Spill Response & Spill Assessment

NORTECH offers a range of civil geotechnical services and arctic engineering experience as prime or sub-contractor for small to medium size projects, and owner assistance with construction administration and contract management. Our professional engineers perform subsurface investigations, foundation design recommendations, freeze-thaw analyses, geophysical surveys, drinking water evaluations, wastewater services, storage tank services, solid waste management, hydrologic studies, and storm water management planning. Our arctic engineering experience includes design recommendations for new water systems and wells in permafrost, permafrost foundations and foundations in/on frost-susceptible soils, permafrost control for infrastructure, drainage control, ice roads, and contaminant fate and transport in freezing ground. Our support services include arbitration, thermal and groundwater modeling, autocad design, mapping, cost estimating, database development, and equipment rental.

 Yukon Koyokuk School District Wiseman School Fuel Spill Assessment
   – Wiseman, Alaska

NORTECH Environmental & Engineering Consultants was retained by the Yukon Koyukuk School District to respond to a small diesel fuel release at the Wiseman Teacher Housing facility in Wiseman, Alaska. The project involved site assessment, field screening, soil excavation, collection of soil samples for laboratory analysis, coordination of contaminated soil transportation and remediation, and site closure. Based on known site conditions and representative soil sample results, diesel fuel contamination on the gravel pad around the aboveground storage tank (AST) location was completely removed to ADEC Level A cleanup standards. It is NORTECH's opinion that the small diesel spill has been remediated and no further action is necessary. It is recommended that this report be submitted to ADEC and a written letter of no further action (NFA) be requested from ADEC. Copies of the report and ADEC response also should be provided to the property owner.

 P-PAD Acid/Xylene Spill Response Oversight & Evaluation– Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

On October 31, 2001, a tanker rollover incident spilled 1,763 gallons of an emulsified acid mixture over approximately 0.9 acre of frozen tundra in the Western Operating Unit of the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield. Frozen ground conditions were favorable to lateral spread of contamination and limited vertical penetration early on. Exothermic reaction melted ice and snow, causing a contaminated slush to form over much of the impact zone before refreezing. Snow cover at the site limited visibility and neutralization during response and recovery. Existing cleanup tactics, primarily developed primarily through response to petroleum spills, were insufficient for this toxic spill. The ADEC contracted Dennis Filler, then with Shannon & Wilson, to perform response oversight and spill evaluation for this unique incident. Pilot tests were devised and implemented to affect recovery in a coordinated effort with Alaska Clean Seas. Response was evaluated with regard for the decision-making process, containment methods used, and with consideration for season and frozen ground conditions.

The pilot test recovery methods were evaluated for practicality relative to safety, time, and cost considerations. Two methods proved effective in cleanup of surface contamination: 1) a wet-vac process, whereby warmed water was applied under pressure, at a controlled rate, to thaw the frozen contamination into slush for vacuum extraction, and 2) a trimming process whereby impacted tundra grass, and frozen contamination was removed by mechanical means. The processes were documented for later consideration in developing tundra treatment tactic(s). The spill site was also evaluated with respect to site characterization. The nature of the contaminant mixture and high concentrations of some analytes limited use of standard analytical methods. An assessment plan was devised in which soil samples were tested for pH, conductivity and petroleum analytes. Site-specific, risk-based cleanup criteria were established and the analytical results compiled and evaluated to determine the extent of contamination being considered for remedial action. At present, the ADEC is considering contracting with NORTECH for development of the tundra treatment tactics for acid spills. (Nov. 2001 – Jan. 2002)