Railroad Fueling

Small Spills = Large Problems: A Look into Fueling Best Practices for the Railroad
Industry

Fact – fuel contains toxic substances. Thus, fuel spills can have a decidedly negative
impact on the environment. Specifically, with regard to diesel fuel use in the
transportation industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has strict regulations in
place to help prevent the contamination of water and soil during fueling.

Companies that encounter frequent or consistent refueling, like those in the railroad
industry, need to take precautionary measures to both minimize and manage spills when they
occur. According to the Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC), these companies
should consider the following three-pronged approach:

1. Fueling area construction – TERC suggests several tips forconstructing
   a fueling area that is designed to contain any spills:
   
   • Create curbs or berms around the perimeter of the fueling area.
   • Install a cover over the fueling area to help prevent runoff from washing away
     spilled fuel.
   • Design the fueling area to contain at least 110 percent of the tank’s volume.
2. Proper fueling procedures – With the proper equipment, employee
   training and protocols in place, fueling operations can allow for better spill prevention
   and management. TERC notes to consider the following best practices:
   
   • Equip dispensing hoses with automatic shutoff valves.
   • Ensure workers are trained in proper fueling, maintenance and spill-management
     procedures.
   • Post signs instructing fuel pump operators not to overfill gas tanks or leave tanks
     unattended while fueling.
3. Spill management – Even when fueling areas are properly constructed and
   fueling procedures closely followed, fuel spills will still occur. TERC suggests companies
   prepare for spill management by implementing the following guidelines:
   
   • Create an emergency response plan and ensure employees are aware of procedures.
   • Post a summary of the response plan at the fueling station, including critical
     information such as the names of clean-up coordinators, the location of clean-up
     materials, and who to contact in case of a spill.
   • Keep supplies such as rubber mats, drain plugs or temporary berms in the fueling
     area so storm drains can be blocked immediately if faced with a spill.
   • For small spills, instruct operators to cover the fuel with absorbent pads or other
     absorbent material and ensure the absorbent materials used are properly disposed of.
   • Instruct operators to clean up every spill, immediately, to prevent fuel from
     washing down a drain or evaporating.
   • Install catch basins on either side of and between rails to collect fuel spills and
     help prevent soil contamination.

Additionally, as related to the final point above regarding the installation of catch
basins, since catch basins often also collect rain along with spilled fuel, railroad fueling
facilities may also want to consider installing a device on the basin that will then
separate the water and fuel, and also remove the fuel from the water.

Installing a device that separates and removes fuel from the basin, such as a tube-type oil
skimmer, ensures that remaining water is suitable for discharge into a sewer system.

How does skimming work?

Tube-type oil skimmers feature a
floating, closed-loop tube that skims the wastewater’s surface. Oil/fuel adheres to the
outside of the tube and is drawn into the oil skimmer and through ceramic scrapers that
remove the oil/fuel. The tube then returns to the water’s surface to collect more oil/fuel,
while the recovered oil/fuel flows to a collection container.

For more information on how tube-type oil skimming solutions can remove fuel from water at
your fueling facility, contact us today at
info@oilskim.com or 800.200.4603.

For the Railroad industry, or any industry, download the white paper, “The
Challenges of Removing Surface (Free-Floating) Oil” to understand your oil
removal options.