Fuel Spill Response

A.F.D. HazMat

Operations Training

Purpose• To clarify the laws pertaining to fuel

spills.

• To offer common-sense approach to fuel spill response.

• To provide the company officer with decision-making tools in response to fuel spills.

Objectives• Identify the applicable Federal, state and local

laws.• Identify the reportable quantities for spills.• Define what constitutes a spill.• Identify resources needed to contain a spill.• Identify methods of spill containment.• Familiarization with spill clean-up methods.

Objectives

• Identify foam requirements for a fuel tanker fire.

• Preplan steps for response to a fuel tanker fire.

Definitions• Discharge or spill - product on

the ground or in water, and the spiller doesn’t own the property.

Definitions• Hazardous Substance - anything

that doesn’t belong there, and not classified as oil.

Definitions

• Pollution - you know it when you see it.

Definitions• Oil - waste oil, raw product,

sludges, petroleum, fuel oil.

• Petroleum product - liquid fuels.

• Used oil - contaminated oil.

Definitions• Water, or water in the state - if

you can float a toothpick in it after it rains, then it is water in the state. Dry streams count, also. This means TNRCC regulates it.

Definitions• Responsible Party -

– owner or operator of a vessel, or vehicle,

– owner or operator of a facility,

– anyone else who causes, permits, suffers, or allows a discharge.

Definitions• Reportable Quantity

• Defined in: – 40 CFR 110.3 (EPA)

– Title 30, Ch. 327 (TNRCC)

• Reportable Quantity of oil, fuel, etc.:– Land = 25 gallons

– Water = Sheen

Responsible Party• Is required to:

– show up, or have response personnel show up;– initiate efforts to stop or slow the spill;– minimize impact of the spill;– neutralize the effects of the incident;– removal of discharged or spilled substance;– managing the wastes (soil, pads, booms,

liquids, etc.)

Responsible Party• Must also provide Command with

a verbal or written plan to mitigate the problem, and

• Provide a verbal or written summation of actions taken to date.

Clean-up Costs• 1 ea. 55 gal. Drum full of oil and

sorbent costs $200.00 to dispose of.

• Above 1,500 parts TPH (if you can smell it, it is above 1,500 TPH).

Clean-up Costs• 1 ea. 55 gal. Drum full of oil and sorbent

below 1,500 TPH costs about $15.00 to dispose of.

• Can be sent to Landfill (product has vapored off).

• Antifreeze and oil sorb can go to landfill.

• Plain old oil costs $0.00.

Clean-up Options• Don’t add anything (if you can help it).• If you do add it, add the least amount

possible (that’s what brooms are for).• 2 lbs. oil sorb = 1 lb. liquid (1 gal. = 15 to

20 lbs. of oil sorb).• It costs less to dispose of liquid than solid.• Don’t flush anything to storm sewers (one

exception - we’ll get to that).

Clean-up Options• Foam only makes matters worse!!!!!!.

• Class A and Class B foam are 2 different animals.

• Dispersants require Federal and State approval for the individual spill.

• There are no oil-eating microbes in Texas!!!

Absorbents/AdsorbentsPros & Cons

• Oil Sorb - cheap and easy, but heavy. Can’t be burned, so higher disposal costs.

• Powder Sorbents - can’t use in a wind.

• Boom and pads - use on water.

• Sand - OK in moderate amounts (a dumptruck load is not a moderate amount). Use only for containment (diking/damming).

Field Experience• If an immediate life hazard

exists, you can flush to the storm sewer, creek, whatever.

• Just remember the magic words: “There was an immediate life safety hazard”.

Field Experience• TXDOT - for the highways under state

control.

• TXDOT Dispatch - 370-6656 or -6657.

• They have a contractor.

• Their main concern is to open the road. They will throw sand for traction. They want you to flush it off the road - DON’T.

Field Experience• Less than 10 gallons:• Use 2 bags of oil sorb (max), or dirt.• Stir it around, and leave it.• Let the tow trucks pick it up.• You may want to sweep it to the curb

or throw it onto the shoulder (this is for looks only).

Field Experience• If you can’t cover it or absorb it

with 2 bags, you probably need HazMat.

• If it is spread over a large area, you may need HazMat.

Field Experience• If the spill is a “pooled liquid”, such as in

a storm drain or ditch, leave it alone.

• The best way to get rid of this is with a vacuum truck, or a pump to a suitable container.

• HazMat can take on 110 gallons quickly. More than that will require a contractor.

Field Experience• For Diesel saddle tanks - we can

pump off 110 gallons.

• Can also pump to the apparatus and other vehicles.

• Transfer pump is carried on Utility 6.

Field Experience• If the spill is on flooding, rapid water

- it’s probably uncontainable.

• Still or slow water - use absorbent boom to corral it, then pads to take off the sheen.

• Boom and pads are carried on Utility 6 and by Steve Rothwell.

Foam

Foam• Flammable/combustible liquids will

burn an average of 1 foot per hour, regardless of surface area.

• A gasoline tanker is about six feet tall (tank only).

• It will burn out in about 6 hours (if it doesn’t collapse).

Foam• It takes approximately 150 to 200 gallons

of 6% foam concentrate (30-40 5 gallon cans) to extinguish and suppress one 8’ x 40’ gasoline tanker.

• This will create 3,200 gallons of contaminated foam and water.

• This foam will settle out in the bottom of the tanker.

Foam

• The tank will overflow.

• The overflow will be gasoline.

• You now have a big mess.

Foam - Options• Consider letting it burn (unless life

safety or infrastructure is affected).

• Meanwhile, set-up a foam operation.

• Call for vacuum trucks and heavy equipment.

• Flow foam and pump out product - that way it won’t overflow.

Tanker under a bridge

Cool the bridge

Use master streams for distance

How Clean-up is done• On Roads:

– Oil sorb for the majority

– Create a dam or berm with the used oil sorb

– Use soap & water or pressure washer to clean the road

– Vacuum up the liquid residue

– Drum the contaminated sorb

How Clean-up is done• On Soil:

– Dig up contaminated soil

– Cut down weeds w/ weed eater and bag

– Pressure wash grass

– Water can sometimes float the hydrocarbon, but usually only makes things worse

How Clean-up is done

• On Water:–Place boom downstream

–Vacuum or absorbents placed at collection points

–If fast moving, very little can be done

End

Now go out and get some!