By Merrill E. Bishop, President Trans Environmental Systems, Inc.
 |
| Forklift Transportable Spill Containment pan in use. |
To prevent contaminating the groundwater and soil around their tank unloading sites, Buffalo Color needed spill containment pans. Rail sidings make it a difficult task to install permanent track spill pans and, moreover, the railroads would not spot tankcars in the proper place so the plant workers would have to relocate some of their pump-off equipment every time a different tankcar was delivered. They needed containment pans that could be relocated to wherever the tankcars ended up.
They selected the unique, patented Forklift Transportable Spill Containment pans made by Trans Environmental Systems, Inc. of Charlottesville, Virginia, for the job. Not only did these containment pans actually hold a liquid spill (approximately 300 US gallons), they were equipped with NPT hose connection hubs so that this portable pan could be connected to a full volume containment vessel, or moat, to comply with the US EPA 40 CFR 112 regulation on Spill Prevention, Containment and Countermeasures (SPCC).
These track pans have the additional benefit that they can be closed up between uses and not collect rainwater or need to have snow removed from them. The model FLT has large, hinged flap panels that close over the top for storage yet open out to protect an area 10 ft. by 12 ft. These containment pans weigh only 1,600 lbs. and can be easily maneuvered by light duty forklift trucks. The Model FLT, when closed, is only 10 ft. by 6 ft. and they are designed to be stacked outside for storage.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
The latest environmental engineering news direct to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Buffalo Color uses three of these Forklift Transportable track pans either under the received tankcars or under tanker trucks to keep any accidental release from contaminating the ground or requiring expensive cleaning of a concrete slab. The Trans Environmental Systems pans have saved hundreds of man-hours of cleanup, rainwater pumping, and snow removal over the last five years. For more information visit www. transenvsys.com