INSPEC25441 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

volume with a 1.01 specific gravity of the solution). This means that approximately 720 mg (720 ml) of Butyl Carbitol was spilled. Based on the LDSo information, all of this could have been ingested and/or spread on skin with little to no effect. The immediate dilution of the Butyl Cazbitol, based on a flow of 250gpm (10001iters/minute) in the Dry Fork of the Minnesota Creek, would have been 0.72 mg/1 after only 1 minute (720mg/10001iters). This concentration assumes that the entire spill reached the creek at the same time, which is probably not the case. Although this was a high enough concentration to cause a foaming problem, it was orders of magnitude below the concentration needed to cause any health problems. MSDS Section 2, Part B, Other Ingredients, lists a proprietary mixture of sodium (Na') and ammonium (NH4+) salts of fatty alcohol ether sulfates (chains containing between 8 and 18 carbons) and higher alcohols. These have been determined to be non-hazazdous components. The MSDS Section 5, Health Hazards, states that that the substance Butyl Carbitol is a mild to moderate irritant. Section 8 of the MSDS, Special Precautions and Spill/Leak Procedures, states that steps need to be taken to "prevent material from reaching sewers or waterways to avoid nuisance foaming". Section 9, Hazardous Material Identification System Ratings, classifies the health hazard as slight (1), the flammability hazard as moderate (2, from the 8% ethanol and proprietary blend of other unidentified higher alcohols at 20-25%) and the reactivity hazazd as minimal (0). Basically this is a fairly benign substance and, given the amount that was spilled, there should be no health or environmental problems (as supported by the fact that no fish-kill was noted). It was determined that MCC should analyze the creeks for sodium and ammonia as well as organics, which, in this case, turned out to be volatile hydrocarbons (VOC's). The consultant also tested for pH and electric conductivity in the field. 14 sites were sampled at approximately''/z-mile intervals, including one site that was upstream of the confluence of the Dry Fork and Minnesota Creeks (on Minnesota Creek). A review of the analytical methods and included quality control data from Enviro-Chem, Inc. in Grand Junction showed that proper EPA analytical methods were used and all of the quality control data was acceptable. All of the results aze, therefore, valid. The range for the pH of the samples was 7.68 - 8.34 (standard units) and the range for the conductivity of the samples was 529 umhos-1,390 umhos. All of these samples are within the "normal" ranges for pH and conductivity for surface waters. The values for ammonia ranged from <0.10 mg/1 to 0.14 mg/1 with five of the samples showing detectable levels of ammonia (0.10 mg/1- 0.14 mg/1). These concentrations of ammonia are very low and well below any EPA or Colorado stream standazd concentrations for ammonia. Ammonia is common in streams due to livestock and wildlife. Sodium concentrations ranged from 23.2 mg/1 to 72.4 mg/1. Again, these concentrations aze all within acceptable levels and are not outside those concentrations "normally" observed. Finally, there were no VOC's detected in any of the 14 samples. The detection level for VOC's at Enviro-Chem is 0.010 mg/1.