ANSI/IEEE Std 980-1987

IEEE Guide for Containment and

Control of Oil Spills in Substations

Published by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017, USA
October 19,1987 SHl1613
 ANSI/IEEE
Std 980-1987

An American National Standard

IEEE Guide for Containment and
Control of Oil Spills in Substations

Sponsor
Substations Committee
of the
IEEE Power Engineering Society

Approved December 12, 1985

IEEE Standards Board

Approved June 5, 1986

American National Standards Institute

@ Copyrght 1987 by

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc

345 East 47th Street, New York,NY 10017, USA

No part of this publication may be reproduced in anyjorm,

in a n electronic retrieval system OT otherwise,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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 Foreword

(This Foreword is not a part of ANSI/IEEE Std 980-1987,IEEE Guide for Containment and Control of Oil Spills in Substations.)

On December 31,1973, the federal government published in its Code of Federal Regulations, under Title
40 -Protection of the Environment, the federal requirements for the preparation and implementation of
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans applicable to the discharge of oil at electrical
facilities. While these regulations, in the strictest sense, relate to oil spills into navigable waters from shore
facilities, it should be realized that these regulations could very easily be, and in some states are, extended
to cover onshore areas. Onshore areas could be a distance away from navigable waters and could include
those areas where substations are installed.
It is prudent, therefore, to recognize that there exists a potential for oil spills in almost every substation
throughout the utility industry. It is consequently reasonable to identlfy the extent of the problem, if any,
and to recommend plausible measures to control oil spills by means of an IEEE guide.
This guide has been prepared by a task force appointed by Working Group 73.2, Design and Location of
Substations for Community Acceptance, under the sponsorship of the Substation Environmental Sub-
committee of the IEEE Substations Committee. The assistance of R. H. Bower, Chairman, and other
members of the Substation Environmental Subcommittee, is gratefully acknowledged.

At the time of approval of this guide, the membership of the Oil Spill Control Task Force was as follows:

W. James Weston, Chairman

Peter Lolich Michael Ragan William E. Richard

The following persons were on the balloting committee that approved this document for submission to
the IEEE Standards Board:

W. J. Ackerman L. J. Haycock E. A. Neal, Jr.

B. Y.Afshar G. E. Heidenreich J. T. Orrell
J. D. Betz N. G. Hingorani J. Paolozzi
C. J. Blattner J. E. Holladay S. G. Pate1
N. A. Bleshman M. L. Holm R. J. Perina
W. R. Block D. E. Johannson T. A. Pinkham, 111
R. H. Bower D. C . Johnson E. S. Raila
G. T. Brecht, Jr. E. F. Jones W. E. Richard
R. A. Byron G. Karady B. D. Russell
J. B. Cannon R. P. Keil J. Sabath
J. W. Cheever D. F. Koenig D. R. Schafer
s. Cluts T. J. Kolenda K. 0. Sommer
F. A. Denbrock L. W. Kurtz, Jr. R. C. St Clair
W. K. Dick D. N. Laird J. G. Sverak
C. C. Diemond K. P. Lau W. K. Switzer
D. Dobbs P. Lolich E. R. Taylor
P. R. Dolan J. A. Maneatis J. Thorson
L. N. Ferguson A. Matthey R. J. Wehling
D. J. Gaushell W. C. McCart W. J. Weston
L. M. Gordon T. S. McLenahan R. M. Youngs
A. Haban C. Minshew C. E. Zanzie
P. R. Nannery
 When the IEEE Standards Board approved this standard on December 12,1985,it had the following
membership:

John E. May, Chairman John P. Riganati, Vice Chairman

Sava I. Sherr, Secretary
James H. Beall J a y Forster Lawrence V. McCall
Fletcher J. Buckley Daniel L. Goldberg Donald T. Michael*
&ne Castenschiold Kenneth D. Hendrix Frank L. F b e
Edward Chelotti Irvin N.Howell Clifford 0. Swanson
Edward J. &hen Jack Kinn J. R i c h a d Weger
Paul G. Cummings Joseph L. Koepfinger. W. B. Wilkens
Donald C. Fleckenstein Irving Kolodny Charles J. Wylie
R. F. Lawrence

Member emeritus
 Contents
SECTION PAGE

1. Scope and References ................................................................. 7

1.1 Scope ........................................................................... 7
1.2 References ....................................................................... 7
2. Statutory Requirements ................................................................ 7
2.1 Federal .......................................................................... 7
2.2 State and Local .................................................................. 8
3. Typical Sources of Oil Spills ............................................................ 8
3.1 Transformers .................................................................... 8
3.2 Circuit Breakers ................................................................. 9
3.3 Cables ........................................................................... 9
3.4 Mobile Transformers .............................................................. 9
3.5 Miscellaneous .................................................................... 9
4. Probability of Oil Spills ................................................................. 9
5 . Warning Alarms ....................................................................... 9
6. Containment .......................................................................... 9
6.1 Soil Characteristics ............................................................... 11
6.2 Volume Requirements ............................................................ 11
6.3 Fire Considerations ............................................................... 11
7. Cleanup Procedures ................................................................... 12
8. Economic Aspects ..................................................................... 12
8.1 Typical Prevention Costs .......................................................... 12
8.2 Sample Cleanup Costs ............................................................ 12
8.3 Sample Disposal Costs ............................................................ 12
APPENDIXES

A. Typical SPCC Contingency Plan Requirements ............................................. 13

A1 Introduction ....................................................................... 13
A2 Categories ......................................................................... 13
A3 Oil Spill Detection .................................................................. 13
A4 Reporting Procedure ............................................................... 13
A5 Action to be Taken in the Event of an Oil Spill ........................................ 14
A6 Typical Notification Form ........................................................... 15
B. Typical Containment Systems ............................................................ 16
C. Typical Cleanup Methods ................................................................ 23
D. Spill Probability Summary ............................................................... 26
D1 Results of Second Questionnaire on Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures . . 26
D2 History of Oil Spills ................................................................. 27
D3 Summary of Supplemental Questionnaire Responses .................................. 27
APPENDIX FIGURES PAGE

Fig B1 Typical Oil Drainage System with Oil-Containment Retention Pit ........................ 16
Fig B2 Typical Oil Drainage System with Oil-Trap Structure ................................... 17
Fig B3 Gravity Separator ................................................................... 18
Fig B4 Drain Pipe Structure ................................................................ 18
Fig B5 Simple Oil-Water Separator .......................................................... 19
Fig B6 Cross-section of Oil Drainage System with Oil-Retention Pond .......................... 19
Fig B7 Cross-section of Oil Drainage System with Oil Trap .................................... 20
FigB8 OilTrap ............................................................................ 21
Fig B9 Typical Fire Quenching and Oil Retention Pit .......................................... 22
Fig B10 Typical Fire Quenching Pit ........................................................... 22
Fig C1 Boom Deflector ..................................................................... 23
Fig C2 Straw Skimming Installation ......................................................... 23
Fig C3 Straw Skimmer for Fluctuating Stream Flow .......................................... 24
Fig C4 Oil Loss in Lake ..................................................................... 24
Fig C5 Covering Oil by Sanding ............................................................. 25
Fig C6 Use of Oil Drums .................................................................... 25
 An American National Standard
IEEE Guide for Containment and
Control of Oil Spills in Substations

1. Scope and References 1.2 References. This standard shall be used in

conjunction with the following publications:
1.1 Scope. This guide discusses the significance [ 1] Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40: Protec-
of federal oil spillage regulations and their appli- tion of the Environment (40CFR), Parts 109- 112.2
cability to substations; identifies the problem of
oil spills, which is latent in all substation facilities; [2] Connecticut General Statutes, Title 25, Sec-
discusses the economic aspects of oil spill control; tion 54dd ET SEQ, Water Pollution Contr01.~
quantifies the extent of the problem with respect
[3] Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI-FP-
to probability of occurrence and degree of risk;
1207, 1979, Disposal of PCBs and PCB-Contami-
discusses methods of dealing with the problem;
nated Materials!
and provides guidelines for managing the problem.
It is not the intent of this guide in any respect to [4] Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 21,
interpret federal regulations. Such interpretation Section 27 ET SEQ, Division of Water Pollution
is left to each individual company. The guide is Contr01.~
intended in simple, abbreviated form to identify
(51 United States Department of Agriculture,
the problem, offer solutions, and let each com-
REA Bulletin 65-3, 1981,Design Guide for Oil Spill
pany make its own evaluation and decisions.
Prevention and Control at Substations.
A complete treatise on the subject of oil spill
control, containment, and cleanup is contained
in US Department of Agriculture REA Bulletin 2. Statutory Requirements
65-3 [5].'
This guide only applies to insulating oil contain- 2.1 Federal. Complete information on the fed-
ing less than 50 ppm of PCB, which is considered eral requirements for control of oil spills is
to be non-PCB oil. Non-PCB oils have a PCB con- contained in the Code of Federal Regulations,
tent that has been designated by the EPA as non- Title 40 (40CFR) [I], Chapter 1, Parts 110-112.
hazardous to the public, and they are not deemed Definitions and specifics regarding navigable
to be toxic substances. It should be understood waters are contained in this publication and it is
that local and state regulations could be more not considered necessary to repeat the informa-
restrictive. tion in this guide.
PCB oils (above 500 ppm) and PCB-contami-
nated (50-500 ppm) oils come under the purview This document is available from the Superintendent of
of Public Law 94-469, Toxic Substances Control Documents, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402.
Act*, and are beyond the scope of this guide.
This document is available from the Office of the Secre-
tary of State, 30 Trinity Street, Hartford, CT 06106.
This document is available from the Electric Power
The numbers in square brackets correspond to those of Research Institute, 3412 Hillview Avenue, PO Box 10412, Palo
the references listed in 1.2 of this standard. Alto, CA 94303.
This document is available from Citizen's Information
*This federal law can be located in Volume 90 of the US Services, Office of the Secretary of State, One Ashburton Place,
Statutes, p. 2003. Room 1611, Boston, MA 02108.

7
ANWIEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENTAND

The regulations prohibit the discharge of oil that have been taken. Regulations require that
into navigable waters of the USA, and through the any report of an oil spill be sent to the appro-
implementation of a Spill Control and Counter- priate state agency as well.
measure (SPCC) plan require that effective con- In as much as the regulations make reference
tainment plans be made to prevent the discharge to an SPCC plan for a facility, it is the interpreta-
of oil, and speclfy that a cleanup procedure or tion by the EPA that each facility (installation)
contingency plan be established in the event of a should have its own plan. While an overall plan
discharge of oil. Cleanup procedures by them- for substations could be generic in nature, it
selves are only required if containment is shown appears there is a requirement to site-specify the
to be not practical. It is important to note here plan uniquely for each installation. Sufficient
that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detail should be included in the overall plan to
might interpret the term not practical to mean identlfy location of equipment, contour of site,
not at all possible as against a more reasonable and surrounding area and drainage pattern(s).
interpretation of not economically practical. In summary, therefore, federal regulations re-
Furthermore, although federal and regional EPA quire that each installation falling in the category
agencies are in fundamental agreement, we should of oil containment size identified above be assessed
recognize the possibility of some degree of latitude for possibility of contaminating navigable waters.
in interpretation between federal and regional If the potential for contamination exists, then an
agencies and be guided accordingly. SPCC plan should be developed. Such a plan
These regulations apply to installations that should contain all requirements of 40CFR [l],
have a capacity to contain oil stored underground 112.7, including a contingency cleanup plan if
in excess of 42 000 gal, or a capacity stored above containment is proven to be not practical.
ground in excess of 1320 gal per facility, or 660 gal
per container. Such a prevention plan could in- 2.2 State and Local. Information on state and
clude the use of dikes, berms, curbing, culverting, local requirements regarding oil spills is contained
weirs, absorbent materials, sumps, and collection in 40CFR [l],Part 109.
systems designed for the purpose of containing Some state governments have adopted the exist-
any discharge of oil. In short, this requirement ing federal regulations prohibiting discharges of
specifies that a properly engineered plan should oil. Specifically, it is the responsibility of the state
be developed and documented to contain the and local governments to enforce the cleanup
surface discharge of oil from any storage con- portion of SPCC plans implemented by a utility
tainer at a facility that, due to its location, could within that governmentsjurisdiction. The proce-
reasonably be expected to discharge oil into or dure for the reporting of oil spills to state agencies
upon navigable waters in sufficient quantity to varies from state to state, but generally, the proce-
cause an oil sheen, or to clean up the spilled oil if dure could be more stringent than that of the
containment can be shown to be not practicable. federal government. The procedure usually re-
Furthermore, it is important to note that the EPA quires a report by telephone immediately follow-
accepts a definition of navigable waters to include ing the spill and a follow-up written report that
navigable waters, river systems, lakes and ponds, should include all the details of the oil spill. With
stream and river beds, and all wetlands. Again, respect to a cleanup plan, state agencies generally
this may be subject to EPA federal or regional require that cleanup plans for oil spills be devel-
interpretation differences. oped, written, and filed with the agency. Such a
In addition to the requirements prohibiting the plan should contain a written commitment of
discharge of oil, 40CFR [ l ]specifies that in the manpower, equipment, and materials that would
event of an oil spill of more than 1000 US gal in a be required to expeditiously control and remove
single spill or two spills of harmful quantities from any quantity of spilled oil.
the same facility in any 12-month period, a report 3. Typical Sources of Oil Spills
shall be made to the Environmental Protection
Agency- Regional Administrator, within 60 days 3.1 Transformers. Transformers (also oil-filled
from the date of the spill. Such a report should reactors) are the potential source of major oil
contain the identification of the facility and spills in substations, since they typically contain
information relating to the date and description the largest quantity of oil. Spills may be caused by
of the spill, copy of the SPCC plan, cause, correc- an electrical failure, vandalism, sabotage, accident,
tive action, and additional preventive measures or leaks.

8
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

Depending on its rating, a power transformer IEEE Substations Committee by the Oil Spill Pre-
may contain anywhere from a few hundred gal- vention, Control and Countermeasures Task Force
lons of oil up to 30 000 gal or more, with 2000 to of the Environmental Subcommittee. A summary
10 000 gal being typical. Substations usually have of these results, which reflects the number of
one to four power transformers but may have spills over two separate time periods, is contained
more. Substations have a very low turnover rate as Appendix D in this guide.
for oil, since transformers and other electrical The Task Force concluded that, while this em-
equipment normally operate for many years pirical data was not precise, it clearly indicated
before the oil is replaced or reconditioned. that the number of spills per piece of equipment
in service per year is extremely small.
3.2 Circuit Breakers. Circuit breakers rank The probability of a reportable spill at any par-
second as a source of oil spills in substations. ticular location depends on the quantity of oil
Similar to transformers, spills are caused by present, number of oil containers, and other con-
essentially the same types of incidents such as ditions peculiar to that location.
electrical failure, vandalism, sabotage, accident,
or leaks.
5. WarningAlarms
The higher voltage oil circuit breakers usually
have three independent tanks, each containing
In the event of an oil spill, it is imperative that
approximately 100 to 4000 gallons of oil, depend-
cleanup operations and procedures be initiated
ing on their rating. Most of these tanks and most
as soon as possible to reduce or prevent any dis-
single tank circuit breakers contain less than
charged oil from reaching navigable waters as
1200 gal of oil. Substations may have ten to
defined by regulation. Hence, it may be desirable
twenty or more oil circuit breakers.
to install an early detection system for alerting
responsible personnel to an oil spill.
3.3 Cables. Substation pumping facilities that
The most effective alarm would be that acti-
maintain oil pressure in pipe-type cable installa-
vated by a low oil-level indicator within major
tions rank a distant third as source of oil spills.
pieces of oil-filled equipment, but any of several
Again, spills are caused by electrical failure, van-
different alarm systems may be used. The alarm
dalism, sabotage, accidents, or leaks.
should be transmitted to a manned station via
Depending on its length and rating, a pipe-type
supervisory equipment or via a remote alarms
cable system may contain anywhere from 1500 up
system to identlfy the specific problem. The appro-
to 10 000 gal or more of oil.
priate personnel should then be informed and
they, in turn, should proceed to investigate and
3.4 Mobile Transformers. Although mobile
implement the SPCC contingency plan.
transformers are used infrequently, even rarely,
the same considerations should be given to the
quantity of oil and risk of oil spill that are given to 6. Containment
permanent transformers.
In general, 40CFR [l],Chapter 1, Part 112,
3.5 Miscellaneous. Station service transformers, requires that appropriate oil containment and
voltage regulators, oil circuit reclosers, and other diversionary structures, or both, should be pro-
pieces of electrical equipment contain small vided to prevent discharged oil from reaching
amounts of insulating oil; however, only under navigable waters if a facility could reasonably be
most unusual circumstances could they be respon- expected to discharge oil into or upon said navi-
sible for an oil spill of the magnitude described in gable waters. Further, if it is determined that the
40CFR [l]. installation of oil containment and/or diversion-
ary structures, as listed in Part 112.7(c), is not
practical (meaning that the measures are unsuit-
4. Probability of Oil Spills able for use at the facility), the owner or operator
should clearly demonstrate such impracticability
Both the frequency and magnitude of oil spills and subsequently proceed to prepare a written oil
in substations can be considered to be extremely spill contingency plan (see Appendix A, SPCC
low. This is verified by the results of two question- contingency plan) which commits manpower,
naires submitted in 1977 to utility members of the equipment and materials' to control and remove

9
ANWIEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

any quantity of discharged oil. Section 7 of this Figure B5 is another example of a simple, in-
guide discusses cleanup procedures and makes expensive water separator unit that could be
reference to a sample SPCC contingency plan. effective in draining water from an oil sump.
As pointed out in Section 4,the probability of Figure B6 is a typical cross-section of the reten-
an oil spill occurring in a substation is extremely tion pond system and illustrates the design prin-
low. However, certain substations, owing to their ciple upon which this system is based. Oil, being
proximity to navigable waters or designated wet- less dense than water, will float on top of the
lands, the quantity of oil on site, surrounding water and is effectively contained on site by
topography, soil characteristics, etc, have or will proper sizing of the pond and the design of the
have a higher potential for discharging harmful gravity separator. Generally the pond is sized
quantitites of oil into or upon navigable waters or such that it will contain the entire quantity of
wetlands. Installation of oil containment facilities discharged oil from the largest piece of equipment
should be considered at these locations. plus an assumed amount of retained water (see
It is beyond the scope of this guide to make 6.2 for a discussion of oil volume requirements).
specific recommendations as to which type of oil Substation sites located in areas of porous soil,
containment system is best suited for specific where the permeability is approximately lo-' to
incidences due to the wide range of site variables cm/s (see 6.1), should have their oil-collecting
that can exist. However, as an aid to those engaged pits and retention ponds sealed (with concrete, or
in the design of oil containment facilities, several a clay layer, or plastic or rubber pit liners, etc) to
examples of various types of systems that can be prevent migration of oil into the ground.
utilized are listed for reference in Appendix B. Figure B7 illustrates, in cross-section, the oil
Figure B1 illustrates a typical open oil-contain- trap and drainage system. In order for this system
ment retention pit facility into which a pipe to function properly, a water level must be main-
drainage system empties. The drainage system tained in the manhole portion of the oil trap at an
network connects numerous stone-filled collect- elevation no lower than 2 ft below the inlet eleva-
ing pits located under various oil-filled pieces of tion. This will ensure that an adequate amount
equipment, and directs surface water run-off and of water is available to develop the necessary
any potential oil spill to the retention pit. hydraulic head within the inner (smaller) vertical
Figure B2 is basically the same as Fig B1, except pipe, thereby preventing any discharged oil from
the retention pit has been replaced with an oil leaving the site.
trap structure that requires less land area. There- Figure B8 is a typical detail of an oil trap struc-
fore, this type of installation may be more practi- ture and clearly shows both water head and oil
cal at substations where available land area is head. It is important to note that the inner verti-
constrictive. The design of this oil trap, like that of cal pipe should be extended downward past the
the retention pit, is based on the difference in calculated water-oil interface elevation sufficiently
specific gravity between water and oil. Unlike the to ensure that oil cannot discharge upward
retention pit system, which is designed to contain through the inner pipe. Likewise, the inner pipe
the entire quantity of discharged oil plus an must extend higher than the calculated oil level
assumed amount of retained water, the oil trap elevation in the manhole to ensure that oil does
is constructed such that any discharged oil is not drain downward into the inner pipe through
backed up through the drainage system and con- the vented plug. The reason for venting the top plug
tained in the various collecting pits beneath oil- is to maintain atmospheric pressure within the
filled equipment. vertical pipe, thereby preventing any possible
Figure B3 shows the detail of the gravity sep- siphon effect.
arator that is designed to allow storm water to The above oil-containment facilities are de-
discharge from the retention pit while at the same signed to fully contain any discharged oil on site.
time containing spilled oil. These systems could generally be installed with-
Figure B4 is similar to Fig B3, except that while out too much difficulty during construction of
Fig B3 would suit the normal installation, Fig B4 is new substations, but may be rather impractical to
designed for those areas of below-freezing tem- install at existing substations. If it is determined
peratures for extended periods of time. Depth of that a complete oil-containment system is imprac-
discharge pipe would be determined relative to tical to construct, in which case an SPCC contin-
the average penetration of frost for the specific gency plan is required, a designer should utilize a
area of installation and would be a matter of partial containment system to act as a delaying
judgment by the utility. mechanism by impeding the flow of oil. This will

10
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

provide extra time for cleanup operations. The high permeability if migration of spilled oil into
use of strategically located berms or dikes con- underlying soil layers is to be prevented. The
structed of low permeability soil is an example of application of a lining of low permeability soil to a
a partial containment system. collection pit or retention pond is a reasonable
The above facilities assume the spilled oil to means of slowing oil movement and enhancing
exist in bulk form or to be floating in bulk form on containment.
whatever residual water is present in the pit.
Where fire protection sprays are used by some 6.2 Volume Requirements. Before an oil contain-
utilities to extinguish a transformer fire, the ment facility can be designed, the designer should
oil can become emulsified to some degree and know the quantity or volume of oil to be contained
could be discharged through a gravity separator by the facility. As previously discussed, the prob-
arrangement. This might necessitate that the con- ability of an oil spill occurring at a substation is
tainment pit be sized to contain oil and fire very low. Therefore, it would be unreasonable and
suppression spray liquid before discharge is per- very expensive to design a containment system to
mitted. hold the sum total of oil contained in the numer-
ous oil-filled pieces of equipment normally in-
6.1 Soil Characteristics. Unlike other common
stalled in a substation. Section 3.1 of this guide
engineering materials (such as wood, steel and
identifies that power transformers are the poten-
concrete), a soil is largely a non-homogeneous
tial source of major oil spills due to the large
mass possessing a wide range of physical proper-
volume of oil they contain. In general, an oil
ties. Of these properties, the soils drainage char-
containment system should be sized to contain
acteristic is of primary concern in the design of oil
the volume of oil in the single largest oil-filled
containment facilities and is termed permeability.
piece of equipment, such as a power transformer
Permeability is a property of soil that denotes its
or large circuit breaker. Due consideration should
capacity to conduct or discharge fluids under a
be given to the fact that a larger piece of equip-
given hydraulic gradient. Coarse-grained soils are
ment may be placed in service at some future date.
considered highly pervious and have correspond-
In cases where oil collecting pits are sized to
ing high permeability coefficients while fine-
contain the oil (Fig B7, for example), considera-
grained soils have low permeability coefficients.
tion should also be given to the size of stone used
In other words, all other things being equal, the
higher the coefficient of permeability, the faster a
as backfill material and its corresponding poros-
ity. Depending on the uniformity of stone size
fluid will drain through the soil.
used, the porosity may vary from 20%to 50%.The
For the purposes of this guide, soils and their
size of stone has little to do with the volume of
permeability characteristics have been adapted
voids. In general, the smaller the particles, the
from typical references and can be generalized as
greater the volume of voids. However, permeabil-
follows:
ity decreases with decrease in particle size, making
larger stones more suited for oil containment
Permeability Degree of areas. Of fundamental importance, though, is the
(cm/s) Permeability Types of Soil need to use uniform stone size. While it is possible
Over 10-1 High Stone, gravel and coarse to attain a porosity of 50%,a design figure of 35%
to medium-grained sand is recommended.
10-1 to 10-3 Medium Medium sand to uniform, As an illustration, assume a collecting pit is
fine sand backfilled with large stones (assume 1.5 in trap
10-3 to 10-6 LOW Uniform, fine sand to silty rock providing 35% porosity) and must be de-
sand to sandy clay signed to contain 8000 gal of oil. Due to the
Less than 10-6 Practically Sandy or silty clay to clay available voids, the pit would have to be physically
impermeable
sized, conservatively, to contain 23 000 gal of oil.
This would contain the oil and provide some allow-
ance for precipitation, even if automatically
In designing an oil-containment system capable drained.
of retaining any discharged oil on site for an
extended period of time, consideration should be
given to sealing any collecting pit or retention 6.3 Fire Considerations. One other important
pond (containment pit), as shown in Appendix B, point that should be noted is that in designing
Figs B1 -BlO, constructed in soils of medium to (sizing) a stone-filled collection pit, the final oil

11
ANSI/IEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

level elevation should be situated approximately includes: pumps, bulldozers, trenching machinery,
12 in below the top elevation of the stone. This miscellaneous hand tools, oil tanks and drums,
provides a fire extinguishing capability designed timbers, pipe, hoses, burlap bags, sand, straw, oil
to quench flames in the event that a piece of oil- absorbent materials, oil booms, boats, stakes, and
filled equipment catches on fire. The use of 1.5 in fencing.
or larger stone (washed and uniformly sized) is The procedures should describe methods of con-
recommended to permit quicker penetration to taining and cleaning up oil spills, such as skim-
avoid a pool fire. Quenching pits are the most ming, boom construction and deployment, use of
effective passive fire protection measure. See Figs special oil-absorbent materials, use of machinery
B9 and B10 for examples of effective fire quench- or special tools, or all of these. Appendix C pro-
ing pits. vides some examples of these procedures.

8. Economic Aspects
7. Cleanup Procedures
This section provides a guide to the probable
A cleanup program is one of the most important
costs of oil spill prevention measures taken by a
aspects of an SPCC plan for substations and is
utility at substation facilities. This section also
required where containment is not practicable. In
provides cost guidelines for cleanup procedures
general, the procedures should address the follow-
in the event that prevention measures are either
ing issues: absent or have failed. All costs are area-specific
(1) Responsible or accountable manager(s) for the New England area and may vary for other
who will act as emergency coordinator
locales.
(2) Notification or reporting channels, or both,
and requirements
8.1 Typical Prevention Costs (1983 Dollars)
(3) Supervisory responsibilities
Open Oil Containment Retention Pond
(4) Employee assignments (Fig B1 - Complete Drainage and
( 5 ) Methods of containment Collection System, as Shown) $33 400.00
(6) Site-specific instructions Oil Trap Structure System (Fig B2) $36 000.00
(7) Training program(s) in cleanup procedures
and spill prevention 8.2 Typical Cleanup Costs (1983 Dollars)
(8) System for updating the procedures Four-man Crew $650.00 per diem
(to handle oil and soil)
(9) Location of special tools, equipment, and Oil Pumping Equipment $1000.00 per diem
material Removal Equipment (Oil) $500.00 per diem
(10) Availability of contractors with cleanup Removal Equipment (Soil) $500.00 per diem
Cartage of Contaminated Soil $50.00 per barrel
expertise (Barrels) (includes landfii plus $3.00/mi travel
The goal of any cleanup procedure is the pro- burial)
tection of the environment against contamination.
Prompt action is required whenever a spill has 8.3 Typical Disposal Costs (per barrel in 1983
occurred. It is therefore most important that all Dollars)
personnel involved with substation operations or Utility Owned Incinerator* $6.40/barrel credit
maintenance be instructed in prompt notification Commercially Owned Incinerator* $95.00/barrel cost
procedures. All substation personnel shall be 'Must add $3.00/mi transportation cost
instructed in steps that must be taken imme- Costs may vary depending upon availability of disposal means
diately to stop the source of the spill and other and distance to established incinerator or landfii facilities.
emergency measures that can be undertaken to NOTE. While present regulations permit incinerating waste oil
prevent or control any discharge from the in a utility boiler for heat recovery purposes, this could easily
change if waste oil was designated as hazardous waste under
station. Typical cleanup methods are shown in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Utility
Appendix C. companies that incinerate oil should be aware of this possibil-
Cleanup procedures should outline the location ity since any change would probably restrict their incineration
program. Furthermore, specific states might either prohibit
and availability of the tools that are available for burning entirely or require special air quality permits for
spill control. Equipment that may be needed burning.

12
 ANSUIEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

Appendixes

(These Appendixes are not a part of ANSI/IEEE Std 980-1987, IEEE Guide for Containment and Control of Oil Spills in
Substations, but are included for information only.)

Appendix A
mical SPCC Contingency Plan Requirements
Al. Introduction A3. Oil Spill Detection
While an SPCC plan as detailed in 40CFR [l], Any appreciable discharge of oil from trans-
Part 112.7, focuses on containment of oil and formers, circuit breakers or other electrical equip-
requires specitic information about past oil spills, ment is a possible result of electrical failure of
location of equipment, sources of potential spills, that equipment. These types of failures can be
quantities of oil that could be discharged, drain- detected by alarms either directly from attended
age pattern, rate of flow, and containment mea- substations or transmitted by supervisory equip-
sures, one of the important requirements of the ment, or by customer calls to dispatching centers
SPCC plan is the contingency plan for cleanup if as a result of equipment outage.
containment is proven to be impractical. Slow leaks from electrical equipment or oil
Facilities covered by this plan are electrical storage facilities will be detected and corrected
transmission and distribution substations as well during periodic and routine inspections.
as oil storage facilities associated with substations
that have a single tank larger than 660 gal, or a
total aggregate oil storage greater than 1320 gal, A4. Reporting Procedure
or both.
It can be assumed that oil discharge from facili- I t is the responsibility of any utility employee
ties will be rare. However, should an oil spill occur, visiting one of the utilitys facilities to immediately
procedures outlined in this plan should be acti- report an oil spill to the local operating super-
vated. vision via telephone or company radio.
Sections A2-A5 are recommended as a basis Local operating supervision should contact the
for a contingency plan. designated representative, who will serve as
director of control and cleanup operations.
The designated representative should contact
A2. Categories the responsible person in engineering or mainte-
nance to assist with operations and contact local
For the purposes of this plan, all locations are
managers, as necessary, and the appropriate
classified under the following two categories:
governmental agencies, as required.
Category A. Substations or facilities where, due Responsible environmental personnel should
to their location, or quantitites of oil involved, it is report to the US. Regional EPA Office and other
unreasonable to expect that any oil spill would local, state or federal agencies as required any
result in a discharge into navigable waters as spill where there is a good probability that oil will
definedin40CFR [l],Part 112.l(d)(4).Ageneral reach water or which can be classified as a spill
plan applicable to all facilities in this category event. A spill event is a discharge of oil to
follows. nearby navigable waters in harmful quantities,
Category B. Substations and facilities where, due which
to their location, or quantities of oil involved, it is
possible, but not probable, for an oil spill to reach (1) violates applicable water quality standards
navigable waters. A specific plan for each location of 15 ppm oil, or
in this category has been prepared. The general (2) causes a film or sheen on the surface of the
SPCC plan below also applies to these facilities. water or sludge emulsion beneath the surface.
Copies of the general plan and each specitic
plan should be on file at the associated division See A6 for a typical notification form. A list of
headquarters and at each covered facility. Copies operating division personnel and engineering per-
of all plans should be on file at engineering, corpo- sonnel to be contacted should also be included as
rate headquarters, etc. an attachment to a cleanup plan.

13
ANSVIEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

A5. Action to Be Taken in the

Event of an Oil Spill

Any employee who notes an oil spill on company (2) Blocking oil that has reached a waterway
property should promptly assess the situation from spreading downstream by using booms or
within the limits of his training and experience. other means.
Specific actions required include: (3) Cleaning up oil by using absorbent mate-
(1) Determine source of spill. rials, pumping and removing oil-saturated earth
(2) Take action to stop source of spill. For or stone, as required.
example, close necessary valves or temporarily (4) For an oil spill reaching a public road,
plug holes to stop or control spill. notlfy state or local police. For a spill consisting
(3) Determine approximate size of spill in gal- of highly flammable liquid such as gasoline, notlfy
lons and direction of flow. Oil spill cleanup material should be provided at
(4) Report to local operating supervision in the all regional service center location storerooms or
appropriate division, who should n o t e the desig- crew quarters, or both. Materials available, and
n ated representative. their respective catalog numbers, should be listed
as an attachment. For selected locations under
The designated representative should assess Category B (see A2), specific materials are located
and arrange for materials and manpower, using
on-site to facilitate appropriate action to mini-
his own work forces, other utility personnel, or
mize effects of a spill.
outside contractors as required. Specific actions
For large spills, an outside contractor specializ-
to be taken to contain a spill include:
ing in cleanup operations may be called in. Avail-
(1) Containment of oil spill by blocking flow to able qualified contractors for minor spills as well
drains and waterways by digging diversion ditches, as qualified contractors for major spills should be
sandbagging, or through other means. shown as an attachment to the cleanup plan.

14
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

A6. Typical Notification Form

Date

Name of Company

Date of Spill

Time of Spill

Location of Spill

Name of Receiving Body of Water

Amount and Material Spilled Gals of

Probable Source

Actions Initiated to Contain or Clean Up:

Person to Contact on Scene:

Phone

Report Initiated By:

Title

Phone

EPA Person Notified:

Name Date Time

Title

Phone

15
ANSVIEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

Appendix B
Typical Containment Systems

I
/

\\ I
I
I
I
f \ I A

>
6
2
1
a
n

16
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

1 c

. 0

ir

r
c

I
z

17
ANSI/IEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

SCREEN O V E R \ BAND TO BE ATTACHED TO

VERTICAL PIPE AND HOLE
CUT IN BAND FOR PLACE-
I '

' 7 STANDARD
CONN ECTl NG
MENT OF GRAVEL

SHOP FABRICATED TEE-- 1 ft BAND

I
STANDARD
CORRUGATED
d METAL PIPE

,--MAXIMUM OIL DEPTH I 1

R
I WATER
I ( DISCHARGE LINE-

LBOTTOM OF L - 3 in SECURITY FACTOR

PIT

GRAVEL-FI LLED

SUPPORT BASE

NOTE: Usage should be limited to areas having climate not subject to sustained
freezing. Refer to Fig 84 for installation in colder climate conditions.

Fig B3
Gravity Separator

REMOVABLE COVER
WITH VENT HOLE
FOR CLEAN-OUT

SHOP FABRICATED
WATER LINE

STANDARD PIPE

tl LSOLID
PLATE
BOTTOM
CONNECTINGJ
CON N ECTl NG
BAND
LSHOP
FABRICATED
ELBOW

Fig B4
Drain Pipe Structure

18
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

Fig B5
Simple Oil-Water Separator

. .

I LDISCHARGE
LINE

DRAINAGE LINE
STONE-FILLED SOLID PIPE M A X I M U M O I L LEVEL AND
SEAL PITS A T SITES LOCATED IN POROUS SOILS I N V E R T O F DRAINAGE PIPE

Fig B6
Cross-Section of Oil Drainage System
with Oil-Retention Pond

19
ANSI/IEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

n
a
a

&L4
...
....................

w
I-

20

-L
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

BITUMINIZED PIPE PLASTIC PIPE

I

GRADE TO BE A MINIMUMl O F 3 f t
AND A MAXIMUM OF 12 f t BELOW
COVER SLOPE TO FINISH

L 0 5 in HOLE I N CLEANOUT PLUG

in PLASTIC (PVC) PIPE

WATER DISCHARGE

INVERT 97 16

ELEVATION 95 25 f t

SEAL AROUND A L L
PIPES WITH CONCRETE
4 0 in DIAMETER PLASTIC
PIPE (PVC)

WIRE BRUSH AND

PAINT WITH
BITUMASTIC NO 50
PAINT

1 f t DIAMETER STEEL PIPE

Fig B8
oil Trap

21
ANSI/ IEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENTAND

STONE COVER STONE COVER

01L-FI LLED
APPARATUS
TOP OF 4 in CHIP

IMPERVIOUS

ONCRETE WEIR OR
EQUIVALENT TO BE
SET A T THIS ELEVATION

NOTE: Valve turn wheel to show open direction or position indication. Valve is normally closed.

Fig B9
Typical Fire Quenching and Oil Retention Pit
(Not to Scale)

01L-FI LLED
TOP OF 4 in CHIP APPARATUS
STONE GROUND COVER

PIPE TO RETENTION
PIT ( N O 2 STONE1 LINER
(SEE FIG B1)

Fig B10
Typical Fire Quenching Pit
(Not to Scale)

22
 ANSVIEEE
Std 980-1987
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS

Appendix C
Typical Cleanup Methods

ANCHOR TO STAKE

-/ NOTE: In some cases, when sheet metal or plank facing is used it is

necessary to take measures to prevent deflector from rolling. 2" x 4 " s
or poles fastened on top of deflector act as counter balance. This type
of deflector must be securely anchored.

Fig C1
Boom Deflector

NOTE Stretch wire fence across stream and anchor securely Straw
is placed on upstream side of fence Thls type of installation should be
used in a location where the stream banks are of sufficient height and
movement of water is relatively slow

Fig C2
Straw Skimming Installation

23
ANSI/IEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

NOTE: The ordinary straw skimmer may not be used effectively in a

stream having a constantly changing flow direction. When this type of
skimmer is installed in a body of water which is subject to a fluctuating
flow movement, the straw r n s t be held in place by wire fence on both
sides of the straw.

Fig c3
Straw Skimmer for Fluctuating Stream Flow

NOTE: Boom constructed of dry logs or utility poles and lined with
straw, hay, or dry grass. Using adsorbent material such as straw is
optional but usually necessary if complete cleanup is desired. Flame
gun may be used to eliminate final oil slick.

Fig c4
Oil Loss in Lake

24
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

NOTE: The final traces of an oil loss may be removed by covering the
affected area with a coating of sand. Heavy sanding is recommended
as a means of controlling the surface movement of oil from an oil-
saturated area in close proximity to a stream. No attempt should be
made to eliminate oil by sanding alone when a large amount of free oil
is in evidence on the surface of the ground.

Fig c5
Covering Oil by Sanding

-
FLOW

-/-- - I NOTE: Impounded oil may be removed from a stream by dipping

operations. Such manual removal of oil from a stream may be
necessary or desirable when pumping equipment is not available or
when burning of the oil will destroy or endanger forest growth. The oil
thus removed may be deposited in drums and trucked away from the
vicinity of the stream to be salvaged or burned in a safe location

Fig C6
Use of Oil Drums

25
ANSIAEEE
Std 980-1987 IEEE GUIDE FOR CONTAINMENT AND

Appendix D
Spill Probability Summary

D1. Results of Second Questionnaire Using the figures obtained, these ratios are:
on Oil Spill Prevention, Control,
1965-1974 1975-1976
and Countermeasures

After the Task Force on Oil Spill Prevention lo 100% = 0.3% --3933835 100% = 0.08%
Control and Countermeasures sent out a question-
naire in October 1976, the results were distributed
in March 1977. From these results some further The information shows that during the ten-year
questions were raised, such as how does the period from 1965- 1974, these companies had
number of spills compare to the number of pieces a total of less than one discharge for each 330
of equipment in service, and what were the causes pieces of equipment in service. Over the two-year
of these spills? Answers to these questions should period 1975-1976, these companies had less than
shed some light on the seriousness of the oil spill one discharge for each 1200 pieces of equipment
problem, since a spill caused by accident or negli- in service.
gence will most likely occur when personnel are Another ratio that can be obtained from this
present, and a leak will probably be a small data is the number of oil discharges that reached
amount discharged over a period of time, etc. To surface waterways per piece of equipment in-
get these answers, a supplemental questionnaire stalled.
was sent out in July 1977. These ratios are:
The original questionnaire was answered by 49
companies. Of these, 45 indicated that they had at
least some records of their spills (a response 1965-1974 1975- 1976
other than unknown). The supplemental ques-
tionnaire was sent to these 45 companies. We 7
* 100%= 0.02% -* 100%= 0.015%
have responses from 28 of them. 36 925 39 835
Please note that no attempt was made to edit
the responses. They have been tabulated exactly
as received although they contain such obvious These figures show that during the ten-year
errors as the sum of the various categories does period, these companies had a total of less than
not equal the total given, etc. one discharge that reached a waterway for each
Following are tabulations of the results of the 5275 pieces of equipment in service. During the
supplemental questionnaire providing the number two-year period 1975- 1976,these companies had
of pieces of equipment in service and a second a total of less than one discharge into a waterway
tabulation that shows the number of spills that for each 6640 pieces of equipment.
these companies originally reported. In order to Therefore, from this data we have found that
provide a common basis to calculate the ratio of the number of spills per piece of equipment in
number of spills per piece of equipment in service, service per year is extremely small, and does not
only the responses of the 28 companies respond- provide significant justification for expensive oil
ing to both questionnaires have been used. containment measures.

26
 ANSI/IEEE
CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS IN SUBSTATIONS Std 980-1987

D2. History of Oil Spills

(Original Questionnaire)

1965- 1974 1975-1976

How many oil discharges did you have? 60 33

How many oil discharges left substation p r o p e w 7 7
How many oil discharges reached surface waterways? 7 6
How many oil discharges reportedly reached ground water? 3 3
How large were the discharges from transformers?
(with 660 galhank)
(a) 10-100 gal 18 11
(b) 101-1000 gal 20 18
(c) 1001-2500 gal 6 2
(d) 2501-5000 gal 4 1
(e) Larger -How much? 3 1
How large were the discharges from oil circuit breakers?
(with 660 galhank)
(a) 10-100 gal 6 -
(b) 101-1000 gal 5 -
(c) 1001-2500 gal 1 -
(d) Larger -How much? - -

D3. Summary of Supplemental Questionnaire Responses

1965-1974 1975-1976
What was the average number of pieces of
equipment in service (with 660 gal/tank)?
Transformers (Trans) 26 223+ 28 031+
Oil Circuit Breakers (OCB) 10 702+ 11804+
(The best approximation readily available)
Total: 36 925+ 39 835+

How many of the oil spills you reported were caused by:

Failure Trans 23 19
OCB 10 2

Sabot age Trans 14 23

OCB - -

Accident or Negligence Trans 6 5

OCB 1 -

Leaks Trans 4 5
OCB 1 -

One company responded number of equipment unavailable. The spills reported by them do not
appear on these tabulations. Above tabulation based on responses of 28 companies.

27