Background
A release of an estimated 300 gallons of gasoline occurred in February 2018 during the filling of a gasoline underground storage tank (UST) in Southeastern Massachusetts. The gasoline was released onto the top of the concrete UST pad and flowed off the pad onto the adjoining asphalt and downslope for approximately 50 feet into a trench drain located on the southern portion of the property.
Initial emergency response services conducted by others consisted of applying absorbents to the asphalt and tank pad surfaces, vacuuming gasoline, water and accumulated organic material from the trench drain, vacuuming water and gasoline from the interior of a manhole/catch basin, removing gasoline impacted debris from the on-site solid water dumpster and clothing donation boxes, and power washing the impacted areas of the asphalt and trench drain.
The Site is within GW-1 area (Sole Source Aquifer and PPA high yield) and with a stream nearby, an Order of Conditions from the local conservation commission was required.
In October and November 2018, 156.59 tons of gasoline-impacted soil were excavated by others from the area of the trench drain for proper disposal, however, an evaluation of groundwater quality subsequent to excavation indicated residual VPH groundwater impact remained.
Technology Used
PetroFix™ Remediation Fluid
In September 2019, WjF submitted a Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Plan to the MassDEP. The objective of the RAM was to apply the remedial additive PetroFix™ to mitigate plume migration and remediate the water table aquifer. WjF proposed to conduct the PetroFix™ injections in the release area and the area directly downgradient of the release area.
The RAM required improving the monitoring well network in order to evaluate the PetroFix™ application. In January and February of 2020, WjF retained a local drilling firm to aid in applying 8,100 gallons of PetroFix™ solution (385 gallons of PetroFix™ and ~7,700 gallons of water). Batches were mixed in 55-gallon drums and injected into 60 borings using a GeoProbe track rig over a 9-day period.
Soil Results - EPH
| VPH Fractions | VPH Target Analytes | ||||||||
| Sample ID | C5-C8 Aliphatics | C9-C12 Aliphatics | C9-C10 Aromatics | Benzene | Toluene | Ethyl benzene | Xylenes | MTBE | Naphthalene |
| MW-11 | Soil Excavation – Oct/Nov 2018 | ||||||||
| 14.000 | 1.200 | 3.000 | 0.030 | 2.600 | 0.360 | 4.100 | <0.020 | <0.100 | |
| 0.540 | 0.150 | 0.260 | 0.0019 | 0.0084 | 0.036 | 0.181 | 0.002 | 0.0096 | |
| 1.100 | 0.260 | 0.840 | 0.0011 | < 0.001 | 0.11 | 0.2617 | 0.0031 | 0.032 | |
| PETROFIX™ APPLICATION | |||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | 0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | 0.002 | < 0.001 | 0.0029 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | <0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| MW-12 | Soil Excavation – Oct/Nov 2018 | ||||||||
| 0.970 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.140 | 0.004 | 0.034 | 0.0473 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.0065 | < 0.001 | 0.0014 | 0.0017 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| PETROFIX™ APPLICATION | |||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.011 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| MW-16 | Soil Excavation – Oct/Nov 2018 | ||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.0091 | < 0.001 | 0.0031 | 0.0039 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.0026 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| PETROFIX™ APPLICATION | |||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| MW-17 | Soil Excavation – Oct/Nov 2018 | ||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.014 | 0.0011 | 0.0053 | 0.0075 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | 0.0067 | <0.001 | 0.0018 | <0.002 | < 0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| PETROFIX™ APPLICATION | |||||||||
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.002 | <0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.002 | <0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| < 0.100 | < 0.100 | < 0.100 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.002 | <0.001 | < 0.005 | |
| GW1 Standard | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.005 | 1 | 0.7 | 10 | 0.07 | 0.14 |
| GW3 Standard | 50 | 50 | 50 | 10 | 40 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 20 |
All results reported in mg/L.
Results
The results of the groundwater analyses for three subsequent groundwater sampling events indicated that the PetroFix™ application was effective in reducing the risk of harm posed by the gasoline release to the environment of the Site, thereby achieving regulatory closure.