United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA/530/UST-88/004 December 1988 Oh No! ------- OH NO! PETROLEUM LEAKS AND SPILLS: WHAT Do You Do? U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Underground Storage Tanks December 1988 ><-• Cental Protection ' -•.i.-'ary (5PL-13) •i-Kcn Street, L-ooiD 1 ': S0604 ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Purpose Of Brochure 1 Quick Overview Of Actions 4-5 Why Worry About Leaks And Spills 6 Reporting Requirements 8 Detecting Leaks And Spills 9 Cleaning Up 11 Where To Go For More Information 15 Technical Questions And Answers 16 Videos, Brochures, And Handbooks On USTs 21 Acknowledgement The text of this brochure was prepared for EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks by Heidi Schultz under contract to ICF Incorporated. Cartoons illustrating the text were drawn by Art Wood under contract to ICF Incorporated. ------- PAGE1 PETROLEUM LEAKS AND SPILLS: WHAT DO YOU DO ...? If you think you have a petroleum leak, spill, or overfill at your site, this brochure can help you decide what to do. Please be aware that it describes only requirements that apply generally; it does not tell you what specific Federal, State, or local requirements apply to you. State and local regulations may require that you do more than Federal regulations, so check with your State and local officials. For the most part, however, you will find that the information in this brochure is consistent with the regulations you must follow. Special note: Because spills and overfills share many similarities, they are referred to throughout this brochure only by one name, "spills." ------- PAGE 2 IF YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOSE. ------- PAGE: ...TURN THE PAGE FOR A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. ------- PAGE 4 Here is a quick summary of what you should do. Act on Potential Dangers Evacuate the area immediately if there is danger of fire or explosion from leaked or spilled petroleum (or resulting vapors). Do not smoke, and extinguish all open flames in the area (but do not use water to do so). Remember to look around the site for electrical equipment in the area and turn it off. Any source of heat or sparks can cause an explosion. Call your local fire department and ask officials there to test for explosive conditions. Fire officials have special testing equipment for this purpose, and they can also help you decide what to do next (for example, vent poisonous vapors, remove flammable liquids). Report the Leak or Spill Report all underground leaks. Report any amount of petroleum which leads to a visible sheen on a water surface. Report 25 gallons or more (or the number of gallons specified by your State or local government). If you are not sure of the amount, report it. For all reporting: contact State or local officials (such as your county health or fire department) as soon as possible. Or call your State environmental protection agency. Many State governments have toll free (800) telephone numbers for reporting spills. Find the Source (If You Don't Already Know) Pinpoint the source of the leak or spill. Use your senses — nose as well as eyes — and remember to check for liquids as well as vapors. Also check whether your pumps are working right. Bring in professionals to test for tank or pipe leaks. If necessary, excavate pipelines and tanks. ------- PAGES Stop the Leak or Contain the Spill Don't put any more petroleum into the tank. If a piping leak is the culprit, do not use the suspect pump! Don't wash spilled petroleum into the sewer because sewers can ignite as well. Use an absorbent material (such as cat litter) to stop the leaked petroleum from spreading. Watch out espe- cially for nearby sewer lines, basements, or septic tanks. Call in professionals to safely collect and remove as much petroleum from the leaking tank or piping as necessary to minimize further contamination of the environment. Begin Cleanup Check with your State or local government on how to go about cleaning up a leak or spill. Contact professionals to help you determine the extent of contamination, prepare a cleanup plan, and clean up the site. Keep detailed records of the actions you have taken or plan to take and inform State or local officials. ------- PAGE 6 WHY WORRY ABOUT LEAKS AND SPILLS? Because your tank or its piping may leak. As many as 25 percent of all underground storage tanks (USTs) may now be leaking. Many more will leak in the near future, possibly including yours. Your tank or its piping might be leaking right now. If a tank system is past its prime (over 10 years old), especially if it's not protected against corrosion, the potential for leaking increases dramatically. Newer tank systems (especially the piping) can also leak, and spills can happen anytime. Don't let your profits drain away. Because it's the law. But it's the law for good reason. Much of our country depends on ground water for drinking water, and leaked or spilled petroleum can contaminate this vital resource. Explosions are another potential hazard. Many State and local governments, therefore, already require specific steps to prevent, detect, or clean up leaks and spills. Others will soon have similar requirements. Check with your local and State governments to learn what requirements apply to you. Because it's in your best interest. Leaking UST sites can be very costly to clean up. Imagine how much money you'd lose if your tank could not be used for weeks during lengthy cleanups or if local residents sued you for property damages. The costs can run into the thousands, perhaps as much as $100,000 and more. Detect and clean up spills or leaks - before they hurt you financially. Because it's for the good of the community and the environment. Leaks and spills can have serious consequences. Petroleum can contaminate soil, drinking water supplies, and air. Petroleum and its resulting vapors can also accumulate in nearby confined spaces, such as septic tanks, sewers, and the basements of homes. These vapors are poisonous and can cause a fire or explosion. ------- PAGE? IF YOU HAVE TIME TO READ FURTHER ... The rest of this brochure provides a more detailed discussion of the actions outlined in the "quick overview" on pages 4-5. It does not include more details on determining if there is a danger, or on stopping the leak or containing the spill, because the essential information you need to know is described in the overview. Remember, don't try to handle the situation alone. Call State or local officials and other experienced professionals to help. ------- PAGES What Leaks or Spills Do You Have to Report? You must report all underground leaks. You must immediately contain and clean up all surface spills. You must report certain size spills, so check your State and local requirements to be sure. In general, here's what you should do when you have a leak or spill. How and When Do You Have to Report? In addition to telephoning your State or local government as soon as possible, you may also be required to fill out a written leak or spill report. Again, check with State or local officials for specific requirements. Within 20 days of finding a leak (check with your State or local government on the exact timing), you must summarize in a written report (or over the telephone) the initial cleanup steps you took, along with your plans for future action. You might describe, for example, how you stopped the leak, eliminated fire and safety hazards, determined the extent of soil saturated with petroleum, and found out whether petroleum had seeped into ground water. If petroleum has saturated the soil or seeped into ground water, you may have to submit a plan for how you will remove the leaked petroleum. This plan must be submitted to your State or local government within a specified time, usually 45 days. Before submitting your plan, consult with professionals who can help you determine what steps to take to contain and recover the leaked petroleum. ------- PAGE 9 How Can You Detect a Leak or Spill? Some leaks and spills can't be overlooked, like the ruptured pipeline that squirts petroleum up to the surface of the ground or into a nearby stream, or the truck hose that spills petroleum onto the ground after filling a tank. However, many leaks and spills are often hidden, occur quietly, and can go unnoticed for long periods of time. You need to pinpoint the source. Use your own senses The most obvious way to discover evidence of leaks or spills is by using your senses. Can you see a petroleum sheen on the surface of water in nearby ponds or streams? Can you see evidence of spills around your fill port, particularly after deliveries are made? Is soil near your underground tank system saturated with petroleum? Can you smell an unusually strong petroleum odor coming from soil or water around your station? Do neighbors complain of a petroleum odor in or around their homes - such as in nearby sewer lines or basements? (Sometimes these odors become more evident after a major rainfall.) Has anyone complained of a strange taste in the drinking water that could be related to petroleum contamination? ------- PAGE 10 Check for unusual operating conditions at the pump Do you hear a rattling sound in your suction pump, and is petroleum flowing unevenly from the pump? Does the pump hesitate more than usual before dispensing petroleum? Is petroleum dispensing more slowly than normal? Some tank systems have devices (such as Red Jackets) that monitor the pressurized lines connecting tanks and pumps. When these devices detect a loss of pressure in the line (an indication that your line may be leaking), they slow the flow of petroleum to the pump. Do you have water in your tank? While a small amount of water in a tank is usual due to condensation from the air, an increase over a period of days or weeks may indicate that water is leaking into your tank. And if water can leak in, petroleum may be able to leak out. Check your inventory and perform a tank tightness test Until you install a leak detection device or monitoring wells for your tank system, or have your system tested, the next best way to identify large leaks is to check and reconcile your product inventory routinely. For this method to work, careful measurements, bookkeeping and inventory procedures are essential. If you don't already check your product inventory, start now. The further back your inventory records go, the more useful they will be. If your inventory check reveals a difference between the amount of petroleum you thought you had and the amount you actually have, double-check your calculations and keep a close watch on the situation. You should consider a tank test if your inventory control continues to suggest a leak, because the problem could also be explained by factors other than a leak (such as theft, short deliveries, errors in measurement, or faulty calculations). You'll want to make sure the inventory discrepancy truly indicates aleak. ------- PAGE 11 If a genuine inventory discrepancy continues, you must use a tank tightness test or another leak detection technique to confirm the leak. Several techniques are commercially available and reliable if conducted by qualified experts and according to the manufacturer's instructions. (For more detail please refer to the "Technical Questions & Answers" section starting on page 16.) Excavate pipelines or tanks In addition to checking inventory records and performing tank tests, some State governments may require that you excavate the soil surrounding the tank or piping to look for evidence of petroleum-- such as stained or saturated soils or strong odors. High levels of petroleum vapors in the excavation area indicate a leak or spill has occurred recently. Even if it is not a requirement in your State, you might want to excavate surrounding soil to pinpoint the exact location of a leak. How Do You Decide What Needs to Be Cleaned Up? State and local officials will most likely require that you check the site to determine how much petroleum escaped, what damages resulted, and how to proceed with cleanup. You should hire an experienced professional (see page 16 for information) to conduct this investigation. In addition to the methods for discovering leaks and spills described earlier, contrac- tors may use sophisticated methods to collect and analyze data from soil, soil gas, or ground-water samples. They are also skilled in understanding how site topography, drainage and the location of sewers can affect the movement of the released petroleum. Before proceeding, ask State and local officials for advice on reducing potential hazards (such as inhaling vapors from contaminated soils) that may occur during the investigation. ------- PAGE 12 Begin Cleanup If a site check shows that a release has occurred you must begin cleanup. Many techniques are available for cleaning up leaks and spills -- such as using sorbents (cat litter, for example), removing the soil, and treating the soil and water onsite or belowground. You may need to use more than one of these techniques, espe- cially if soil, air, and water have all been contaminated. Again, you will need the advice of professionals. This brochure does not discuss how the various cleanup methods work and when they should be used, although several techniques are briefly described in the "Techni- cal Questions & Answers" section starting on page 16. ------- PAGE 13 Are you done? TOUCHY? Maybe, but not necessarily. Remember, your job may not be finished after the initial cleanup. Even if you've stopped the leak or contained the spill, you may have to do more. Small amounts of petroleum in the soil can be cleaned up fairly easily and inexpen- sively. However, cleaning up soaked or saturated soils or contaminated ground water will take longer. You'll also need help from professionals because improper removal can spread contamination, making it harder to clean up soil or ground water. Check with State and local officials and ground-water professionals to determine what methods are best for your situation. Some methods are described in the ' 'Technical Questions & Answers" section starting on page 16. If a site check shows that contaminated soils or petro- leum have come in contact with ground water, or if drinking water supplies have been affected, a more extensive investigation will be needed to determine the full extent and location of all contamination. (Again, you will need to use professionals to perform this investigation.) Once you have this information in hand, consult with State or local officials. They will help you prepare a plan for cleaning up the site, if necessary. ------- PAGE 14 Prepare cleanup plans Under Federal and most State and local regulations, you must report the initial cleanup actions you have already taken as well as the future actions you plan to take to protect people's health and the environment. Your cleanup plan must explain how you will: • Clean up the soil, ground water, and nearby surface water. • Provide, for as long as necessary, alternative drinking water to individuals whose water supply has been contaminated. • Remove, to the extent possible, any petroleum that migrated through the soil and reached the ground water. Professionals can assist you in preparing cleanup plans. For more information on what to ask or require of professionals and contractors, see the "Technical Questions & Answers" section on page 16. ------- PAGE 15 Keep records PETA\LEP RECORPS Keep detailed records of all your cleanup actions. Your State and local governments will also want to know what you plan to do with the recovered petro- leum, the contaminated soil, or the contaminated ground water. Be sure to keep them informed of your cleanup actions. Where Can You Get More Information on Respond- ing to Leaks or Spills? Contact your State or local environmental protection agency. For general information concerning only the Federal requirements, you can also call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's toll-free RCRA/ CERCLA Hotline (1-800-424-9346; in Washington, D.C., 202-382-3000). ------- PAGE 16 TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: How do you go about finding reliable technical professionals and contractors? A: Professionals can assist you in preparing cleanup plans, conducting tests and site investigations, and performing actual cleanup operations. You can identify these professionals by consulting State and local environmental agencies and directories. To select from among the available companies, ask each prospective firm the following questions: • How long has the firm been in business? • What types of services can the company provide and at what cost? • Is the firm financially secure? • Does the firm have sufficiently trained staff, or will it rely on subcontracts or other arrangements to provide qualified personnel? • Does the firm have a reputation for quality work and integrity? Ask the firm for client references and try to check the company's credentials. • Has the contractor or technical professional successfully completed other, similar projects to the satisfaction of the clients? (Review previous site investigation reports or other work performed by the firm.) Before letting a company start work for you, be sure to evaluate their knowledge and experience. Look for a company with a proven track record. ------- Q: What is the best way to determine if your tank or piping is leaking? A: If you have reason to suspect that a tank or pipeline is leaking (based on the results of a leak detection method, poor pump performance, or other signs), you should bring in a professional to perform a tank tightness test. The test involves filling the tank with product until a certain level or pressure is reached and then monitoring the fluid level for several hours. If a significant loss in volume is measured, even after corrections have been made to allow for other possible factors that could cause a volume change (such as temperature), the tank or piping probably is leaking. Piping is most frequently the source of leaks and should be tested separately. The best way to ensure you get a high quality test is to make sure the tester you use has clearly defined procedures for testing and that those procedures are closely followed. Performance of any method is improved by increasing the time between filling the tank and beginning the test (including "topping off" for the test), by increasing testing time, by taking frequent readings, and by carefully compensating for temperature variations in the tank. The total test time, including the waiting period, should take from 12 to 24 hours to ensure accurate results. Q: How can you tell if petroleum has seeped into soil or ground water? A: Several tests can be performed outside of the tank to confirm if petroleum has leaked into the environ- ment: • Soil gas analysis. This method tests for vapors from petroleum that has leaked to the soil. Vapors can be withdrawn from soil in the excavation area by probing, taking borings, or burying special sampling probes in the soil for days or weeks. The withdrawn vapors are analyzed for petroleum contamination. High levels of petroleum vapors indicate a need for further investigation. • Ground-water monitoring wells. Monitoring wells are often used to detect the movement of petroleum in the ground. Monitoring wells should be located as close to the tank system as possible. Ground-water samples can be collected from the ------- PAGE 18 well and checked for the presence of leaked petroleum. Petroleum can also be detected by inserting a specially-coated dipstick into the monitoring well. If the coating changes color, petroleum is in the well. Q: How can you remove product that has reached the ground water? A: There are several ways to remove petroleum that is floating on ground water. The most common tech- niques involve digging trenches or using pumping wells. Trenches are dug to intercept the flow of petroleum-contaminated ground water. Pumping wells create cone-shaped depressions on the water table that draw product and contaminated ground water toward the well. Once enough floating petroleum has accumu- lated in a depression or trench, it can be recovered from the ground water with skimmers, separators, and pumps. Check with professionals to determine which method is best for your site, because improper removal of floating petroleum can extend the contamination. Q: How should you go about cleaning up a teak or spill? A: Several techniques can be used to clean up leaks and spills: 1. Containing Spills • Sorbents. Sorbents are natural materials (such as straw, sawdust, or clay particles like cat litter) or synthetic products (such as foam) that are spread over a spill to absorb it Any sorbent you use must be capable of absorbing the spill, and should not react with the petroleum to form toxic substances or hazardous fumes. 2. Treating or Disposing of Soil • Excavation of tanks and soil. At present, the most widely used cleanup technique for petroleum leaks is to excavate the leaking tank and any significantly contaminated soils. The tank is then repaired or disposed of properly. The contaminated soil can, in some cases, be treated on site, or it may be transported to a landfill. ------- PAGE 19 Soil removal is a quick and effective first step for removing small amounts of leaked or spilled petroleum before it reaches ground water. Removal of contaminated soil is possible, particularly if the petroleum has penetrated just below the surface. Any soil that is removed should be handled properly, and in accordance with State or local regulations. • Evaporation. The sun and wind can rapidly change leaked petroleum into a vapor that is taken up by the air. Evaporation can be enhanced by simply turning or mixing the contaminated soils, thereby increasing exposure of the petroleum to the atmosphere. Use of this technique may be prohibited by local air pollution rules. • Belowground(in situ) treatments. In situ (i.e., in place) treatments reduce the amount of contamination below ground or limit its spread by treating the contamination in place. Although in situ methods can be used to break down petroleum in both soils and ground water, these techniques are not now widely used for ground-water cleanup. One in situ method injects nutrients into the soil so that naturally occurring bacteria that break down petroleum become more active. The bacteria consume contaminants as part of their growth process. Another method, soil venting, reduces the amount of contamination in the soil by actively pumping gasoline vapors. Special pumps or vent pipes are inserted into the ground to draw out vapors. Check with State or local authorities before using any in situ treatment as certain regulations may apply. 3. Collecting and Removing Liquid Petroleum • Trenching. In those cases where ground water is near the surface, ditches, trenches, or pits may be dug to control the flow of contaminated ground water and allow floating petroleum to be recovered. Petroleum-water separators or hand-held skimmers, which are much like sophisticated vacuum cleaners with sensors, may be used to separate and remove the petroleum from the water. Trenching may be used as the primary cleanup method or as a supplement to other methods. ------- PAGE20 • Pump and Treatment Technologies. Various pumping systems, such as dual pumps, may be used to recover petroleum that has migrated through soil and reached ground water. As the name ' 'dual pump'' implies, two pumps are used to recover the petroleum. One pump is located below the ground- water table and below the zone of contamination. Clean ground water is pumped out, thereby creating a cone or depression into which the petroleum flows. A second pump transfers the petroleum to the surface where it is collected. Once the petroleum-water mixture is brought to the surface, a device separates the petroleum from the water. After separation, the petroleum can be put into drums or pumped into trucks for further treatment and reuse. 4. Cleaning Ground Water To begin cleaning ground water you must first dig a well and pump out the ground water. Then one or both of the following cleaning methods can be used. • Air stripping. In this process, ground water contaminated with petroleum is mixed with air. The mixing process removes the dissolved petroleum from the water by transferring it to the air. There are many air stripping processes. They can be used alone (often with carbon filters) or with other methods for effective results. Again, local air pollution rules may prohibit using this technique. • Carbon Absorption. In this technique, particles of carbon are used to remove chemical compounds from water. Carbon absorption is widely used for cleaning ground water. ------- PAGE 21 VIDEOS, BROCHURES, AND HANDBOOKS ON USTS Videos... Installation • Order these videos from: National Fire Protection Association Attn: Jim Smalley Batterymarch Park Quincy, MA 02269 Available for purchase only, $22.85 each, prepaid. "A Question of When: Tank Installation for Inspectors" "In Your Own Backyard" • Order this video from: American Petroleum Institute 1220 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 Petroleum Equipment Institute Box 2380 Tulsa, OK 74101 Available for purchase only, $16.00, prepaid. "Doing It Right" ------- PAGE 22 Closure • Order this video from: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission Attn: VIDEOS 85 Merrimac Street Boston, MA 02114 Video and companion booklet available for pur- chase, $25.00, prepaid. Booklet only, $5.00, prepaid, or • Order from: New England Regional Wastewater Institute Two Fort Road South Portland, ME 04106 Video and companion booklet available for loan, $5.00, prepaid. "Tank Closure Without Tears: An Inspector's Safety Guide" Brochures... Technical Requirements Financial Responsibility Leak Detection • These brochures may be ordered from: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Underground Storage Tanks P.O. Box 6044 Rockville, MD 20850 "Musts for USTs" -- Summary of the Regulations for Underground Storage Tank Systems "Dollars and Sense" -- A Summary of the Finan- cial Responsibility Regulations for Underground Storage Tank Systems "Leak Lookout" ~ Using External Leak Detectors to Prevent Petroleum Contamination from Under- ground Storage Tanks ------- PAGE 23 Handbooks... State Guidance • These handbooks may be ordered from: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Underground Storage Tanks P.O. Box 6044 Rockville, MD 20850 "Financial Assurance Programs: A Handbook for States" "Funding Options for State and Local Governments" "Underground Storage Tanks: Building State UST Compliance Programs" Stock No. 055-000-00272-0, $7.50 prepaid. Technology • This handbook may be ordered from: Superintendent of Documents Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 "Cleanup of Releases from Petroleum USTs: Se- lected Technologies" ------- |