An unplanned escape of fuel oil on a property has occurred – now what? Whether fuel oil is released from an indoor or outdoor storage tank or other means, it can cause significant property damage and contamination to the environment. A fuel oil spill must be reported and action must be taken to remediate the spill as soon as possible.
In Ontario, all pollution and spills must be reported to the Spills Action Centre, who then notifies the appropriate regulating bodies. If the spill has impacted the subject property only, the regulating body will be the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). However, if the spill has migrated off-site, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservations and Parks (MECP) will be involved. The regulating body will issue an Order to the property owner instructing the remediation of the spill. It is important that the subject fuel oil tank remain undisturbed until the TSSA is provided the opportunity to attend the property and inspect the tank. If emergency efforts warrant the disturbance of the tank, it must be retained for inspection by the TSSA. From an insurance perspective, it is imperative that the fuel oil tank be preserved or stored off-site for future examination to determine the cause of the fuel oil escape for subrogation purposes.
It is vital that a qualified professional be retained to assess the environmental impact and provide a remedial action plan to remove and/or treat the contamination. Roar Engineering can assist you every step of the way. Our experts will attend the property expeditiously to provide direction regarding emergency cleanup activities to mitigate further spillage and environmental impact. We will accurately delineate the contamination plume to provide you with the exact scope of remedial work. We will also supervise and direct all remediation activities and conduct testing throughout the process. In addition, Roar Engineering will complete a clearance assessment and testing to confirm that the remediation has been successful. Our experts provide detailed updates and reports throughout the project and will issue a final report to satisfy the Order issued to the homeowner.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and remediation guidelines are provided under Ontario Regulation 153/04 of the Environmental Protection Act. Roar Engineering conducts all remedial work in accordance with O.Reg. 153/04 and will provide a remedial action plan to ensure that the site complies with the Ministry of the Environment guidelines, “Soil, Ground Water and Sediment Standards for Use Under Part XV.1 of the Environmental Protection Act”.
Dealing with a fuel oil spill? Contact Roar Engineering for assistance from start to finish of the environmental remediation.
Unsure whether a remediation was done properly? Roar Engineering also completes comprehensive reviews of past remediations to confirm that all work was conducted in accordance with applicable regulations and that no contamination remains.
For more information, contact Victoria Rochon, P.Eng., MBA at victoriarochon@roarengineering.com.
