The challenge

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Support Center at Elizabeth City, NC was looking for a turnkey service provider to inspect fuels storage and petroleum oil lubricant tanks, and evaluate spill prevention and refueling operations. ARCADIS/Pirnie was engaged under an existing indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for A-E environmental services, and was selected because of our experience with oil/gas clients and familiarity with base operations.

The result

ARCADIS coordinated and oversaw inspection, evaluation and assessment of three 80,000-gallon, above-ground storage tanks; the piping/fuel transfer system; and the fuel stripping and oil/water separator system at the base's aviation fuel farm.

We provided all services required to open the tanks, pump out residual fuel and sludge, clean the interior, properly dispose of wastes, perform continual gas-freeing of the tank, and support entry by certified inspectors. Once the work was complete, we prepared reports on their fitness for service, recommended repairs, estimated costs, initiated the corrections and tested.

For the aviation fuel farm and related systems such as secondary containment areas, ARCADIS performed similar inspections, identified a number of mandatory repairs, and oversaw repair and testing.

Secondary containment areas are critical for providing temporary containment of accidental spills or leaks until appropriate response actions can be taken. Nothing escaped our scrutiny — even the parking arrangements of mobile fuel tankers and their secondary containment systems were analyzed and remedied.

Following the aviation fuel farm and base-wide tank inspections and evaluations, ARCADIS prepared comprehensive operations and maintenance manuals and a certified Integrated Contingency Plan in accordance with the applicable requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation - 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 112.20 and 112.21.

Following the aviation fuel farm and base-wide tank inspections and evaluations, ARCADIS prepared comprehensive operations and maintenance manuals and a certified Integrated Contingency Plan.