Skip to content

Tag Archives: Fuel Tanks

Department emergency responder investigates apparent petroleum sheen on Mountain Grove creek

A department Environmental Emergency Responder investigated the discovery of an apparent petroleum sheen on a Mountain Grove creek that drains into Whetstone Creek in Wright County on January 26.

Mountain Grove Fire Department contacted the department late Thursday afternoon regarding the discovery when personnel noticed the sheen combined with a strong petroleum odor.

Upstream of the incident, the responder observed approximately one half inch of free phase red dye diesel in the above ground storage (AST) containment at a local petroleum facility. A storm water culvert runs directly underneath the AST containment and surfaces above ground approximately 300 feet from that location.

The responder requested the potential responsible party pump out the remaining 300-350 gallons of diesel fuel and water from the AST containment. The company is maintaining absorbent pad and booms on the creek.

The department will work closely with the potential responsible party on an excavation strategy to help determine if the petroleum impact to the waterway is a result of a previously opened valve or if the AST containment is compromised providing a direct downward path to the water exists.

The Environmental Emergency Responder will conduct further investigation. The Environmental Emergency Response section is called to the scene of more than 300 emergencies each year, including fires, traffic accidents, leaking storage tanks and other incidents that could have a negative environmental impact. The department’s 24-hour spill line receives more than 1,600 incident reports annually.

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the spill line at (573) 634-2436. For more information about the program visit Environmental Emergency Response.

Posted on Jan 27, 2012

What has Missouri’s hazardous waste been up to?

There’s hazardous waste in Missouri? You betcha. More than you may think.

Thankfully, the department has a program, the Hazardous Waste Program, that deals with hazardous waste on a daily basis. 

Want to know what the program is doing to protect Missourians and the environment from these hazards? Check out the latest issue of the Hazardous Waste Management Commission Quarterly Report.

It’s actually a lot more interesting than the name might let on – lots of color photos and descriptions of sites from across the state. You never know, there may be a feature on the old gas station or empty lot just down the road from your house.

Topics in the July through September report include:

  • How engineering controls work and when they are used.
  • A grant to conduct environmental assessments for abandoned gas stations along Route 66.
  • The program’s involvement with sites in Rogersville, Trenton, Kansas City and St. Louis.
Posted on Jan 04, 2012

Northwest Missouri, Missouri River flood response

On Oct. 14, the Environmental Emergency Response Section (EER), the Buchanan County Emergency Management Director, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) conducted a flyover of the Missouri River.  The primary mission of the flyover was to identify any abandoned or orphaned hazardous materials containers.  This information gathering event will enable EER to develop a reconnaissance plan to retrieve any containers in and around the floodway.  The MSHP provided a fixed wing aircraft for the flight.  On Oct. 19-20, EER On-Scene Coordinators from the Kansas City Regional area conducted ground reconnaissance of the containers identified during the Oct. 14 flight.  Less than fifteen containers have been identified as being left behind by the flood waters.  The containers are of sizes varying from small propane cylinders up to a 10,000-gallon underground tank.  The containers are mostly empty.  EER will be working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on recovery and disposal of these orphaned containers
The department urges citizens in flood-prone areas to secure propane tanks properly and mark the tanks to help identify them and avoid safety problems prior to flooding. 

Information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding propane tanks and agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

 and Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

 For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site. 

 Visit the department’s Natural Disaster Resources for more information regarding disasters and disaster resources.

Posted on Nov 03, 2011

Environmental Emergency Response to Howard County trailer fire

The Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Emergency Response Section was called out Oct. 25 to a Howard County trailer home fire after several first responders took ill while fighting the fire.

The department’s 24-hour environmental emergency hotline was contacted shortly before 3 a.m. by Brian Kunze, Howard County Emergency Management Director, regarding a fire at a house trailer located in southern rural Howard County.  According to local officials, several responders may have suffered health effects from potential exposure to unknown materials at the scene and required medial attention.  

Mr. Kunze requested assistance with determining the presence of any hazardous materials on-site and to stabilize the scene as necessary before local and state officials continue with their fire investigation. Department responders from two regional offices were dispatched to the scene to assist with site characterization.

 

The department also contacted the Missouri National Guard’s 7th Civil Support Team, based in Jefferson City, and requested them to respond with EER staff and provide support.  Hazmat personnel set up a staging area in New Franklin to develop and implement an incident action plan.

 

Although the investigation into the fire is ongoing, the hazmat personnel have completed their initial survey and there can be no conclusions drawn at this time to identify what caused the symptoms observed in the first responders.  The Fire Marshall continues to investigate the cause of the fire.  

 

On average, the EER Section receives more than 1,500 incident calls and responds to nearly 450 hazardous substance emergencies each year. For more information on the program, visit Environmental Emergency Response.

For more information regarding hazardous waste, chemicals and debris associated with the production of methamphetamine visit Special Projects.  

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the spill line at 573-634-2436.

Posted on Nov 01, 2011

Reduce Flooding Impact – Waste Pesticides

 Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Waste Pesticides

When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Waste Pesticides

  • Protect all pesticides including any unusable or unwanted herbicides, insecticides or other pesticides from rising water or other water damage.
  • Repackage or overpack all paper bags to protect dry product from water damage.
  • Repackage or overpack older containers, liquid products or containers in poor condition to protect from water damage.
  • Use rigid plastic or metal containers to repackage or overpack containers.
  • Store pesticides damaged by water or otherwise rendered unusable for proper disposal. Do not throw pesticides into trash or dump onto ground.
  • Contact the waste pesticide collection program for information on the disposal of damaged or unusable pesticides.

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site.  

 

Posted on Aug 30, 2011

Reduce Flooding Impact – Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

  • Lock and protect valves.
  • Close and lock site gauge valves on bulk fertilizer storage tanks.
  • Inventory all stored products.
  • Accelerate or postpone shipments.
  • Prominently display firm manager’s name and telephone number.
  • Road restrictions could limit the speed at which product can be removed.
  • All agricultural chemical bulk tanks should be anchored in some manner if empty.

 

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site. 

Posted on Aug 23, 2011

Reducing Flooding Impact – Bulk Dry Fertilizer

Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Bulk Dry Fertilizer

 When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Bulk Dry Fertilizer

  • Construct barriers at flood water entrances to prevent water from entering bins.
  • Delay shipments or temporarily move product to higher ground.
  • Spring road restrictions could limit the speed at which product can be removed.

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

 

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site.

 

 

Posted on Jul 12, 2011

Reduce Flooding Impact – Pesticide Containers

Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Small Packaged Pesticide Containers

When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Small Packaged Pesticide Containers

  • Keep containers off the floor and secured.
  • Inventory products.
  • Move grain fumigants to an area not within the flood zone.
  • Move products to an area protected from flood waters and away from drains.
  • Postpone incoming shipments.

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site.  

 

Posted on Jul 11, 2011