Fuel Tanker Fire Incident at Figtree, NSW - Environmental monitoring and remediation advice

GHD was commissioned by ISS to provide environmental monitoring, remediation advice and respond to relevant conditions in a Clean-up Notice issued by NSW EPA.

The key challenges included:

Mobilisation to site within 2 hours of receiving commission. This time was required to gather sampling equipment and assess safety risks.

Locate and interview onsite personnel to understand details of the incident, fuel manifest of the tanker and firefighting foams used to extinguish the fire and determine if foams contained PFAS.

Carry out field observations along the length of Byarong Creek and assess the initial extent of environmental impact and access to creek for sampling.
 
Develop a field based preliminary conceptual site model to inform a sampling and analysis plan, which was executed on the night of the incident to establish baseline contaminant levels within the creek.

Deliver a comprehensive Remediation Action Report and ongoing Environmental Monitoring Plan within 2 weeks of the incident to meet NSW EPA Clean-up Notice condition response timeframes.

Baseline surface water quality results indicates petroleum hydrocarbon contamination consistent with a diesel and unleaded petroleum fuel release in Byarong Creek in the form of TRH, BTEX and PAH, exceeding ecological and recreational assessment criteria. The concentrations reported were four to five orders of magnitude greater than the ecological assessment criteria indicating light non- aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) contamination.

Surface water and sediment monitoring has been carried out Byrong Creek to monitor attenuation and effectiveness of spill absorbent equipment. Concentrations have reduced. Monitoring results will be used to determine if remediation is required.

Interim report provided to NSW EPA on time and monitoring is ongoing.