Our Work

Underground Storage Tank Assessment and Closure
Return to Work Home

  • Release of #4 Fuel Oil - Elementary School, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
    Cushing, Jammallo & Wheeler notified the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) of a release of #4 fuel oil from former oil supply and return piping which was connected to a 10,000-gallon underground storage tank system located at a City of Fitchburg Elementary School. Under an Immediate Response Action (IRA), CJW installed steel shoring to facilitate the excavation of petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS); installed 8 hydraulic resistance piers to support the foundation of the school to facilitate the excavation of PCS from beneath the foundation and footing; removed a storm drain catch basin and sections of the associated 10-inch diameter storm drain pipe to facilitate the excavation of PCS beneath these utilities; excavated PCS to a maximum depth of 22 feet below grade and approximately 14 feet below the bottom of the school's foundation footing. A total of approximately 765 cubic yards of PCS were transported to approved recycling facilities. In addition, CJW collected and analyzed indoor air samples in the school during and at the completion of remediation activities to ensure that students and teachers were not exposed to petroleum vapors. This testing confirmed no significant risk to school occupants and school activities continued uninterrupted. Soil and groundwater sampling was performed and monitoring wells were installed; and 2 private drinking water wells within 500 feet of the school were sampled and tested. The release was closed out with a Response Action Outcome (RAO) in November 2008.

  • Release of Diesel Fuel - Town Well Fields, Foxborough, Massachusetts
    Cushing, Jammallo & Wheeler responded to a release of approximately 200 to 250 gallons of diesel fuel from an emergency generator aboveground storage tank. The diesel fuel migrated to a crawl space beneath a site building. CJW and the Town of Foxborough immediately shut down two on-site public water supply (PWS) wells to prevent the introduction of petroleum-impacted groundwater into the public drinking water supply system. CJW obtained all necessary MADEP and US EPA approvals to pump and discharge treated groundwater through two 1,000-pound granular activated carbon (GAC) canisters. A total of 2,291,000 gallons of petroleum-impacted groundwater were pumped and treated during Immediate Response Action (IRA) activities. In addition, a 1,000-gallon abandoned process tank was removed as part of IRA activities. A total of 14 monitoring wells were installed and soil and groundwater samples were collected for laboratory analyses. CJW performed an extensive public water supply monitoring program which encompassed monitoring the radius of influence of each PWS well during monitoring/pumping activities, documenting reactivation and normal operation of each PWS well and evaluating the potential of residual petroleum-impacted groundwater migration into the PWS well network, sampling of the PWS wells and comparison of analytical data to the applicable maximum contaminant levels (MCL) as listed in 310 CMR 22.07B. The release was closed out with an IRA Completion Report and Class A RAO.