Case Studies

This project is ongoing and was due to a tank truck which was carrying 6,000 gallons of gasoline and 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel that rolled over in a residential neighborhood. The truck lost all its contents, this proceeded directly into a storm drain. The storm drain then ran underground and above ground running 3 blocks down a residential roadway. It then entered a storm drain and ended up in a runoff catch basin along Rt378 in Bethlehem. A dam was built to stop the product from proceeding into a nearby creek, and all the roadways / storm drains were cleaned and flushed out. A semi-permanent underflow dam was built to replace the sand dam in the catch basin, and a Water Treatment system was installed to treat all the water flowing into the catch basin.

Once the delineation is completed, Rapid Response anticipates excavating an area approximately 700ft long X 20ft wide of soil and debris from a the catch basin along Rt 378. This equates to approximately 600 cubic yards of soil. Along with this excavation, another excavation is needed along the roadway where the fuel first ran free. Two intersections of roadway will be excavated and replaced by Rapid Response.

Rapid Response, Inc. was called to perform emergency services for an existing client at one of their client’s facilities. The client was delivering paint in rail cars. While paint was being offloaded, the rail car valves, discharge hose, and offloading pump became clogged with hardened latex. Valves could not be closed due to the clog nor could hoses or pump be disconnected. After reaching out to multiple response contractors in that geographic region, our client called RRI for assistance. Through our network of response subcontractors, RRI was able to provide service within 24 hours of notification in this somewhat remote area of Nevada.

The RRI subcontractor arrived on site with the proper equipment and proper personnel to clear all of the lines, pump and valve and close and cap the valve to the rail car so that it could be removed from the facility. Waste generated was properly packaged and removed for disposal. This emergency project was completed without any additional spillage and with zero injuries. Our client’s client expressed their pleasure with the speed and safe manner with which this project was handled.

This confidential facility manufactures products for human consumption. As part of their process, certain equipment and lines must be treated with a sterilizer. The sterilizer is a solution of Hydrogen Peroxide, Acetic Acid, Peracetic Acid, and Nitric Acid. The sterilizer is temperature sensitive and must be stored between certain temperatures in order to prevent a reaction. Due to lack of temperature management, the material reacted and sprayed within the small portable storage building and into the built in containment. A very small amount leaked under the door and into the soil outside.

Rapid Response (RRI) was called in to cleanup the spill. Specifically, the RRI response crew used specialized pumps to remove the remaining material from the tote tank in which the material was stored and remove material which had accumulated in the containment of the building as a result of the spill. The interior of the building was flushed with a clear water wash, using brushes to loosen the material. All rinsate was pumped into the same portable tank as the residual product to lower the concentrations and render the material more stable. The impacted soil around the building was removed and containerized. Once all material was removed and containerized, and the building was flushed with clear water, the affected areas were treated with a Sodium Bicarbonate solution to neutralize any remaining acid.

The spill occurred on a rainy day and the rain moved some of the material down a drain that led to the Little Lehigh River. Rapid Response (RRI) initial response involved placing absorbent material on the spill area, estimated at 300 feet long spreading across all 3 lanes of traffic and both paved shoulders. Two street sweepers were used to pick up the sand and absorbent materials. Personnel with brooms worked the inaccessible areas. The Fire Department placed collection boom into the river to collect fuel that made it to the river. RRI deployed a perimeter of containment boom into the river. The containment boom was lined with collection boom to capture any material that continued to make it into the river. Once the boom was placed a fire truck was used to flush the drains with clear water to remove residual fuel and oil.

Under the highway bridge, over the river, the drain line leaked fuel and oil onto the surface soil. This area is a very active jogging trail. The area is only accessible by a small, restricted weight bridge. Small excavation equipment was brought in and excavated an estimated 20 cubic yards of impacted soil. Back-fill was brought in with small dump trucks, placed, compacted and graded. The boom was left in place for a few large storms to insure that all residual fuel had been collected. The impacted soil was transported out and across the small bridge using small loaders. The soil was placed into roll-off boxes for transportation and disposal at an approved facility. The entire project was completed without any injuries of health and safety issues.