures
A. Excavation & Stockpiling/Loading of Contaminated Soil
The initial phase of the RAM consisted of the excavation and transportation of petroleum contaminated soil (PCS). Clean soil located within the excavation was segregated and stockpiled on-site for temporary storage. The PCS was excavated and loaded directly onto trucks for transportation to a licensed soil treatment facility. Any PCS stockpiled on-site, was placed on top of and covered with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. To guide the excavation progress, soil was field screened with a photo-ionization detector (PID) using the MADEP “Jar Headspace Method” (MADEP Policy No. WSC-400-89). A level of approximately 20 parts per million by volume (ppmv) was established as the remediation goal. Approximately 50 tons of PCS was removed.
B. Structural Support
CommTank provided 200 feet of shoring to support the excavation area to allow the removal of PCS.
C. PCS Transportation, Disposal & Treatment
CommTank crews transported approximately 50 tons of PCS to a licensed facility for disposal. The LSP provided a Bill of Lading (BOL) required for the transportation of PCS.
D. Groundwater Pumping, Storage, Transportation, Treatment & Disposal
Mobilized and set one 2,500-gallon frac tank, pumped and stored approximately 1,500 gallons of oily water. Transported and properly disposed of oily water, and demobilized tank.
E. Confirmatory Soil Analysis
Confirmatory soil analysis was performed by the LSP.
F. Backfill Excavation
CommTank transported, placed and compacted non-contaminated fill soils in the excavation.
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.