Hazmat Emergency Response
“Initially, we began working with SAK due to their close proximity to one of our facilities. Now we rely on SAK for a wide variety of environmental services as they are responsive, reliable and consistent. From scheduled inspections to emergency response, we can count on them to get the job done thoroughly and on-time.”
- M. Hughes, Environmental Manager,
Wheelabrator Technologies
Case Study: Emergency Response to Chemical Container Spill at Intermodal Transportation Facility – Ayer, MA
Project Background: A national transportation company transports chemical and hazardous materials by rail and trucks across the country. A hazardous spill occurred at its intermodal terminal in Central Massachusetts. Several pallets of industrial, caustic cleaning products had shifted during transport damaging numerous containers and leaking their contents. The client was concerned that a major and costly government action would ensue.
The challenge: Unidentified multi-colored liquids discharged from the container onto the ground and shipping manifests indicated potentially reactive substances. As site conditions were not clear and unpredictable, the local fire department requested a Tier 1 hazmat response. MADEP and US Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Technical Assessment & Response (START) Team representatives were on site to assess the potentially hazardous waste materials.
Services provided: SAK Environmental provided local expertise and emergency assets to this transportation company. SAK responded by implementing a remediation action plan to government first responders and regulators and providing immediate field expertise in chemical management. Using extensive field screening and Level B PPE, the situation was stabilized, the release contained and cleaned, and materials repackaged. SAK provided technical oversight and regulatory documentation to national transportation and trucking companies throughout New England for emergency response and project management services to respond to oil, chemical and hazmat spills from transportation accidents. Additionally, necessary documentation required by MADEP to achieve a Class A-1 RAO for compliance with the Massachusetts Contingency Plan and Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup was prepared.
The result: SAK Environmental’s work resulted in rapid and cost-effective assessment of the hazmat spill, remediation of affected areas, inventory and repackaging of chemicals, and a crucial on-site presence for the out-of-state transportation company. Disruption to the intermodal facility and the client’s container was minimal and quickly returned to use, meeting all health and safety and regulatory requirements and protecting public health in the City.