IMTT-BAYONNE

Incident Narrative

ON 2/22/16 AT APPROXIMATELY 1730 HOURS IMTT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE HUDSON REGIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION WHO REPORTED THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY OIL WAS DISCOVERD SEEPING UP FROM THE GROUND IN A PUBLIC PARK LOCATED NEAR ONE OF IMTT'S TANK YARDS. THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER STATED THAT THE NJDEP WAS ALREADY ON SCENE AND WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY OF IMTT'S TANKS OR ASSOCIATED PIPING WAS THE SOURCE. IMTT SENT OPERATIONS PERSONNNEL TO THE AREA AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING UNDERGROUND PIPELINE IN THE AREA WHERE THE OIL WAS DETECTED. THE PIPELINE KNOWN AS THE 16"" PACKARDS TO CURRIES LINE WAS NOT BEING UTILIZED AT THE TIME HOWEVER IT WOULD HAVE TO BE EXCAVATED TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS THE SOURCE. IMTT DISPATCHED A CONTRACTOR TO THE AREA WITH A BACKHOE AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. THEY BEGAN TO REMOVE CONTAMINATED SOIL FROM THE AREA. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL WAS ULTRA LOW SULFUR DIESEL. THE CONTAMINATED SOIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE AREA AND STOCKPILED WITHIN IMTT'S ADJACENT TANK YARD. THE EXCAVATION REVEALED THE 16"" LINE AND AN AREA THAT HAD BEEN TIED-IN BACK IN OCTOBER 2015. THERE WAS VISIBLE OIL AND WATER SEEPING INTO THE EXCAVATION BUT THE SOURCE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. IMTT DECIDED TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AT 0400 HOURS ON 2/22/16 UNTIL ADDITIONAL RESOURCES COULD BE BROUGHT IN. AT 1000 HOURS A SECOND EXCAVATION BEGAN AND THIS TIME THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. THROUGH INVESTIGATION IMTT DETERMINED THAT DURING THE TIE-IN THAT TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER, THE CONTRACTOR ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE A SECTION OF SHORING AND IN THE PROCESS SCRAPED THE PIPELINE CAUSING A SMALL HOLE. EVENTUALLY THE HOLE GOT BIGGER AND STARTED LEAKING. THE CONTRACTOR REMOVED THE DAMAGED SECTION OF PIPE AND REPLACED IT WITH NEW. THE LINE WAS THEN PRESSURE TESTED AND PUT BACK INTO SERVICE. IMTT HAS HIRED A LICENSED SITE REMEDIATION PROFESSIONAL (LSRP) TO OVERSEE THE REMEDIATION OF THE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER. THE NJDEP HAS BEEN KEPT UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS AND WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN. THE CONTRACTOR THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE PIPE HAS BEEN PUT ON NOTICE FOR ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS AND WILL RESTORE THE PARK. **FURTHER UPDATE** WHILE THE CONTRACTOR WAS REMOVING THE SHORING PILINGS, THE SACRIFICIAL PILING WAS FUSED TO THE REMOVED PILING WHICH CAUSED THE SACRIFICIAL PILLING TO CUT INTO THE PIPELINE. OVER TIME AND MOVEMENTS THE PIPE FAILED FROM THE STRESS AND PUNCTURE. A SACRIFICIAL PILING IS A PILING THAT STAYS IN PLACE UNDER THE PIPELINE. THE SHORING PILINGS WERE INSTALLED TO PROVIDED WORKER SAFETY INSIDE THE BORING HOLE OF 19 FEET DEEP. THE PILINGS WERE REMOVED BY THE CONTRACTOR TO RECOVER A RE USABLE ASSET.