Environmental Remediation Specialists

In the in-situ remedial technology of soil vapor extraction (SVE), the following occurs:

• Vacuum is applied to the unsaturated zone through extraction wells.
• Vacuum causes movement of vapors toward extraction wells.
• Volatile constituents are removed through the extraction wells.
• The extracted vapors are discharged to the atmosphere.

• Proven performance; readily available equipment; easy installation; agency approved.
• Minimal disturbance to site operations.
• Short treatment times (usually six months to two years under optimal conditions).
• Easily combined with other remedial technologies.
• Can be used under buildings and other locations that cannot be excavated.

The disadvantages of in-situ SVE are the following:

• Concentration reductions greater than about 90 percent are difficult to achieve.
• Effectiveness less certain when applied to sites with low-permeability soil or stratified soils.
• May require costly treatment for atmospheric discharge of extracted vapors.
• Air emission permits generally required.
• Only treats unsaturated-zone soils; other methods may also be needed to treat saturated-zone soils and groundwater.

If a confirmed release has occurred, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require that an appropriate cleanup response, or Corrective Action, be conducted

The purpose of the corrective action process is to ensure that releases of petroleum and regulated substances do not threaten human health and the environment. The steps in the process are:

1. Release discovery and reporting
2. Initial Abatement
3. Investigation
4. Corrective Action
5. Incident Closure/No Further Action

An underground storage tank (UST) Systems may be closed voluntarily if owner or operator chooses, or by mandate if system is not in compliance with regulations.

The guidelines for a temporary UST closure are:

• Corrosion protection must be maintained
• If UST is temporarily closed for 3-12 months:
• Leave vent line open
• Cap and secure all other lines, pumps, equipment, etc.

Keep in mind that if an UST is temporarily closed for more than 12 months it must be permanently closed.

The guidelines for a permanent closure or changes in service are:
 

• Notify implementing agency 30-days before beginning closure or change-in-service
  • Empty tank and clean residual product/sludges
  • Remove from ground or fill with an inert solid
  • Perform UST closure assessment
• Before Closure or change-in-service is complete, owners and operators must measure for presence of contamination.
  • Sample types, locations, and methods dependent on site conditions
  • If contamination is identified, Corrective Action must be initiated

Spills, or other releases of hazardous constituents to the environment, can have many forms including emergency response situations like fuel releases to a ditch during an accident, a release of petroleum from an underground storage tank (UST) or a release associated with waste storage. Regardless of the nature of the release, once a release has been identified, the responsible party must take actions to prevent further release, investigate the nature and extent of impacts and if warranted, conduct remediation prior to achieving “closure” of the incident.

To learn more about environmental assessment and remediation, click here to read an article written by an environmental remediation specialist at August Mack Environmental.

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

• Secondary containment and interstitial monitoring
• Automatic tank gauging (ATG) systems
• Vapor monitoring
• Groundwater monitoring
• Statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR)
• Manual tank gauging
• Tank tightness testing and inventory control

• Interstitial monitoring
• Vapor monitoring
• Groundwater monitoring
• Statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR)
• Grading and check valves Leak detection requirements vary for Pressurized and Suction delivery systems

August Mack Environmental offers an average of 6 webinars a month, all of which are FREE! If you missed a webinar, most are recorded and available here.

We have offices throughout the Midwest in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In order to deliver the best quality, our webinars are presented by environmental compliance specialists, environmental remediation specialists and due diligence experts from each of these offices. Topics range from corporate environmental compliance, new regulations from EPA, OSHA and state-specific agencies, environmental analysis and remediation as well as health & safety compliance.

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The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) technical regulations for underground storage tanks (USTs) are designed to:

• Reduce the chance of releases from USTs (Construction & Installation)
• Detect leaks and spills when they do occur (Design)
• Secure a prompt cleanup (Notification)

The construction standards for new or upgraded USTs are the following:

• Tanks and piping can be constructed of Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic or Cathodically-Protected Steel
• USTs must also have Catchment Basins to contain small spills

The following types of underground storage tanks (USTs) are exempt from federal regulation:

• Farm and residential tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity holding motor fuel used for noncommercial purposes
• Tanks storing heating oil used on the premises where it is stored
• Tanks on or above the floor of underground areas, such as basements or tunnels
• Septic tanks and systems for collecting storm water and wastewater
• Flow-through process tanks
• Tanks of 110 gallons or less capacity
• Emergency spill and overfill tanks

• Developing a consistent reproducible environmental management system that can be tracked and reviewed by management
• Methods of tracking environmental compliance requirements that have an impact on your facility
• The value of maintaining institutional knowledge through system implementation eliminating the need for replacement and retraining of facility personnel

When dealing with underground storage tanks (USTs), an environmental assessment and remediation expert must consider the following:

• Until the mid-1980s, most USTs were made of bare steel which is susceptible to corrosion
• A UST could have faulty installation or inadequate operating and maintenance procedures
• The greatest potential hazard from a leaking UST is that the petroleum or other hazardous substance can seep into the soil and contaminate groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans

An underground storage tank system (UST) is a tank and any underground piping connected to the tank that has at least 10 percent of its combined volume underground.

If you have an UST on your property, you need to consult with an environmental remediation specialist to learn how to handle the environmental compliance requirements tied to USTs.