At 0530 on 22-July a tanker truck carrying 4,500 gallons of 50% hydrogen peroxide solution overturned traveling east on U.S. Highway 42 in Bedford, KY. An NRC report was made at 1100 by Trimac, stating 50 gallons of material was released to a drainage ditch. OSC Art Smith was dispatched to the scene and met with Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection SOSC to oversee the transfer operations and clean-up activities. Upon arriving at the scene at about 1200 hrs., OSC Smith learned from responders that a greater volume of product was released during the initial accident. A drainage ditch leading to the Little Kentucky River located about 250 yards downgradient was observed to contain liquid about pH 4.5 to 5. Vegetation at the wreck site and in surface drainage features all the way to the river's edge was bleached white, characteristic of being in contact with a strong oxidizer such as hydrogen peroxide. The liquid leaking from the tanker had decomposed and stabilized by 1200 hrs., as evidenced by the lack of fuming observed earlier.
The responsible party (Trimac Transportatation) hired a cleanup contractor (Gra-Kat Environmental Services, LLC), but the assessment of damage to the tanker and transfer of remaining product was the responsibility of Arkema, Inc., the shipper and owner of the trailer. Arkema's hazmat team arrived at 1740 hrs. A safety meeting was held at 1615 hrs., and the process of uprighting the tanker was initiated. Bedford Volunteer Fired Department personnel applied a water fog to knock down vapors form minor prodcut spillage which occurred during the uprighting process.
At 1015 hrs., the tanker was successfully uprighted, and after gauging the tank, it was discovered that approximately 3,500 gallons of material was released from the tanker as a result of the accident. The crew then successfully transferred the remaining 1,000 gallons from the tanker. All personnel left the site at approximately 0100 on 23-July.
Crews will resume work today with soil excavation and restoration of affected areas within the right of way under KDEP oversight.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down in the environment into water and oxygen gas. Therefore, no environmental impacts are anticipated for this event. Surveys of the Little Kentucky River at points both 1 mile and 2 miles downstream of the wreck site showed no evidence of any fish kill, or other indicators of impacts to aquatic species.
|
