Compliant petroleum storage is one of the most pressing threats to our vulnerable ecosystems. According to the Department of Energy, every year, about 1.3 million gallons of petroleum products find their way to U.S. waterways by inadvertent discharge or accidental spillage. Most of these unintended discharges result from mismanaged or leaky pipelines and maritime vessels. Perhaps most troubling is the amount of ticking time bombs lurking beneath our surface, as the EPA estimates that 500,000 underground petroleum storage tanks nationwide have leaks. At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, disaster mitigation is our guiding philosophy. Our fire-rated petroleum storage warehouses come equipped with innovative spill sump containment systems to ensure your base of operations never pollutes the communities you serve.
Sherwin-Williams Plant Spills 100 Gallons of Diesel Fuel
Sherwin-Williams is a household name for any DIY’er. Nearly every homeowner looking to spruce up their homes with a fresh coat of paint has turned to the national paint retailer to revitalize drab and listless interiors. Unfortunately, the longstanding paint and wall covering supplier recently made the news for a sizeable environmental incursion. The Cleveland (Ohio) Division of fire says about 100 gallons of diesel fuel from the company’s manufacturing plant made its way into the Cuyahoga River. Fire officials said a generator from the Sherwin-Williams Breen Technology Center spilled the diesel fuel into a storm drain at 9 a.m. By playing damage control, plant officials were successful in limiting most of the breach with brooms and skimmers.
How Petroleum Contamination Impacts the Environment
Oil mixes with water worse than fire and gasoline. At least with petroleum fires and explosions, the impact is more immediate and visible. Petroleum pollution into waterways and streams can happen over longer intervals before discovery. By the time the leak was discovered, the damage had been done. Petroleum spills can harm organisms that live on or beneath the surface of streams, rivers, and lakes. Non-lethal toxic effects can be more subtle and longer lasting. Looking more at the larger picture, petroleum exposure can result in the degradation of coastlines and reefs. Destruction of animal habitats and reproduction systems can harm the entire food chain.
Avoid Fines With Compliant Petroleum Storage
While we would never downplay the effects of non-compliant petroleum storage on the environment, there’s also a financial incentive to consider. Fines as the result of improper petroleum storage can cause irreparable financial harm to otherwise stable companies. Negative publicity from these fines could impact your ability to cultivate future clients and sales. Our fire-rated chemical storage lockers can prevent debilitating spills thus preserving your bottom line and good standing in the community. Each chemical storage locker from U.S. Hazmat Rentals is outfitted with an innovative sump containment system. Each sump is situated on the bottom of the storage locker beneath steel-grated flooring. In the event of a petroleum spill or leak, the product will fall through the flooring into the sump where it will remain until safe extraction can occur.
Our spill containment systems epitomize leak-proof technology. Each steel grated floor is one-inch thick and encompasses the entire bottom of the storage locker. Capable of containing 27 percent of the total volume stored, our chemical storage lockers will prevent pollution while keeping you off the government’s radar. But there’s another reason to invest in continuous compliant petroleum storage. The safety of your employees should always be a top concern for any industrial manufacturing and processing facility. Small petroleum leaks can quickly turn into deadly fires and explosions. Protect your employees and the environment with guaranteed steel protection from U.S. Hazmat Rentals.
