EXXON Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup
Valdez, Alaska
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RPKA provided the following services for this major cleanup project in Alaska:
Design:
- Four pump lift station and force main for the Valdez Dock
- Aerated holding tanks for floating boat-tels
- Extended aeration sludge treatment, permitting for marine discharge
- Floating wastewater treatment plant
- Treatment buffer station
- Water and sewer line extension
- Dock lift station and pretreatment facility
Planning:
- Clean lift station and pretreatment facility
- Wastewater Master Plan
- Clean Water Master Plan
Evaluation:
- Sewage pond-recovery from septic for the City of Valdez
- Septic disposal systems to handle influx of temporary population
Wastewater Master Plan
This plan included sanitary wastewater collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of surface generated effluent from both water and land based operations during the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup. The plan was completed on an accelerated schedule due to urgency of the disaster. The report identified anticipated wastewater makeup, established criteria for the amount of wastewater being generated by the cleanup population and addressed three possible alternatives for wastewater disposal. Recommendations for both short term and long term management plans were addressed.
Floating Wastewater Treatment Plant
Provided planning, design, EPA permitting, construction inspection and operation services for this floating wastewater treatment plant. A 590,000 gallon capacity barge was converted to treat up to 200,000 gallons of wastewater per day. The floating treatment plant was constructed to minimize the honey bucket vessels trip time to Valdez and prevent overloading of the Valdez wastewater treatment plant. It was anchored in a deep bay off of Knight Island in Prince William Sound and met secondary discharge standards. RPKA provided a full time operator for maintenance, metering, record keeping, and wastewater testing.
Clean Water Master Plan
This plan established guidelines for manufacturing, supplying, transporting and treating potable water for both water and land-based operations for the Exxon Valdez cleanup. The plan was completed in accordance to AAC Title 18, Chapter 80 of the State of Alaska. The report addressed surface water extraction including creeks, streams, ponds, and shallow wells less than 30 feet deep. A three stage permitting process was established to streamline and accelerate construction and operation of potable water supplies for the rapidly growing cleanup operations. Criteria was provided for offshore supply vessels that transported potable water to floating operations.
Inspection and Inventory
During the peak period of activity for the Exxon Valdez oil spill, berthing vessels, showers, and decontamination barges were inspected for wastewater management practices. Each vessel was inspected and cataloged according to one of three categories. Class I vessels serviced the Honey Bucket Fleet. Class II vessels had on-board treatment systems and Class III vessels consisted of shower and decontamination barges and were serviced by the Honey Bucket Fleet. Each vessel was inspected for number of persons, holding tanks capacity, service schedule and overall plumbing configuration. The study was completed to determine the average wastewater generated by each person during the cleanup operation. The entire fleet consisted of 45 vessels and approximately 4,200 people producing 260,000 gallons of wastewater per day.
Floating Aerated Treatment
RPKA completed permitting, design, construction administration, and operation monitoring for floating treatment cells located in Valdez. The float cells treated wastewater and oily bilge water from support vessels during the 1989 oil spill. The cells were portable and could be barged to needed locations. Special oil digesting bacteria was used until discharge standards were met.
Client: Exxon USA
Mr. Dan Lawn, Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Completion Date: 1989
Project Engineer/Geotechnical Engineer: Rodney P. Kinney, Jr., P.E.