LARGE VOLUME ETHANOL SPILLS – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND RESPONSE OPTIONS Prepared for: Prepared by: Shaw’s Environmental and Infrastructure Group 11 Northeastern Boulevard Salem, New Hampshire 03079 July 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The project team instrumental in the development of this document includes the following from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP): Nick Child, Central Regional Office, Chief Emergency Response; Dan Crafton, Southeast Regional Office, Chief Emergency Response; Kingsley Ndi, Northeast Regional Office, Chief Emergency Response; David Slowick, Western Regional Office, Chief Emergency Response; Albe Simenas, Boston Office, Chief Emergency Response; and the following from Shaw: Joanne Perwak; Guy Gallello; Vikas Tandon; Dorothy Small; and Charles Schaefer. MassDEP would also like to acknowledge the support and assistance of numerous government agencies and other parties in the development of this report. Local Level Blackstone Fire Department, MA Blackstone Emergency Management, MA Fitchburg Fire Department, MA Everett Fire Department, MA Woonsocket Fire Department, HazMat and Training Divisions Providence Fire Department, RI New London Fire Department, CT Mystic Fire Department, CT State Level Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Emergency Response Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Field Assessment Support Team Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Research and Standards Massachusetts Department of Fire Service, Hazmat Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Massachusetts State Police Hazmat/Tactical Operations/IMAT Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Emergency Response Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Emergency Response Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Alternate Transportation Program/Mass Clean Cities Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Massachusetts State Emergency Response Commission Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Emergency Response Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Emergency Response Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Connecticut Fire Academy Connecticut State Emergency Response Commission Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (state), Emergency Response i Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Emergency Response Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (state), Emergency Response USF&WS, Environmental Contamination Program, Illinois, USF&WS Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Emergency Response Federal USEPA Region 1, Emergency Planning and Response USEPA Region 1, Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act Mike Brazel, NIMS/HazMat Coordinator, US FEMA Federal Railroad Administration, HazMat Division US DOT US Coast Guard, Marine Safety Lab US Coast Guard, Waterways Management, Sector Boston US Coast Guard/National Office of Atmosphere Scientific Support Coordinator, Sector Boston Private Sector/Other Renewable Fuels Association Providence & Worcester Railroad, Rules and Safety Motiva Providence, New England Complex Husky Energy Refinery - NW Ohio, Emergency Response ExxonMobil, Everett, MA Central Mass Homeland Security Advisory Council ii iii Table of Contents ________________________________________________ Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Scope of Document .............................................................................................................. 1-1 2.0 Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Ethanol/Gasoline Blends ............................................... 2-1 2.1 Physical/Chemical Properties ............................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 DOT Placards ....................................................................................................................... 2-3 3.0 Summary of Case Studies .............................................................................................................. 3-1 4.0 Fate and Transport Characteristics ................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Ethanol Migration Pathways ................................................................................................. 4-2 4.2 Ethanol Degradation Rates .................................................................................................. 4-2 4.3 Methane Generation in Soil/Groundwater ............................................................................ 4-3 4.4 Ethanol Partitioning Between Environmental Media ............................................................. 4-3 4.5 Media Fate and Transport Characteristics ............................................................................ 4-3 4.5.1 Soil .......................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.5.2 Groundwater ............................................................................................................ 4-5 4.5.3 Surface Water ......................................................................................................... 4-8 4.5.4 Air/Vapor ............................................................................................................... 4-11 5.0 Health Effects and Environmental Risks ......................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Environmental Risks – Fire and Explosion ........................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Potential Exposure Pathways in Spill Situations ................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Human Health Effects ........................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3.1 Short-Term (Acute) Effects ...................................................................................... 5-2 5.3.2 Long-Term (Chronic) Effects ................................................................................... 5-3 5.3.3 Health Protective Concentrations ............................................................................ 5-4 5.4 Environmental Effects ........................................................................................................... 5-5 5.4.1 Aquatic Systems ...................................................................................................... 5-5 5.4.2 Terrestrial Systems.................................................................................................. 5-7 5.5 Health and Safety Considerations for Responders ............................................................... 5-9 5.5.1 Recognizing Product Spilled .................................................................................... 5-9 5.5.2 Exposure Limits ....................................................................................................... 5-9 5.5.3 Protective Clothing ................................................................................................ 5-10 5.5.4 Other Health and Safety Considerations ............................................................... 5-10 6.0 Spill Assessment and Delineation ................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Field Sampling ...................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Screening Methods............................................................................................................... 6-2 6.3 Analytical Methods ............................................................................................................... 6-6 7.0 Response Options .......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 General Description .............................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1.1 Short Term Response Priorities .............................................................................. 7-1 7.1.2 Longer Term Response Priorities ............................................................................ 7-2 7.2 Media Specific Options ......................................................................................................... 7-2 7.2.1 Soil .......................................................................................................................... 7-2 iv 7.2.2 Groundwater ............................................................................................................ 7-5 7.2.3 Surface water .......................................................................................................... 7-6 7.2.4 Wetlands ................................................................................................................. 7-9 7.2.5 Marine Areas ......................................................................................................... 7-10 8.0 References ..................................................................................................................................... 8-1