At approximately 3:00 am (CST) on February 1, 2007 a tanker truck carrying approximately 8,000 gallons of diesel/gasoline overturned northbound on Hwy 195 near Mile Marker 10 north of Jasper, Walker Co., Alabama. The driver had apparently lost control of his rig and skidded off the highway (crossing the southbound lane),and flipping inverted into a drainage ditch and resting "belly-up" [note the web-page photos]. The wreck resulted in the cargo spillage of diesel & unleaded gasoline. The driver was killed in the accident.
The accident resulted in a total product loss of about 4500 gallons. The evening rain, prior to the accident, had soaked the ground thus preventing significant ground absorption of the spilled product in and about the immediate area of the spill. However, this caused a "floating" effect which caused migration of the gasoline/diesel spill away from the wreckage area. The spillage traveled (southeastward) down and away from the southbound drainage ditch and fanned out into a "bog" area and wet-weather wash. Response crews from the local Volunteer Fire Department(s) and contractor(s) for Vulcan Oil installed earthen berms, interceptor trenches and underflow dams to mitigate the spill. Additionally, oil pigs and diapers were also installed in spillage collection points. Product was not identified further than 1/4 mile from the wreckage.
A one-mile stretch of Hwy 195 was closed to allow response crews to off-load the tanker and clear the wreckage. Local Fire & Rescue/ HazMat, Alabama Highway Patrol & ADEM initially responded to the incident. The Hwy was reopened by 5 pm.
EPA dispatched an OSC to work with ADEM representatives and conduct oversite of the Vulcan Oil Tanker wreckage removal and subsequent clean-up of the product spillage. Alabama Highway Patrol had a 1-mile section of Highway 195 closed north of Jasper, AL to allow contractors and the Fire Departments to clear the wreckage and initiate the clean-up of the product spillage.
* 1300hrs (CST)- Completion of product transfer (aprox 1700 gallons.
* 1340hrs - Driver's body extricated from wreckage.
* 1420hrs - Tanker righted and prepared for transport.
* 1545hrs - Tanker removed from site.
* 1630hrs - Hwy 195 reopened.
HEPACO represented Vulcan Oil as their environmental contractor and provided oversite of SWS First Response's clean-up operations. Rain was anticipated for in the evening hours of February 1, 2007 and SWS had contingency's in-place to capture the flow of product anticipate to migrate during the rain. SWS First Response also anticipates shallow/superficial removal of rosdside/shoulder soil and will coordinate with ALDOT on right-of-way construction as needed.
Setting up for removal of product at collection points. Frac-Tanks in-place and crews will work throughout the night. Prepare for rain and collection of product at the underflow dam(s) and interceptor trenches.
Rain and collection of product. Clean-up of Bog area supported by rain to down-graidient collection points.
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