Minimizing Spill Damage: Before, During and After

In the heavy industries, spills are an inherent danger that pose environmental threats and disrupt normal operations for oil and gas, transportation, exploration and production and other industries.

Despite the best efforts of all involved, the fact remains that release events will occur.  

Minimizing the damage associated with these events often calls to mind images of emergency workers springing into action in the critical moments that follow the incident.

While these efforts are indeed key, the battle to prevent, minimize and repair the damages of emergency spills is actually an ongoing one that begins well before an event occurs and continues past initial containment.

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Our team of highly trained emergency responders are equipped to see you through incidents both large and small, ensuring that you meet your legal, social, safety and environmental obligations throughout a discrete and efficient process.

Ridgeline Response offers professional and timely assistance before, during and after a release event.

Ridgeline Response is your partner before, during and after a release event.

Before an Oil, Transportation, or Utility Spill Occurs

In industry, as in life, the time to prepare for a critical event is before it takes place.

We work with our clients to systematize and assess potential dangers and prepare thorough and comprehensive plans to be enacted in the event of a spill.

Through analyzing a host of criteria, and by carefully inspecting specific sites, Ridgeline Response are able to identify High Risk locations.

Through the development of spill response manuals and plans, Ridgeline Response helps our clients identify the objectives, requirements and tactics to be considered in the event of a spill.

For areas identified as High Risk we develop a Tactical Control Point Guide, identifying required manpower and equipment, access routes, control point and staging areas, as well as deployment and communications strategies to be utilized in the event of an emergency.

Finally, through field exercise and training, we ensure that our clients are aware of all variables and fully prepared to react, in the event that immediate action is required.

By planning for such situations in advance, valuable time is saved in the immediate aftermath of a release event.

During an Oil, Transportation, or Utility Spill Occurrence

In the event of a spill, expertise and preparedness allow for prompt and strategic action.

When Ridgeline arrives on site, we will immediately establish contact with a representative from the responsible party and begin our assessment of the situation.

The immediate dangers will be analyzed in order to determine a plan of action that is safe.

We’ll ask questions like…

• Is the situation under control?

• What types of receptors are at work?

• Are appropriate resources available?

• Have applicable stakeholders and regulatory agencies been notified?

• What impact will geographical and logistical concerns play in the response?

These observations are documented and used in the development of a swift and actionable response plan.

Containment and recovery operations will be implemented as soon as it is safe and practical to do so, guided by the aforementioned assessment.

Depending on the particulars of the situation, any one of a number of containment techniques may be utilized, including containment berms, interceptor trenches, dams, culvert blocks, sorbent barriers or diversion booming.

Prompt and expert construction of the appropriate containment method is of particular concern. The usage of these techniques in the critical early going will be pivotal in limiting the scope of the damage inflicted by the release.

After an Oil, Transportation, or Utility Spill Occurs

When the immediate aftermath of the event has passed, attention turns to remediation and restoration. During this phase, it’s essential to have a partner with experience and expertise in a wide range of geographical and logistical circumstances.

Whether dealing with contaminated soil, sediment, surface water and/or groundwater, Ridgeline will develop a Remediation Action Plan to meet objectives with minimal disturbance and risk.

Any number of remediation strategies may be optimal, including Excavation and Waste Disposal, Passive and Active Flushing, Reverse Osmosis and many others.

Through the assessment of environmental conditions, Ridgeline will develop a Restoration Plan that will meet applicable standards.

Ecosystem type, the extent of the damage, logistics and stakeholder engagement will often factor into the development of a comprehensive plan for restoration of the affected area.

Choosing the Right Response Partner

Ridgeline salutes all companies who take their environmental responsibilities seriously.

Although we all strive to avoid such events, we recognize the importance of preparedness before the fact, swift and strategic action during the event and carefully considered action afterward.

Through this combination of preparation and action, we minimize the damage incurred and work toward proper remediation.

With this in mind, Ridgeline Response offers professional response, with employees who are well-trained, value safety and equipped with standard operating procedures.

Client’s liabilities are handled confidentially and in accordance with specific regulatory requirements. With 8 offices and 120 employees, we are always on call and prepared when called upon.