Oregon State Highway 99 Jet Fuel Spill

Project Description

On August 16, 2004, a truck and tanker trailer rounding a curve on Highway 99E ran onto the graveled shoulder and edge of an open stormwater drainage ditch. The tanker trailer struck a utility pole adjacent to the stormwater ditch, rolled onto its side, and came to rest on the west side of the highway near the entrance to a recreational motor vehicle assembly plant and retail automotive service station. As a result of the crash, the forward of three (3) compartments in the tanker trailer split and rapidly spilled approximately 2,100 gallons of Jet A turbine fuel (jet fuel) that discharged to the graveled shoulder and adjacent open stormwater drainage ditch on the west side of the highway. Some of the fuel also drained across the highway into a catch basin that discharged to an open stormwater ditch north and east of the primary spill site.

Approximately 200 gallons of fuel migrated into a sanitary sewer and accumulated in a sewer lift station located approximately 200 feet west of the spill site. The proximity of the spill site to the Willamette River (i.e., approximately 300 feet) and the presence of numerous private residential wells near the spill site raised concerns regarding potential impact to both surface water (via discharge from the stormwater system) and groundwater.

Spill response activities were coordinated under a Unified Command System (UCS) which included representatives from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the responsible party. BB&A Environmental was retained by the responsible party and, as part of the Environmental Unit along with representatives from the EPA and the DEQ, assisted with planning and execution of actual cleanup activities (e.g., sampling strategies, evaluation of options for management and disposal of impacted soils, collection and analysis of soil and groundwater samples, and closure of the project).

Initial emergency response measures included diverting traffic around the crash scene, shutting down the sewer pump station, and blocking the storm drain system. Spill responders also distributed absorbents over the roadway in the spill area, flushed and vacuumed the storm drains to clean out residual fuel, stabilized the damaged power pole, diverted traffic around the spill area, and removed product from the two (2) rear compartments of the tanker trailer. Firefighting and emergency response resources mobilized to the site maintained a presence until remaining product was transferred off-site and wreckage was removed from the crash site. Although emergency response measures limited additional loss and migration of the spilled product, the majority of the spilled fuel drained into soils, primarily on the west side of Highway 99E where the ruptured tanker trailer had been located.

Subsequent spill response efforts involved use of vacuum trucks to remove product from the sewer lift station and to transport accumulated sewage to the treatment lagoon in order to bypass the pump system. Cleanup and investigative activities were undertaken the day of the spill and continued for four (4) days. Native soils impacted with jet fuel were found to depths of approximately seven (7) to 12 feet below land surface (BLS). The vertical extent of impacted soils was exacerbated by disturbed soils related to installation of deep utilities on the west side of the highway and permeable soils. Cleanup efforts involving removal and off-site disposal of petroleum contaminated soil (PCS) were performed and resulted in removal of approximately 1,086 tons of PCS. Confirmation soil samples were collected from the excavation areas as cleanup progressed. The extent of soil cleanup was limited by utilities in the spill areas, including high pressure natural gas, a fiber optic line, high pressure water mains, and sanitary sewer mains. Numerous push probes were completed to determine the lateral and vertical extent of impacted soils surrounding each of the spill areas.

Five (5) groundwater monitoring wells and a recovery well were installed after soil cleanup activities were completed. Separate phase liquid has been observed in three (3) of the wells in the main spill area requiring active remediation using direct removal of free product, vacuum extraction, and dual-phase extraction. BB&A Environmental prepared a supplemental report to the initial spill/cleanup report submitted to the DEQ for review. Removal of separate phase liquids, in-situ remediation, additional site investigation, and compliance groundwater monitoring, will be needed to support a risk-based closure of the site.