Mt. Graham Diesel Spill

Tuesday, September 11, 2012: 10:45 AM-11:45 AM
#4 (Egan Convention Center)

Level of Course: Mid

ABSTRACT

UNIVERSITY of ARIZONA

Mount Graham International Observatory

Diesel Fuel Spill

September 15, 2011

The observatory site has a main storage tank of 10,000 gallons and a 275 gallon generator day tank.  Due to a flawed cast iron housing, the oil-water separator failed with a crack across the threaded portion.

The day tank fuel level sensor continued to call for more fuel from the main storage tank and the fuel containment sump was rapidly overwhelmed.

Using tank inventory records, generator usage and the remaining fuel inventory, the release of diesel fuel was calculated to be 2,550 gallons.

A total of 1515 tons of diesel contaminated soil were excavated and removed from the spill site.  A microbial treatment was used in fringe areas and areas below building foundations.

The total claim for the environmental remediation is approximately $185,000.

This presentation will discuss the interaction between multiple State of Arizona agencies and the US Forest Service. 

Respectfully submitted,

Lloyd M. Wundrock,            #12515                        02/27/2012

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona 

Lloyd Martin Wundrock received a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December, 1982.  After working for the UW-Madison, Safety Department from 1983 – 1985 he moved to Tucson in September of 1985 to join the University of Arizona (UA), Department of Risk Management & Safety (now Risk Management Services).

Lloyd has almost 30 years of university regulatory experience and has been the Environmental Safety Officer for the UA since 1988.

Author:
LLOYD MARTIN WUNDROCK, BS ChE, UW-Madison, CHMM # 12515 since 04/2004