Bioremediation Project Experience

• Fire Training Facility - Memphis, Tennessee
  The discovery and removal of underground storage tanks and associated fuel nozzle piping at a former fire training pit used by the Tennessee Air National Guard ultimately lead to a massive soil removal and treatment project. Fuel agents included solvents and a variety of petroleum products ranging from diesel fuel to jet fuels. Excess levels of these fuel agents were discovered at depths of 20 feet in some areas. Approximately 26,000 cubic yards of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons were excavated, placed in a land treatment cell and treated with commercially manufactured bacterial agents to enhance degradation of contaminants by native soil microbes. Land cell rotation for the treatment of stockpiled soils contaminated with various solvents and fuels was conducted within a nine-acre land treatment area. An aggressive protocol for maintaining the biodegradation process allowed for the treatment process to be completed within ten months. The fire pit land treatment area was the first such privatized bioremediation project under administrative permit in Tennessee.

   

• Rodman U.S. Naval Station Tank Farm - Arraijan, Panama
  This project was conducted in accordance with CERCLA and RCRA regulations as they pertained to an abandoned tank farm formerly operated by the U.S. Navy in Arraijan, Panama north of the City of Panama. Sludge removed as part of a massive tank restoration project for 22 tanks, each with capacity for 40,000 barrels of jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel was found to be highly contaminated with RCRA metals and hydrocarbons. A design for bioremediation and treatment via chelation techniques within land treatment cells was developed and implemented under a site specific health and safety plan. The project was implemented under remote forested conditions and severe rainfall precipitation events over a 12-month period.

   

• RefPan Refineria Sludge Lagoons - Colon, Panama
  Refinery sludge disposed in lagoons for over fifty years at a major international oil company refinery was mixed in place with bulking agents for handling and improved aeration capacity. The bulked sludge subsequently was excavated and transported to nearby constructed land treatment cells. Materials were graded for treatment with bacterial agents and nutrients. Concentrations fell below threshold clean-up goals over a nine month period following routine treatment and inoculation of nutrients and bacterial agents.

   

• Former Farm Operation UST Removal - Cordova, Tennessee

  Approximately, 900 cubic yards of soils contaminated with gasoline from a farm operations UST and dispenser were excavated and placed in a land treatment cell constructed on site. Nutrients were tilled into the soils and an aqueous mixture of prepared microbes was applied to the tilled soils. Treated soils were returned to use for landscaping following degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in excavated soils.

   

• Closed Gasoline Service Station – Memphis, Tennessee

  Vestige contamination was found at a vacant lot in the area of former gasoline dispensers at a closed gasoline service station originally constructed during the 1950s. Impacted soils totaled approximately 250 cubic yards and were excavated and treated on site with nutrients and an aqueous solution of prepared microbes.

   

• Former Side Rail Distribution Warehouse – Memphis, Tennessee

  More than 2,200 cubic yards of petroleum contaminated soils were found to have been impacted by petroleum that had migrated along a rail track bed beneath a closed grocery distribution warehouse that was planned for demolition. Two land treatment cells were constructed to separately treat contaminated soils within expected ranges of contaminant levels and those soils observed to contain extraordinarily high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons. Operations lasted nearly 18 months due to off-season construction starts and a heavy rainfall year. Soils were used for landscaping in a newly constructed residential development.

   

• Retail Petroleum Convenience Store – Paris, Tennessee

  Approximately, 600 cubic yards of contaminated soils were excavated and placed in a land treatment cell constructed on site. Soils were treated with nutrients and tilled in preparation for the application of an aqueous solution of prepared microbes. Soils were used for landscaping following treatment.