Agent-X is made of two layers of a geotextile fabric with Oil Solidifying Polymers embedded between the layers. This hybrid creates a filtration fabric that encapsulates hydrocarbons and forces them to unsaturated areas of the geotextile fabric. Agent-X is hydrophobic, which allows water to pass… Read More
Request More Information
Articles
Agricultural facilities often utilize a variety of chemicals common to the industry, including pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides. If improperly stored, these chemicals can potentially damage assets or injure personnel. Secondary containment and spill control equipment can provide agricultural facilities with the containment measures they need… Read More
Spill containment berms are designed to provide reliable secondary containment and spill control in a variety of applications. Because berms are typically designed to perform in particular working contexts, it’s important to consider design differences before selecting a berm. One design feature that affects both… Read More
According to an overview of clean energy from the U.S. Department of Energy, green and renewable energy industries are expected to continue to grow over the course of the next several years. Green energy facilities are subject to the same EPA and SPCC requirements as… Read More
Oil solidifying polymers are an innovative and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional oil spill clean-up methods. Oil solidifying polymers from Basic Concepts are designed to bond with a broad spectrum of hydrocarbons ranging from low-end gasoline to heavy crude oil. Oil solidifying polymers are an innovative… Read More
Secondary containment equipment is designed to help prevent leaks and spills from primary containment units from entering navigable waterways, harming personnel or damaging assets. A wide range of secondary containment options can provide regulatory compliance and help keep your facility protected. In addition to reliable… Read More
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed The Clean Water Act in 1972. This regulatory initiative applies to facilities in a wide range of industries. As outlined by the original legislation, the goal of the Clean Water Act is to prevent contaminants, such as oil or… Read More
A variety of industries often require generators to supply emergency power in the event of a power outage. Generators typically utilize fuel liquids—such as diesel, gasoline or oil—to supply power. These liquids can have a deleterious impact on the environment if not properly contained. A… Read More
An electric utility in metropolitan New York City utilizes concrete secondary containment moats in substations throughout its vast network. Following storms with heavy rain fall, the moats filled with large volumes of water. This water needed to be evacuated. Strict SPCC guidelines and state and… Read More
Secondary oil containment around transformers is critical for capturing oil spills and protecting the environment. SPCC regulations provide guidance for containing oil-filled equipment. The rule specifies sizing oil containment systems to contain the contents of the largest vessel – or in this case, the transformer… Read More
Substation transformer failures have the potential to release large amounts of oil, which can pollute the environment and damage plant and animal life. Any incident of this nature draws negative media coverage and results in costly cleanup operations. A power utility in Brooklyn experienced this… Read More
By the end of 2018, the total installed capacity of wind power in the United States reached more than 96,000 MW. Wind power is now a major segment of the sustainable power sector with the ability to supply the needs of 24 million homes. Currently, there… Read More
The United States solar industry is booming. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, it boasts an annual average growth rate of 59 percent over the last decade. Utility scale projects accounted for 59 percent of new solar installations in 2017, and should continue at… Read More
Oil solidifiers, like BCI’s Oil Solidifying Polymers (formerly known as C.I.Agent), are composed of dry, high molecular weight polymers that have a porous matrix and large oleophilic (strong affinity for oil rather than water) surface area. Upon contact with oil, the oil solidifiers form a… Read More
An Illinois utility used the EVAC Filtration System to assist in the dewatering of vaults and manholes in the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The EVAC System uses state-of-the-art filtration technology to remove suspended solids and light sheen from water discharge operations. An Illinois utility… Read More
When a frac tank full of oily waste had to be emptied, the EPA used the EVAC Filtration System to dewater it. Not only were hydrocarbons captured and sediment removed, the EVAC System cost only a fraction of the use of a vacuum truck, saving… Read More
Throughout the years of providing secondary containment systems and solutions for utility companies, we’ve realized that the only constant in the design of Geomembrane Liner with Barrier Boom systems is that there is no constant. Each site is unique, and requires a customized solution. Throughout the… Read More
Customer Question: “Can we use your secondary oil containment systems even if we need to drive our maintenance trucks, equipment and vehicles into the containment area?” Answer: We hear this question often, generally regarding older substations that need to be retrofitted for secondary oil containment systems. Routine maintenance… Read More
Concrete containment is a fairly common permanent solution used by utility companies to prevent a transformer oil leak from polluting the ground, and offers some obvious benefits when used for secondary containment. It is strong and durable, and requires low maintenance. It has a long… Read More
We all want to do our part in taking care of this wonderful, sustainable eco-system known as Earth. As Halloween approaches and a kaleidoscope of colorful leaves slip toward the ground, we are reminded that our time wandering over her landscapes will be brief, in… Read More
Deciding what sort of secondary containment to implement at your facility to comply with SPCC regulations can be tricky. There are many options available, and all have advantages as well as tradeoffs. Some companies choose to utilize solutions that have a more “natural” appeal, such… Read More
An electric utility installed a 60 mil HDPE liner and sump pump for secondary containment at a transformer pit. A few months later, a site inspector checked the pit’s sump can. Surprisingly, it contained no water. With an impervious liner system, water should only be… Read More
Anyone with children is familiar with the story of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears,” in which a young girl named Goldilocks stumbles into a house owned by three bears. She brazenly attempts to make herself comfortable by sitting in their chairs, laying in their beds,… Read More
Below-grade secondary containment solutions are able to remove two of the three elements in transformer and substation fire situations. Transformer fires are of serious concern, as they seem to happen more and more. Perhaps this is in part due to aging equipment in older substations,… Read More
Substation transformers should provide uninterrupted power flow. But, age, time and ever-increasing energy demands may cause problems. A major Texas utility discovered severe infrastructure issues with one of its substations. These issues could compromise its performance and reliability. After weighing the options, the utility decided to… Read More
The oil and gas industry processes large volumes of flammable and hazardous materials. This industrial sector has stringent safety and environmental controls. But, incidents still occur. Refineries, drilling rigs, pipeline networks and dispensers must all be equipped and prepared to handle spills and releases. News… Read More
Hazmat incidents are highly specialized events requiring trained responders with the right equipment. A hospital in Massachusetts admitted a patient who exhibited signs of exposure to a hazardous chemical. A decon team was called. They found the root cause to be pesticide exposure. To be… Read More
Fertilizers are an essential ingredient to successful agriculture. In soil, the right amount of fertilizer is healthy. But, too much fertilizer contaminates the environment. It has the potential to migrate into surface water damaging aquatic life. Water containing spilled fertilizer is unfit for human consumption.… Read More
Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) storage areas are common in the manufacturing industry and government facilities. POL products keep equipment and vehicles running and in good condition. This creates the need for storage close to operating and maintenance areas. But, storing IBCs, drums or totes… Read More
Managing spills on construction sites is difficult, especially in remote areas. Every site is, by nature, temporary and evolving. The EPA developed a planning guide to help construction companies understand applicable regulations. This resource also provides guidance on what they must do to comply. Managing spills… Read More