INVESTIGATION OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
LOCATED AT CAMP LUCAS, SAULT STE. MARIE, MI USA.

RACHEL A. AMES

Biology and Chemistry Department. Lake Superior State University.
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783 USA


	Abstract. An investigation of 4 underground storage tanks (USTs) containing petroleum
hydrocarbons was conducted at the former Camp Lucas in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, located in
Sec. 12, T47N, RlW. Field work and analysis of soil and water samples with a MicroTip
Photojonization Detector (PID) was done during the period of June-August of 1992. The
investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Environmental Division of regional
DNR in Newberry, MI. Soil samples were collected with a hand-auger starting one-meter
below the surface and every half-meter thereafter until the perched water table was reached.
Soil samples were removed from the auger tip and sealed in a plastic bag and placed in the sun
for five minutes before a PID reading was taken. Water samples were collected from each pit
that had a perched water table. Eight soil pits were sampled within the area near the tanks and
five pits were sampled outside the perimeter as control samples. The Mann-Whitney test
showed samples near the tanks had significantly higher readings than the control area for both
soil and water samples (o = 0.05). This suggests the area around the tanks is contaminated by
petroleum hydrocarbons released from USTs. The expenmental data indicates that
contamination was limited to the area around the tanks. Clay, the native soil at the site, is not
very permeable and greatly slows transport of contaminants. A high water reading for a
control sample indicates that infiltration may be forcing some of the contaminants to move off
site in the direction of the ground slope.



SELECTED REFERENCES

Donaldson, S. , G. Miller, and W. Miller. 1992. Remediation of gasoline-
contaminated soil by passive volatilization. J. Environmental Quality. 21:94-101.

EPA. 1992. Leaking underground storage tanks and health; Understanding health risks from
petroleum contamination. Office of Underground Storage Tanks. U.S. EPA.

MicroTip Hand held air monitori Photoionization Detector Users' Manual . Photovac Inc.
Thornhill, Ontario CA.

Rail, C. 1989. Groundwater contamination; sources, control and preventive measures.
Techomic. Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA.