MER assists in recovery of oil from under-water tank in the Pepacton Reservoir

7.10.2012

MER personnel from our Newtown, CT and Randolph, MA Resource Center's are working with NYC DEP in response to the discovery of a potential oil spill in the Pepacton Reservoir.

In May 2012, DEP Police discovered an oil sheen on the surface of the reservoir, near one of the inlet tunnels. DEP immediately deployed surface containment boom, absorbents, and a temporary sub-surface containment device, to prevent spread of the oil. Subsequent investigation by a dive team revealed the source of contamination to be a buried oil tank, 125 feet below the surface of the reservoir, leaking 'pinholes' of oil through the decomposition of the fill-pipe. Water Quality analysis has confirmed that water quality at the intake chamber was not impacted by the presence of the oil.

Once the source of the leak was identified, NYC DEP contracted Moran Environmental Recovery to remove the product from the sub-surface oil tank. MER dispatched three work boats, from 17'-30' in length, four 40- Deck Barges, two cranes, a dive-team, various temporary containment, pumps, vacuum equipment, and other spill clean-up materials to remove product from the under-water tank. Working with DEP officials, the inlet tunnels were Locked-Out/Tagged Out, to insure safe working conditions. The dive team fitted specialized equipment over the fill-pipe for the underground tank, with various controls in place to control and prevent any oil from getting into the reservoir. MER pumped 2,500 gallons of fuel/water from the tank, which was shipped off site for treatment/recycling. Subsequent site investigations revealed another fill-pipe, which when sampled, showed gasoline contamination. MER crews pumped out the gasoline tank, and continue to work with NYC DEP, who is investigating site history to determine the source of the buried tanks.

An update on the response is available in the NYC DEP's Weekly Pipeline Newsletter.