Fuel Oil Spill in Basement-Need Help

camp guy · 06-01-2016, 10:03 AM

About the only positive that is coming out of this event is that you are so willing and capable to document your proceeding for us. This is a textbook in the making. Thank you, Cate, VERY much for doing this.

I am sure you are not feeling particularly good about the whole mess right now, but those following this event through your postings are sure getting a very valuable lesson.

ITD · 06-01-2016, 06:02 PM

Take your time, drag your feet on signing stuff off. Were it me I would insist on any contaminated soil under the slab be removed. Your nose is a great sensor for fuel oil. Use it and don't be bashful. I hope this gets resolved for you.

secondcurve · 06-01-2016, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camp guy

About the only positive that is coming out of this event is that you are so willing and capable to document your proceeding for us. This is a textbook in the making. Thank you, Cate, VERY much for doing this.

I am sure you are not feeling particularly good about the whole mess right now, but those following this event through your postings are sure getting a very valuable lesson.

Agreed Camp Guy. Thanks Cate for educating everyone and good luck reaching a solution that brings you back to where you were pre-spill.

SAMIAM · 06-02-2016, 08:51 AM

A mistake was made and you handled it well. You should be made whole without any cost to yourself.
Don't worry, be happy !

Descant · 06-02-2016, 10:55 AM

I appreciate the details that you're posting. I see reports of how many spills, average clean up time and cost, but we don't get a refresher on the day to day aggravation and activity required from the homeowner or business owner who has to go through such a clean up. Keep it coming.

CateP · 06-02-2016, 04:01 PM

There was a crack in the cement floor that they took a core drill from to see if it went through the entire 4 inches of concrete. It did. If you have any cracks in the floor of a fuel oil spill they should be thoroughly investigated.

As a result of the crack going through the cement, the surface below has to be excavated and tested for contamination. These soil samples are sent to the DES for testing by an independent lab. (Not to be paranoid, but I would monitor these soil collections to make sure they are taking them from the potentially contaminated area and not some far off place where contamination is unlikely. Again--time=$$ to the insurance company)

In my case, the gravel is being vacuumed out and put in hazardous waste barrels. (What ever happens to those barrels, I wonder?) Right now we have a hole in the basement that is 3 feet deep and about 6 six feet in circumference. It's getting larger by the hour. The furnace is being suspended from the ceiling as is the water tank with big straps and heavy duty hangers. Nothing underneath as the cement has been jack hammered away. Pretty incredible to see. I'll post a picture later.

Important note:I work from home so I am able to monitor this whole procedure and ask questions. I would recommend anyone in this same situation find a way to be home or find someone who can be there on your behalf.

Jersey Ed · 06-02-2016, 05:46 PM

Those filled barrels will be taken away and disposed of by the company doing your remediation work or another company they hire to do the disposal. My son works for such a company here in NJ. They travel all over the northeast picking up and disposing of these barrels and other hazardous waste. You can be assured that they will be properly disposed of and not just dumped along the roadside somewhere.

06-01-2016, 10:03 AM	#1
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,224 Thanks: 317 Thanked 560 Times in 310 Posts	Oil spill About the only positive that is coming out of this event is that you are so willing and capable to document your proceeding for us. This is a textbook in the making. Thank you, Cate, VERY much for doing this. I am sure you are not feeling particularly good about the whole mess right now, but those following this event through your postings are sure getting a very valuable lesson.

06-02-2016, 10:55 AM	#5
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,600 Thanks: 1,419 Thanked 1,705 Times in 1,109 Posts	Details I appreciate the details that you're posting. I see reports of how many spills, average clean up time and cost, but we don't get a refresher on the day to day aggravation and activity required from the homeowner or business owner who has to go through such a clean up. Keep it coming.

06-02-2016, 04:01 PM	#6
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Update There was a crack in the cement floor that they took a core drill from to see if it went through the entire 4 inches of concrete. It did. If you have any cracks in the floor of a fuel oil spill they should be thoroughly investigated. As a result of the crack going through the cement, the surface below has to be excavated and tested for contamination. These soil samples are sent to the DES for testing by an independent lab. (Not to be paranoid, but I would monitor these soil collections to make sure they are taking them from the potentially contaminated area and not some far off place where contamination is unlikely. Again--time=$$ to the insurance company) In my case, the gravel is being vacuumed out and put in hazardous waste barrels. (What ever happens to those barrels, I wonder?) Right now we have a hole in the basement that is 3 feet deep and about 6 six feet in circumference. It's getting larger by the hour. The furnace is being suspended from the ceiling as is the water tank with big straps and heavy duty hangers. Nothing underneath as the cement has been jack hammered away. Pretty incredible to see. I'll post a picture later. Important note:I work from home so I am able to monitor this whole procedure and ask questions. I would recommend anyone in this same situation find a way to be home or find someone who can be there on your behalf.

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The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to camp guy For This Useful Post:
CateP (06-02-2016), Jersey Ed (06-02-2016), secondcurve (06-01-2016), Slickcraft (06-01-2016)

06-01-2016, 06:02 PM	#2
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,954 Thanks: 484 Thanked 704 Times in 394 Posts	Take your time, drag your feet on signing stuff off. Were it me I would insist on any contaminated soil under the slab be removed. Your nose is a great sensor for fuel oil. Use it and don't be bashful. I hope this gets resolved for you.

The Following User Says Thank You to secondcurve For This Useful Post:
CateP (06-02-2016)

06-02-2016, 08:51 AM	#4
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,937 Thanks: 349 Thanked 1,708 Times in 602 Posts	A mistake was made and you handled it well. You should be made whole without any cost to yourself. Don't worry, be happy !

The Following User Says Thank You to Descant For This Useful Post:
ApS (06-03-2016)

The Following User Says Thank You to CateP For This Useful Post:
DBreskin (06-04-2016)

06-02-2016, 05:46 PM	#7
Jersey Ed Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 24 Thanks: 231 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Those filled barrels will be taken away and disposed of by the company doing your remediation work or another company they hire to do the disposal. My son works for such a company here in NJ. They travel all over the northeast picking up and disposing of these barrels and other hazardous waste. You can be assured that they will be properly disposed of and not just dumped along the roadside somewhere.