In the oil industry, accidents are almost always detrimental to the surrounding environment. Because proactivity is key to minimizing damage, creating a detailed facility response plan (FRP) is a crucial step in mitigating the consequences of a worst-case oil discharge. It's also essential for complying with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, such as the FRP Rule. Learn about preparing…

If your facility uses substantial amounts of oil aboveground or belowground, your operation could be subject to the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule. The primary objective of this rule is to contain oil discharges and prevent those discharges from reaching navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. Specific requirements apply based on the amount of oil a facility uses, so understanding the…

Your secondary oil containment systems are critical to protecting the environment from oil spills, yet those berms create another challenge — effective water drainage. Recent swings in unprecedented weather may test even larger units with significant or sustained rainfall or flooding events. When these secondary containment products fill with precipitation, they can't accurately do their jobs. There are several paths…

Modern businesses in industries ranging from electric utilities to manufacturing rely on diesel full, kerosene and gasoline to carry out their operations. While essential, these substances contain hydrocarbons that are highly flammable and pose risks to the environment when discharged. Spills can warrant fines from the Environmental Protection Agency or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration if workplace safety is…

Industry and individuals alike historically harmed the environment and humankind by discharging pollutants into waterways. As information came to light about the effects of this pollution, the nation responded with the Clean Water Act of 1973 and its Oil Pollution Prevention regulation. The regulation required certain facilities to devise methods for spill control, containment and countermeasures (SPCC) and delegated program enforcement…

Numerous oils are integral to the products and services we rely on each day. From gasoline and diesel fuel to animal fats and vegetable oils, consistently high use translates to extensive storage and transport volumes daily. Unfortunately, these same essential materials can be detrimental to the environment, drinking water and other natural resources — and even the economy when spills…

Transformer oil containment practices vary throughout the industry, and different jurisdictions may require oil containment for station permitting. Utilities have environmental standards dictating what levels of oil containment are required at their stations for various types of oil-filled equipment. Avista Utilities in Spokane, WA, has developed a new standard for transformer oil containment with the introduction of a new, minimum-maintenance,…

Posted: 9/14/17 Transformer oil leaks and spills have been an on-going issue and concern in the utility industry for decades. Today’s heightened environmental awareness, tougher regulatory and jurisdictional requirements, and potential liabilities around oil cleanup require utilities to take a closer look at spill prevention and containment practices. The booth from SPI Solidification Products International at the Solar Power International…

New York - Eighteen months after the installation of a Petro-Barrier™ 4-unit system, the substation caught on fire and approximately 200 gallons of transformer oil leaked out of the mushroom on top of the transformer. All the oil made its way to the patented SPI Petro-Barrier and none of it ever leaked. Media that had reacted with the oil was…

The Mini “Plug That Leak” Day was held on July 26th at the SPI Northford, CT, manufacturing facility. This event was a scaled-down version of past events and was designed to accommodate a few key accounts, along with utility and engineering professionals located in the Northeast. Bill Gannon- President of SPI, personally lead the way as this group witnessed SPI…