Emergency Fuel Recovery and Water Treatment

Fuel Spill on Maine Highway Close to the Canadian Border

Emergency Fuel Recovery and Water Treatment

Client: Unspecified
Location: Wallgrass, Maine
Industry: Transportation

Project Overview:
SCG Remediation Services responded to an emergency fuel spill incident on a Maine highway near the Canadian border. A fuel truck carrying 9,000 US gallons of gasoline overturned, causing a significant release of gasoline into a ditch. The spilled gasoline infiltrated a bedrock aquifer, resulting in contaminated groundwater surfacing in roadside ditches downstream from the accident site.

Key Challenges:

  • Rapid Contamination Spread: The gasoline and impacted groundwater were actively spreading, necessitating immediate and effective containment and treatment.
  • Sensitive Environmental Receptor: The effluent discharge criteria were extremely stringent due to the proximity to a freshwater stream.

Technical Execution: SCG designed and implemented a comprehensive gas and groundwater recovery and water treatment system, which included:

  • High-Capacity Recovery System: Engineered a system with two discharge streams, each capable of handling 75 US gallons per minute, achieving a total flow rate of 150 US gallons per minute (568 liters per minute).
  • Advanced Water Treatment: Developed a treatment system to separate gasoline from water, addressing dissolved phase hydrocarbons, suspended solids, and metals to meet the direct discharge requirements into the freshwater receptor.
  • Stringent Compliance: Ensured the effluent discharge met the stringent environmental criteria due to the sensitive nature of the receiving water body.

Results:

  • Operational Efficiency: The recovery and water treatment system, operated by trained SCG personnel, achieved over 95% operational efficiency.
  • Environmental Compliance: The system consistently met the strict freshwater aquatic criteria, ensuring no exceedances and safeguarding the sensitive receptor.
  • Rapid Response and Completion: SCG built and deployed the system within two weeks, successfully completing the remediation and water treatment program in three months.

Conclusion: This emergency response project highlights SCG Remediation Services’ capability to quickly design, build, and operate effective remediation systems in urgent situations. The successful containment and treatment of the gasoline spill ensured environmental protection and demonstrated SCG’s expertise in handling complex transportation-related incidents.