Injections of a non-toxic soap-like surfactant, Ivey-Sol, will be injected Monday into recovery wells at the 25-year old heating oil spill site next to the Chestertown Hospital.
It’s possible that up to 80,000 gallons of unrecovered oil from the 1980 heating oil leak still exists underground in a coagulated form. The Ivey-Sol will be used to loosen the oil product and be retrieved through hydraulic pumps.
The process, offered by UM Shore Regional Health’s contractor and accepted by Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) will entail ground injections, a 48-hour settling period, and hydraulic recovery.
The remediation site is 1,200 feet uphill from the town drinking water wells.
The plan has been meet with ongoing concern by the town, articulated most often by Chestertown’s Utility Manager Bob Sipes, who would prefer to opt for a long-term continuation of the use of the current pump-and-treat wells, and to continue their use with oversight. Sipes has been instrumental in translating the ramifications of the process including, in a worst-case scenario, the possibility of oil approaching the town’s water source.
The town has sought financial assurances that the town wells will be protected from any oil residue that could escape the remediation process, but at this update, no information has been provided.
A recent concern has surrounded the possibility of MDE straying from the original action plan proposed by MDE, specifically the 48 hour period needed for the surfactant to loosen the oil before extracting it.
Currently, it appears that the action plan will be followed.
“We’re not objecting to the plan, we’re objecting to any departure from it,” said Town Manager Bill Ingersoll.
According to Ingersoll, Sipes, although greatly concerned with the efficacy of the remediation process, is satisfied to know that at this point MDE and Ivey Sol International will be sticking to the original points in the action plan.
The plan also calls for three cycles of back-to-back injections and recoveries.
On Friday, according to MDE plans, engineers from Ivey-Sol International and MDE representatives will be on site to prepare for Monday’s injections.
Ron Moore says
Non-Toxic Huh? can you drink it?