Facility Decommissioning, Soil & Groundwater Remediation

Operating Refinery
Central California

The Source Group, Inc. was retained by an independent oil refining and marketing company to manage the decommissioning and subsurface remediation at a former oil refinery located in Bakersfield, California.

During facility decommissioning, The Source Group prepared all required planning documents, performed all required permitting, and managed the waste removal and demolition of above ground facilities. Residual hazardous wastes encountered during facility decommissioning were properly managed and disposed under The Source Group's management plan.

Wastes encountered included RCRA listed wastes such as heat exchanger bundle sludge, leaded tank bottoms (including tetra ethyl lead storage tank residuals), and API separator sludge. Other RCRA characteristic and non-RCRA wastes were managed, including asbestos containing materials, residual petroleum fluids, process chemicals, boiler ash, and mercury containing materials.

Following the removal of all above ground structures, a high capacity soil and groundwater remediation system was installed, incorporating soil vapor extraction, air sparging, and separate phase product removal. The remediation area encompassed approximately 10 acres, over which 40 nested remediation wells were installed.

The extracted vapors are being abated using the refinery's existing 20 million-btu/hour candle flare. The Source Group managed all aspects of remedial design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the remediation system.

Results: All site work was successfully performed under the requirements stipulated within a Cleanup and Abatement Order issued by the State of California, as well as a Final Judgment issued by the Kern County District Attorneys Office.

The Source Group provided a highly successful liaison role between the client (and client's counsel) and the regulatory agencies involved with the project. Due largely to our outstanding technical and management support, a highly contentious relationship between the client and regulators was transformed into a positive working relationship whereby a practical remedial approach could be developed and implemented.

Based on technical innovations, negotiations, and regulatory interaction by The Source Group personnel, the project schedule and associated costs were significantly reduced.