At approximately 0530 hours on 31 July 2006, a tanker truck hauling Jet-A aviation fuel was involved in a single vehicle accident near the 4200 block of Fulton Industrial Boulevard (FIB), Fulton County, Georgia. The accident scene is located on the west side of Atlanta, GA along the main thorough fare that cuts through a large industrial park. The accident site is also near the south boundary of Brown Field (Fulton Co. Airport). The accident occurred near the intersection of Fulton Industrial Boulevard and Interstate 20. The truck and tanker reportedly experienced brake failure and overturned while negotiating a northbound turn onto Fulton Industrial Boulevard at the bottom of the off-ramp of I-20W. The truck and tanker, operated by Associated Petroleum Carriers, rolled over on its side and came to rest in the median between the north and south bound lanes of Fulton Industrial Boulevard. The Jet-A fuel being hauled was owned by Tomahawk Energy. The accident ruptured the tanker and petroleum was discharged. Initial reports were that up to 7,000 gallons of product had been discharged. Product spilled from the tanker flowed down FIB in a southerly direction and entered storm drains as well as was pooled in low areas and depressions along the roadway. The spill location was located approximately ½ mile from the Chattahoochee River. Due to the incident, East and West bound lanes of Interstate 20 were completely closed as well as portions of Fulton Industrial Blvd. near the scene.
Entities responding to the incident included: Fulton County Fire Department (FCFD), Fulton County Emergency Management, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation and contractor Hepaco, Inc. (working for Associated Petroleum Carriers).
The National Response Center (NRC) was notified by the EPA Region 4 Duty OSC. The incident was assigned NRC Report number 806108. R-1 OSC Misenheimer was dispatched to the incident and arrived on scene at approximately 0830 hours.
OSC Misenheimer initially met with the Incident Commander (FCFD) and Hepaco representatives at the scene. Fulton County Fire Department Hazardous Materials team and Hepaco personnel were conducting all site operations. FCFD hazmat personnel conducted air monitoring around the tanker for Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). GA EPD State On-Scene Coordinator Smiley and Hepaco representatives assessed the down gradient impacts of the spill. This included inspection of the storm water drains along FIB and potential down gradient receiving waters (ditches and drainage pathways). EPD reported that the spilled product had flowed into storm drains located south of the I-20 overpass; however the product did not migrate any farther because the storm drains and manholes were completely filled with sediment.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GADOT) spread sand on the impacted roadway and Hepaco diked areas where product had pooled and placed absorbent materials in and around the storm drains. At approximately 1030 hours, I-20 was reopened in both west and east bound directions.
OSCs Crowley and Misenheimer teamed with FCFD Boat 20, to conduct assessments of the Chattahoochee River between GA Highway 166 and the I-20 bridge. No sheen or other impacts from the spill were observed during the assessment of the river.
Hepaco drilled into the overturned tanker and pumped off the remaining Jet-A product. Approximately 5,200 gallons of product was transferred from the overturned tanker into another Associated Petroleum Carriers tanker on site. Hepaco also vacuumed up approximately 400 gallons of product from puddles on the site. According to SOSC Smiley, the tanker was originally hauling 6,400 gallons of Jet-A fuel. Therefore, the actual amount discharged is believed to be approximately 1,200 gallons, contrary to the initial reports of more than 7,000 gallons. The remaining 800 gallons of product not recovered is believed to have soaked in to the soil and sediments around the storm drains. The damaged tanker and truck was removed from the site by Prestige Wrecker service.
At the direction of SOSC Smiley, Hepaco removed contaminated soil and sediments from the clogged storm drains impacted along FIB. No free product was observed in any of the storm drains.
OSC Misenheimer demobilized from the scene at approximately 1600 hours. All additional site activities will be coordinated by GA EPD.
Hepaco will continue to remove contaminated soils and collect the absorbent materials deployed at the site. Additional re-assessments of the impacted area and storm drains will be completed.
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