BURBANK SCHOOL OIL RELEASE UPDATE
February 12, 2004
The Town continues its response actions to mitigate impacts caused by the release of No. 4 oil which leaked from the underground tank at the Burbank School on Friday, December 12, 2003. Some of the oil from this release flowed into the storm drain system at the Burbank School, which then was ultimately discharged into Clay Pit Pond. The majority of the oil that leaked remained in the vicinity of the tank at the Burbank School. The Town continues to be in direct communication with state and federal environmental regulators to coordinate activities and maintain regulatory compliance.
Although severe cold weather conditions hampered clean-up efforts during much of January, the Town continued to address the mitigation of the fuel oil release from the underground tank system at the Burbank School. Over the past month, the following activities have been completed as part of continued efforts to mitigate the release:
- Drain cleaning between Burbank and Wellington Brook Culvert was completed the last week of January. This included the Wellington Brook culvert. Washdown water was collected at downstream points and was not discharged into the Pond. Absorbent booms have been kept in selected manholes as markers. These booms have not indicated the presence of any oil seepage since the cleaning occurred. This is confirmation that the oil remained in the pipes as it flowed between the Burbank and the Pond.
- Activities at the Pond were on hold during much of January due to the severe cold weather. Since the drain pipes have been cleaned and no further evidence of oil has been seen, the booms have been removed from the Pond at the Wellington Brook outlet. Perimeter clean-up at the Pond will be performed during the February school vacation week, in accordance with the order of conditions issued by the Town’s Conservation Commission.
- The Town continued operation of the water treatment system at the Burbank to prevent oil from entering the storm drain system. Water flowing from the Burbank is monitored and tested in accordance with the Town's EPA permit.
- The underground oil storage tank was removed from the Burbank site on 30 January. The Town retained certain parts of the tank system that are relevant to the Town’s ongoing investigation as to the cause of the leak and disposed of the remaining tank at a licensed tank disposal facility.
- Six borings were conducted at the Burbank (during the period 12-20 January) to evaluate the extent of the release and assess soil and groundwater quality at the site. The soil and groundwater test data at these perimeter boring locations indicate no impact from the oil release, and there has not been any off-site migration in soil or groundwater of the oil from the release.
- Until the end of January, oil was still being recovered from the recovery well at the former tank location and indicated measurable oil still remained at the former tank location. After the volume of oil in this location was reduced to minimal levels, the former tank area was completely excavated and the concrete pad below the tank removed in the first week of February. During this activity, approximately 600 cubic yards of oil-contaminated peastone and soil were removed and sent to a facility that will recycle these materials into asphalt. The bottom and sidewalls of the excavation were excavated to soil that was not impacted by the oil release. Observations and confirmatory soil testing from this excavation indicate that oil did not go under the Burbank School. This excavation has been
backfilled with sand and gravel.
- During this excavation, five drains that crossed the tank location were found. These were full of oil and soil, and were the conduit for the oil to travel to the Town’s storm drain system. Observations from the tank location excavation confirm that the oil remained within the limits of the original excavation for the tank, and then flowed into the storm drain system via these site drains. These drains will be excavated and cleaned or replaced as a separate activity in the early spring when the frost is out of the ground.
The Town now has a better handle on the scope of the clean-up response and believes that work will be concluded by the end of the fiscal year and that costs will be approximately $1.3 million, assuming no unanticipated events. A subcommittee of the Warrant Committee made a presentation to the Warrant Committee on February 11, 2004 of the sources of funds the Town has which it may tap to fund these costs. The Warrant Committee has requested the subcommittee to work with the Town Administrator to develop a final recommendation for Warrant Committee and Board of Selectmen consideration. Ultimately, the Town Meeting will approve any transfer of funds.
At the same time, the Town continues to pursue cost recovery opportunities. The Town has engaged various experts to aid in these efforts. As previously reported, the Town has identified the source of the oil release as a hole in the return line. The interior tank was tested and inspected and determined to be intact. The Town continues its investigation of the failure of the return line in order to understand the cause of the release.
As more information becomes available, the Town will provide updated information. Please contact Joyce Munro, Assistant Town Administrator, in the Office of the Board of Selectmen at 617-489-8213 or selectmen@town.belmont.ma.us with any questions or comments.
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