97-06-24 University Cleaning Soil From Gas Tank Leak

UNIVERSITY CLEANING SOIL FROM UNDERGROUND GAS TANK LEAK

     COLUMBUS -- While conducting a geological survey for
expansion of a parking garage at The Ohio State University, soil
samples showed contamination by gasoline. Environmental
contractors will spend about six weeks cleaning the hazard.

     The problem is between the northwest corner of the Central
Classroom Building, which houses University Bookstores, and the
Public Safety Building next door. A gasoline storage tank, used
for fueling police cruisers, leaked for several years.

     The tank was removed during the late 1970s, but not before
several thousand gallons of gas were lost, said Cecil R. Smith,
assistant vice president for environmental health and safety. At
the time the tank was removed, there were no environmental
regulations that required additional cleanup, Smith said.

     About 3,600 tons of contaminated soil will be removed and
500,000 gallons of contaminated water will be treated onsite and
disposed, probably beginning by the end of this week. The
preliminary cost estimate for this piece of the project is
$500,000 to $750,000, Smith said.

     Because of the nature of the contamination, contractors
conducting site remediation will be required to wear personal
protective clothing and special breathing devices.

     The work, which involves excavating or rerouting a number of
utility lines in the area, is not expected to delay the Northwest
Parking Garage project. It also won’t disrupt activities in the
adjacent buildings — Central Classroom, Dreese Laboratory and the
Maintenance Building — and is not anticipated to pose health and
safety risks to building occupants or the public. Health and
safety monitoring will be conducted on a continuous basis. The
site has been isolated on all sides with large fences.

     Long-term cleanup also will be necessary to treat
contamination that has migrated under the Central Classroom
Building, Smith said. That part of the cleanup is expected to
last five to 10 years, he said.

     The university will be addressing the site cleanup under the
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Voluntary Action Program.
Once the environmental engineering design is completed, the
University will work closely with the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency to make certain the appropriate standards are
met.
                             #

Contact:  Cecil R. Smith, assistant vice president for
          environmental health and safety, 292-1284

Written by David Bhaerman, University Communications, 292-8422


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Tue, 24 Jun 1997 11:00:02 -0400 (EDT)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.