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Late on Friday evening of September 27,2019, more than 1,000 gallons of sodium permanganate, stored in an aboveground storage tank spilled over the concrete containment berm throughout the building flowing outside impacting the road, both drainage ditches, an earthen dam structure and coming dangerously close to the river. FCE’s first response was to prevent a release to the river. An earthen dam was constructed and absorbent pads were used to stem the flow towards the river. Temporary containment basins were constructed on both sides of the road to pool the liquid where it was removed with the vacuum truck. A jetting device was required to open a concrete culvert to effectively address the cleanup. Since sodium permanganate is a strong oxidizer, the grass lined ditches and other combustible materials caught fire. FCE doused the fires with water and set up a fire watch. Sodium permanganate is a deep purple and easy to see. Five roll-offs of soil were excavated and disposed of as nonhazardous waste. Concurrent with the cleanup outside the building, FCE, suited in Level B protective gear and entered the building. As recommended by the SDS, meta bisulfate mixed with fresh water was used to neutralize the product. The water/meta bisulfate mixture was used to “flood” the floor and was also added to the vac truck as pure product was sucked into the vac truck to keep from damaging the vac truck. The liquid had permeated the concrete floor, flowing through cracks and expansion joints. FCE spent the next 23 hours addressing the release and brought in two additional responders from Roanoke to assist. The liquid was offloaded into 330-gallon poly totes for additional neutralizing and eventual disposal. Three of the totes contained pure product. Water and meta bisulfate were added to each tote to neutralize for shipping and disposal as a nonhazardous waste, creating additional, but necessary waste. Because the sodium permanganate has the ability to permeate the concrete, over the next week FCE addressed numerous seeps of product through the concrete and cracks in the floor. By the end of the emergency and follow up actions, a total of 9,900 gallons of the neutralized product mixture was shipped to and disposed of as nonhazardous waste. Backfilling required 60-tons of A-1 rock and an additional 30-tons of soil. Fencing was repaired and replaced and the drive was pressure washed. This emergency response is a great example of FCE being prepared to act on a Friday night, having the right response equipment, knowing your local resources for late night assistance and staying with the release until all aspects of it are completed. If you drive by this site today, you will notice the site looks better than it did before the spill.
First Call Team Richmond Virgina is always ready to show you, “The First Call Difference!” Just call 800-646-1290 for immediate assistance and let First Call go to work for you!