Department of Natural Resources
Bioremediation
In my May 17, 2005, proposal I outlined several actions that were planned to clean up the oil contaminated ballast at the Depot, locomotive shop, water tank, Whitaker Station and Bald Knob and perform other work in the short and long term. I wish to amend those plans and substitute a plan to use a bioremediation procedure to clean the oil contaminated ballast and soil that exists at these locations, and recommend using PRP Petroleum Remediation Product.
"PRP" is essentially, finely milled yellow beeswax. It is a noncombustible, none reactive, non toxic, biodegradable powder. This product stimulates naturally occurring microbes that feed on and degrade hydrocarbons. This process takes place naturally, but if applied properly, "PRP" stimulates the microbes to do in months what normally would take years.
Limited testing was performed at Cass to determine the relative effectiveness of this product. Soil samples were taken immediately prior to treating the soil in three locations on June 9, 2005. Samples were taken adjacent to a stormwater catch basin and a track switch along the side track at the locomotive shop. Additionally, a sample was taken behind the oil storage building adjacent to the concrete pad. These areas were tested again on July 1, 2005. The results were significant. A 36 percent reduction of TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) was found at the catch basin, a 42 percent reduction in TPH was found at the switch and a 47 percent reduction was found behind the oil storage building, adjacent to the concrete slab. Lower reductions were to be expected at the former locations because continued operation of the locomotives re-contaminated the treatment areas, (we had not at this point completely switch to "Soy Easy tm OGL). The treatment area behind the oil storage building received no additional contamination; therefore, we expected to see a larger reduction. These tests were not necessarily "controlled", but do show that the product should be considered to be effective at our site.
(see photos in photo gallery under Railroad Bioremediation)
Brad Leslie, P.E.
Division of Department of Natural Resources
Major Rail System Boston, MA
As environmental compliance manager for a major rail system serving city and suburbs, you can imagine my environmental problems. In August of 2004 I was investigating my options to deal with petroleum pollutants, and agreed to do a test of their PRP petroleum bio-remediation product, at a site of my choosing.
At first I was skeptical that a powder-like substance applied to land or water surfaces could effectively lower hydrocarbon concentrations. We applied approximately 8 pounds of PRP powder over a 30 ft. by 4 ft. area of land and track ballast. I was told rain or moisture such as high humidity would help the product bio-remediate. During the following forty days that the product was down we had no rain and very low humidity. In spite of such conditions, PRP reduced our hydrocarbons by 95%.
Dan Connery, PG, REPA
Environmental Compliance Manager
Major Railroad Yard and Diesel Repair Facility
Problem area: Ballast, ties and track mats saturated with oil and diesel fuel for many years.
Remediation: Oil Buster was applied to 40ft. of ballast and ties, approx. 1/16th of an inch thick, both between the rails and on the outside of the rails. Prior to this a sample of dirt and rock were taken from a marked location and sent to Microseeps, Inc. at the University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center. A hydrocarbon saturation test was done on April 1, 2005, using modified method #8015. The test showed Semi-Volatiles (TPJ-DRO) at 12000. On May 10, 2005 samples from the same marked area, where Oil Buster had been applied, were tested again, using the Same method. The results showed the Semi-Volatiles (TPH-DRO) at 830. This is a 93% reduction over a 40 day period. (Approx. 5 weeks).
Brad Leslie, P.E.
Division of Department of Natural Resources
Major Rail System Boston, MA
As environmental compliance manager for a major rail system serving city and suburbs, you can imagine my environmental problems. In August of 2004 I was investigating my options to deal with petroleum pollutants. I spoke with a representative of Universal Remediation of Pittsburgh, PA and they agreed to do a test of their petroleum bio-remediation product, PRP, at a site of my choosing.
At first I was skeptical that a powder-like substance applied to land or water surfaces could effectively lower hydrocarbon concentrations. We applied approximately 8 pounds of PRP powder over a 30 ft. by 4 ft. area of land and track ballast. I was told rain or moisture such as high humidity would help the product bio remediate. During the following forty days that the product was down we had no rain and very low humidity. In spite of such conditions, PRP reduced our hydrocarbons by 95%.
Dan Connery, PG, REPA
Environmental Compliance Manager
This test was conducted by Earth Tech, Inc., an environmental engineering company tasked, by contract, to the rail company with handling all its environmental compliance issues.
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