BCI Engineers and Scientists

BCI was retained by Young’s Environmental Cleanup, Inc. to monitor and document the excavation of impacted soils that resulted from a ruptured semi-tractor saddle tank. The rupture was caused by a collision with a freeway guard rail which resulted in a reported release of approximately 150 gallons of diesel fuel.

The release occurred in the median between the north and southbound lanes of Interstate I-69 at the Lansing Road exit, Exit #61, in Charlotte, Michigan. After closing off one of the southbound lanes of I-69, the visually impacted area was excavated by Young’s and transported from the site for landfill disposal. During the excavation activities, soil samples were collected and field screened for ionizable volatile organic compounds with a photoionization detector (PID). If evidence of impact such as visible staining, detectable PID measurements, or hydrocarbon odors were observed, additional soil was removed. Some of the spilled diesel fuel had migrated into stone drains associated with freeway drain culverts. As a result, the affected drains were removed to gain access to impacted stone and soil.

After excavation activities were completed, soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis to demonstrate the effectiveness of remediation. Soil samples were collected from biased locations most likely to contain residual impacts at the surface of the excavation floor and sidewalls. In accordance with Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) guidance documents, BCI collected a total of 10 verification of soil remediation (VSR) samples – consisting of five excavation floor samples and five excavation sidewall samples.

In addition, at the direction of Environmental Solutions, three soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis to characterize background soil conditions outside of the area of the diesel fuel spill. The soil samples were submitted for analysis of light distillate oils; i.e., diesel fuel indicator parameters including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes; and trimethylbenzene isomers.

Review of the laboratory analysis indicated diesel fuel indicator parameters were not detected at or above the laboratory detection limits in the 10 VSR soil samples and the trip blank.

Approximately 270 tons of soil was excavated from the spill area and disposed of in a licensed Type II landfill. Portions of freeway drain culverts that were removed during the cleanup were replaced and stone was placed for drainage in the area of the replaced culverts. After culvert replacement, the excavated areas were backfilled with Class 2 sand and covered with topsoil.