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The MDE recently awarded Harford County native Michael Frank Employee of the Year honors for his innovative application of a process designed to detect releases of petroleum vapors being emitted from underground storage tank systems (USTs).
“The employee of the year is honored for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve Maryland’s and ensure that our environment and the safety of our citizens is protected,” said MDE Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick. “Mr. Frank leads by example in putting in t he extra time, talent and energy it takes to be one step ahead of environmental threats – his smart decision-making and educated experience is of great value to this state.”
The detection of vapors identifies origins of UST system failures below ground that allow the release of petroleum constituents. One such constituent that is a major concern of is Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE.) Frank, based on his extensive experience with UST systems and former precision tightness testing background, initiated and standardized a first-ever nationwide helium testing protocol to detect fugitive vapors that threaten the waters of the state.
Phantom Leaks Require New Protocol
MTBE, an additive to gasoline also used to reduce emissions to the air, was detected in various wells throughout Harford County, where a majority of the water is consumed from private wells. The downside of this fuel additive is that it becomes a health hazard if it escapes from an UST and leaks into the water supply. MTBE is very water-soluble. “We couldn’t figure out how there were such high levels of MTBE detected in the water, when liquid releases were not evident after a thorough inspection of the UST system,” said Frank.
“I had personal interest in this, that particular gas station in Harford County was the station from which I pumped my gas when I first started working for MDE in 1994,” Frank continued. “I had no idea at the time that I would have a personal vested interest in regulating this station and writing the protocol. It is the county where I live…I care about the community in which my children are raised and go to school- their safety is paramount.”
Mystery Solved
When groundwater problems arise within the state due to fuel tank leaks, MDE’s inspectors from the Waste Management Administration’s Oil Control Program spring into action. Generally it is difficult to detect a leak when a liquid plume release is not present and the groundwater is affected. The UST’s at this station were emitting vapors, and the MTBE present in the vapors was migrating into the water supply at levels high enough to deem the water contaminated. Whereas liquid releases are usually detected more easily through inventory control, and various leak detection methods, nothing had been established in writing to address vapor leaks from a UST.
A Light-weight Process for Heavy Problem Solving
Injecting Helium into the UST system and using a specialized detector to check for leaks, help discern between exiting and active petroleum vapor releases, as any fume can enter the groundwater. Using the inert gas Helium to identify leaks is a common practice in the industry as well as other industries. By introducing Helium into an underground storage tank to a prescribed pressure, any component on top of the tank that is not properly installed or vapor tight enough would allow Helium to escape and be detected. Identified leaking components were corrected or replaced until no helium escape was detected. This would then assure that the UST system is not only liquid tight, but also vapor tight.
Simple Concept Makes a Huge Difference
As the state Inspector, Frank observed the start-to-finish tracer test in Harford County. Before the tracer test could be performed, pre-testing with helium was conducted. “Little did I know such a simple concept would become so effective in helping states protect their citizens against MTBE,” he said. “We are now protecting the waters of the state and have a better tool with which to do it.”
Frank took the observations he made while supervising the Harford County incident, combined it with his years of experience he gained when he used to travel from Maine to North Carolina performing precision tightness testing including helium testing, and shared it with the industry. “Helium testing is common practice throughout the industry,” said Frank. “But I was asked to write a protocol so the state could standardize the procedures in an affordable way. This easily saved the regulated community tens of thousands of dollars in cost prohibitive testing resources. In addition, the state obtained insight to problems at facilities with MTBE groundwater contamination where liquid leaks were not present.”
Frank started working on the Helium Testing Protocol in 2004. In was placed in the Code of Maryland Regulations as an Emergency Provision on January 26, 2005 and finally became Code on January 16, 2006. “It takes months even years to test and implement a process to assure that it is working, effective and cost-efficient, he remarked”
“I love this job,” admitted Frank. “My career with the state has always been unique and challenging. Although you feel it is not always appreciated – it’s the little things that count. This award made me reflect on the fact that we are making a change – all for the good. I don’t have to be noticed, but it feels rewarding the work itself. I enjoy physically doing the work, and I put in extra time because I love this job and the technology excites me. There's always a new frontier and you don’t know how far is it going to go.”
Michael Frank holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resource Management, specializing water pollution control. He lives in Bel Air with his wife and two children.
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