Fall 1996, Environmental Solutions, Incorporated Newsletter : Page 2

Environmental Solutions
Incorporated

24 Hour Emergency Response Number: 402.896.3600

Summer 1996
Fall 1996
Page 1
Page 2
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Summer 1997
Fall/Winter 97-98

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Fall 1996...

SPILL RESPONSE IN IOWA

ESI responded to a call from a local insurance firm that a client had spilled 200 gallons of MC 3000 "Tack" or "Asphalt Cutback", a mixture of asphalt and fuel oil. The spill occurred in central Iowa, over 100 miles northeast of Omaha. The mixture was extremely hot (approximately 250 degrees F), when it spilled into the ditch. Luckily, no-one was in the path of the material and no-one was injured

The Project Manager and monitoring technician arrived on site at 7 PM with the Skid Steer and Photo Ionization Detector (PID). ESI dispatched two additional technicians with a Case 580L Rubber Tire Backhoe and two Tandem axle dump trucks from another job, arriving at the spill site at around 8 PM. By the time the Freightliner and Belly Dump trailer arrived at 9:30 PM, the technicians had all the contaminated soil excavated and clean fill back in the hole. The crew loaded the contaminated soil on the Belly Dump and one tandem axle dump truck, loaded the equipment and departed the site 11 PM. The soil was stockpiled pending testing and disposal. The entire response time from callout to the return to the shop was nine hours.

"Safety Tips"

Air Monitoring Instruments

Always keep the instrument clean and fully charged.
Change sensors regularly according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Don’t store the instrument in extreme temperatures.
Always calibrate an instrument prior to use.
Always calibrate the instrument with the manufacturers recommend calibration gas.
Remember, the instrument will read any flammable contaminant as the calibration gas. The reading may be inaccurate.
Always turn an instrument on in clean air, otherwise it may read the contaminated atmosphere as normal.
Allow ample time for the instrument to take an accurate reading. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
When checking a space, always check oxygen first, flammables second and toxics last. If there is insufficient oxygen you will no get an accurate flammability reading.
Many flammable atmospheres will be toxic at or below 10% of the Lower Explosive Limit. Toluene is an excellent example.
Dangerous atmospheres may not distribute evenly in a given space. Check the entire area.

From the Desk of: John Smith

Environmental & Safety Training Manager Nebraska Safety Council

EPA Announces Flexibility in the Oversight of Superfund Sites

In a memorandum sent to its regional office, EPA said oversight of superfund site cleanup could be potentially reduced if potentially responsible parties can prove they are "capable and cooperative." To meet these criteria, the Primary Responsible Parties, (PRP), must demonstrate they are technically capable, agree to a reasonable cleanup time, continue to remain "substantially in compliance with the terms of the settlement document," and live up to any oral commitments made EPA.

However, EPA is not prepared to put control of Superfund site in the hands of a PRP without specific obligations. The memo stated that the circumstances could warrant a continued high level of EPA oversight at certain sites. According to EPA’s memo, "EPA may increase site monitoring if the community has reason to believe additional oversight is necessary." The memo also states that "If the responsible party becomes unresponsive and uncooperative, or the quality of work substantially diminishes, the site manager may decide that increased oversight is necessary."

In addition, EPA has stated that is may monitor all critical work if the remediation involves a complex technical model. EPA will allow the PRPs to request where there is "substantial uncertainty in the use of a model or a specific technology."

Several PRPs would like to see EPA release more control for those involved with Superfund Site Remediation, this will not happen unless there is a major overhaul of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities Act.

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