Groundwater contamination posed by Tanapag oil, fuel tank

One of the six oil and fuel tanks in Tanapag set for removal may have already contaminated groundwater within the area, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA Region IX field representative Michelle Rogow stressed, though, that this is not official yet as EPA and the Division of Environmental Quality would still have to analyze samples of groundwater from the area. Results would be obtained in three to four weeks.

During yesterday’s Rotary Club of Saipan meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, Rogow said the tank that could have contaminated the Tanapag groundwater is Tank No. 13.

In other tanks, she said the groundwater condition showed no contamination since there were no oil and fuel found inside them before the dismantling.

Of the 19 World War II-era oil tanks, three tanks have already been removed from the area. Rogow showed some photos of this project during her presentation yesterday.

Called “Changing Tanapag: One Tank at a Time,” Rogow’s presentation broke down the funding for the project. For a total cost of $570,000, about $185,000 comes from a grant for DEQ; $185,000 came from EPA Federal Facilities; $110,000 from the EPA’s Formerly Used Defense Sites program; and $100,000 from the EPA Removal Program.

FUEL FARM GOALS

Rogow said there are four major fuel farm goals for this project. One is to remove tanks with the most oil contamination and to provide training and learning opportunities for environmental officers in the CNMI. Next is to recycle, reuse, and dispose of materials locally in accordance with environmental regulations and utilize possible island resources for the benefit of the CNMI and its environment.

Tanks that were removed include those that were near residential homes in Tanapag. Tanks that had the largest degree of contamination were also highly considered.

The project eventually included the removal of oil, sludge, and contaminated soils.

Rogow said the project started in September 2005 with the project scoping. In October of the same year, EPA held a Health and Safety Training for DEQ staff and officers. From October 2005 to March 2006, both offices developed a work plan for the project.

She said that EPA also had to undergo a permit application process in the CNMI in December 2005, then in January 2006 the CNMI granted the permit to EPA to proceed with the project.

Rogow said EPA and DEQ are hoping that the removal of the six major tanks would be completed in June.

TANK STATUS

Tanks 10, 14, 12, 13, 4, and 6 are highly prioritized since they are larger and considered to be 10,000-barrel tanks.

Tank No. 10 used to be located behind the property owned by Cynthia Martin in Tanapag. Municipal solid waste, oil sludge and contaminated soil were the concerns with this tank. There were 19.46 tons of scrap metal removed from this tank for recycling; 64.65 tons of contaminated soils were disposed of; 46.67 tons of soil were sent for landfill cover in Marpi; and, 45 tons of municipal solid waste were totally removed from Tank No. 10. The removal was completed last May 13.

Tank No. 14 used to stand on the property of Alejandro Falig and there were oil sludge, oily water, contaminated soil, and vegetation found in the tank. EPA measured the disturbance area to within 20,000 square feet.

Work done in this tank included heavy vegetation clearance and creating an access road from Middle Road to avoid homes, with the assistance of the Department of Public Works.

The tank was completely removed and 21.65 tons of scrap metal was forwarded to a recycling company in the CNMI. There were 206.75 tons of contaminated soils for disposal. Excavated soils from the area are now waiting to be transported to the landfill for cover. Rogow said site restoration is still being completed as of this time.

Tank No. 12 was also successfully removed from the property owned by Jemma Falig. Oil, oily water, sludge and contaminated soil were the concerns in this tank. EPA again measured the disturbance area to be within 20,000 square feet.

The tank provided 22.45 tons of scrap metal for recycling and its contaminated soil will now to be disposed while excavation is still needed in the area. The site will still have to be restored.

Tank No. 13, considered to be the most intact tank after 50 years, was the most tedious to tear down, said Rogow. She said the oil tank had to be removed “piece by piece” during the dismantling process.

As of yesterday, the EPA and the DEQ were still trying to finish the complete removal of scraps from the tank. Concerns in this tank included oil, oily water and contaminated soil. In this area, the team had to create oil and water pumping and separation facilities.

The plan would pump out oily water into the separation area and the water would be sent to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Sadog Tasi plant. An estimated 10,000 gallons of oily water were removed from Tank No. 13.

TWO TANKS TO GO

As of yesterday, there are two more tanks left for the project, said Rogow, Tanks No. 4 and 6.

Tank No. 4 is on a public land behind the property of a certain Pangelinan family. Only vegetation and oil sludge are the major concern with this tank but the potential disturbance area measures some 32,000 square feet. Rogow said the team started the removal process for this tank only yesterday.

As for Tank No. 6, located at another public land near the Naog residence, showed overgrown vegetation inside the tank where there is also oil and oily water. This tank also has the same potential disturbance with Tank No. 4 of 32,000 square feet.