January marks a very significant milestone for UltraTech International, Inc. Twenty years ago we began our journey to become the leaders in the field of spill containment. Not only have we achieved that leadership position but we’ve become the premier providers of environmental compliance products in the stormwater management, facility protection and construction compliance categories. We’ve also, more recently, begun new journeys into the oil spill, microbe technology and nanotechnology coating fields.

By providing our distributors with the largest, most diverse and most innovative product line we have been able to grow and become more successful in each of the last 20 years. We know and understand that our distributor’s success is our success and we remain committed and loyal to that end. We have never “rested on our laurels” or “coasted” on current product successes but have been relentless in our new product development. This milestone will not change that mindset. We will continue to do what we do best. What we’ve excelled at for twenty years. Innovate.

We’ve grown from a four man operation to employing twenty-three people in our Jacksonville, Florida headquarters. From renting a tiny workspace in a shady section of town to operating out of our own modern, newly remodeled office building. Our factory has grown along with us to over forty-five employees and more than 110,000 square feet! We started with just a few distributors throughout the U.S. and now have over 1,500 distributors covering 40 countries worldwide.

It’s been an incredible twenty years and we look forward to many, many more! Thank you for all of your hard work, efforts and support!

(Boston, Mass. – August 2, 2012) – A Maine company that provides motor vehicle services and fuel oil sales is facing a fine of up to $177,500 for violations of the Clean Water Act. 

EPA recently filed a complaint against the J&S Oil Co., Inc. for failing to maintain and fully implement an oil spill prevention plan, which contributed to the release of approximately 1,500 gallons of used motor oil from a tanker truck at the facility.

The oil release in March 2012 prompted an emergency response from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and EPA.  The company also hired an oil spill response company to contain the spilled oil and dispose of contaminated soils. 

EPA determined that the company had failed to fully maintain and implement it Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan, as required by the Clean Water Act. SPCC plans specify spill prevention measures at facilities that store oil above threshold amounts and help ensure that a tank failure or oil spill does not lead to oil reaching bodies of water.  In its complaint EPA alleges that the company failed to provide for adequate secondary containment for some of the facility’s above-ground storage tanks and the tanker trucks parked at the facility; failed to provide secondary containment for the loading/unloading rack; failed to maintain adequate training records of oil-handling personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment to prevent discharges; and, failed to provide adequate security for the facility.

More information on federal oil spill prevention requirements: http://www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/er/oilstor.htm and http://www.epa.gov/oilspill

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The new Flexible Spill Pallet can be shipped for an average of 65% less than the traditional rigid polyethylene Spill Pallets! Find out more by clicking here.

Typical pollutants found on roadways include metals (lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, etc.), sediment, oil, solvents, and grease.  These pollutants can be mobilized by firefighting activities, spills or emergency response cleanups and can be trasported to storm drains or washes.  Chemicals from car and/or engine fires or spills of hazardous substances can contaminate streets, washes adn stormwater.  If wastewater from fire fighting or emergency cleanup activities enters storm drains or washes, contaminants can eventually reach surface waters.  In most juristictions, wastewater from fire fighting activities is allowed to discharge to the storm drainage system provided the wastewater is not a source of pollutants.  Emergency services should protect storm drains whenever possible, when responding to spills.

Product Market Applications:

• Fleet maintenance for fire trucks … Secondary Spill Containment, Spill Response, Stormwater products for maintenance area storm drains
• Runoff from Roof at maintenance facilities for fire vehicles … Ultra-Downspout Guard, Ultra-HydroKleen
• Leaking Pipes, leaking roof, maintenance on pipes, flushing fire sprinkler systems … Ultra-Drip Diverter for capturing leaks & Ultra-Pipe Sock for flushing fire sprinkler systems
• Flushing fire hydrants … Ultra-Filter Sock, Ultra-Inlet Guard & Plus Model to temporarily protect storm drains
• Generators, Chain Saws, other fueled equipment … Ultra-Containment Berms, Ultra-Utility Trays
• Hazmat Response … All Spill Response Products … Overpacks, Drain Seals, Spill Berms, Pop Up Pools, Drain Plugs, etc…
• Spill Response Decon … Ultra-Decon Decks
• Oil Spill Cleanup and remediation … Ultra-Microbes

There are a lot of potential stormwater violations for public utilities and power plants alike.  There are a lot of different contaminants from oils to heavy metals to coal dust.  See a few fines below, as well as applications for our products as solutions.

A Western Massachusetts coal-fired power station is facing federal fines of more than $177,000 for allegedly discharging muddy storm water and other pollutants into the Connecticut River.

The Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant may pay a penalty of up to $157,500 for violations of the federal Clean Water Act, according to an administrative complaint filed by EPA.

The complaint alleges Hilo Coast Power Co., a subsidiary of Brewer Environmental Industries, improperly discharged waste water and lacked storm-water controls at its Pepeekeo Mill Power Generating Facility, a coal-fired power plant that produces nearly 20 percent of the Big Island’s power, mostly along the Hamakua coast.  Poma said Brewer, which has 30 days to respond, has begun negotiations with EPA and hopes to negotiate a “successful fine.” The EPA said the complaint could lead to fines of up to $137,500.

Product Applications:

• Secondary Spill Containment for Drums or IBC totes to protect against spills of oils, chlorine, etc.
• Damaged or Leaking drums … Spill response products such as Ultra-Drain Seals, Pop Up Pools, etc.
• Single Drum portable pumping / dispensing … Ultra-Spill Collectors
• Outdoor storage of Drums or IBC totes … Ultra-Hard Top Plus
• Bulk Storage area for dispensing … Ultra-Containment Berms, Ultra-Spill Pallets, IBC Pallets
• Flammable Safety Cabinets … Safety Cabinet Bladder Systems
• Battery Charging Station for Fork trucks … Ultra-Spill Deck Plus, Ultra-Containment Trays
• Loading dock spill prevention loading / unloading … Ultra-Drain Seals, Drain Plugs
• Maintenance & Janitorial oil cans / fuel cans / paint cans … Ultra Containment Trays, Utility Trays
• Fleet maintenance area … Various Spill Response products & Secondary Spill  Containment
• Fueling area … Ultra-Drain Seals for spill response
• Chemicals / any product that could leak sitting on shelving … Ultra-Utility Trays
• Loading dock / Internal Building drains in need of protection loading / unloading product … Ultra-Drain Seals
• Storm Drains … Ultra-Drain Guards & Ultra-HydroKleen for filtration and Ultra-Drain Seals for sealing them off
• Oil / Water separator, Dumpsters, Cooling towers … Ultra-Microbes & Ultra X-Tex
• Runoff from Roof / Galvanized fence … Ultra-Downspout Guard, Ultra-HydroKleen for Heavy Metals
• Leaking Pipes, leaking roof, maintenance on pipes, flushing fire sprinkler systems … Ultra-Drip Diverter for capturing leaks & Ultra- Pipe Sock for flushing fire sprinkler systems
• Pumping out utility vaults for maintenance … Ultra-Pipe Sock, Ultra-Dewatering Bags
• Sampling stormwater … Ultra-Universal Sampler
• Smoking areas … Ultra-Smoke Stops

Aside from the obvious construction stormwater opportunities currently in progress at many major airports across the country due to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, there are a lot of other applications and opportunities for EPA Stormwater / SPCC compliance.

BELLEVUE – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined the Port of Seattle and two contractors $20,000 for allowing four releases of muddy stormwater from Sea-Tac Airport’s north expressway project into storm systems that drain to Gilliam Creek and Des Moines Creek.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $52 million for stormwater violations, with $50 million being used to address federal Clean Water Act issues at highways and airports. Some of the violations resulted from construction projects, including one in which oily water ran into airport drains.
Construction Compliance Applications & Solutions:

• Concrete Washout Area:  Ultra-Concrete Washout Berm & Filter
• Generators & other pieces of equipment that could leak:  Ultra -Containment Berms
• Fuel Tanks, whether double walled or not (double walled tanks meet containment regs but not stormwater regs):  Ultra -Containment Sumps
• Secondary Spill Containment for concrete curer, oils and other chemicals used onsite:  Ultra-Spill Pallets, Hardtop Plus units, etc.
• Emergency Spill Response:  Spill kits, Pop Up Pools, Drain Seals, etc.
• Stock dirt piles and waste:  Ultra-Filter Socks
• Protection of storm drains:  Ultra-Drain Guards, Inlet Guards, etc.
• Construction Site Ponding:  Ultra-Dewatering Bags
• Construction site barriers for surrounding site, site entry and exit:  Ultra-Silt Dike, Ultra-Gravel Bags, Ultra-Filter Socks, etc.
• Sampling and testing of Stormwater Runoff (Turbidity & pH) :  Ultra-Sampling Kit

There are a variety of other potential areas of concern at airports for Stormwater issues to include, but not limited to:

• Refueling Trucks:  Though there is a lot of controversy over having to comply with the regs at minimum refueling trucks when unmanned and not being used for refueling, the EPA requires secondary spill containment, Drain Seals, spill kits and / or a combination of, to prevent oils and fuels from contaminating stormn drains & waterways
• Maintenance area storm drains with the potential for multiple contaminants:  Ultra-HydroKleen or new Ultra Heavy Metal Drain Guard
• Secondary containment for maintenance areas to store used oils and other potential contaminants
• Spill response products, such as the Drain Seal, Spill Berm, and Pop Up Pools, for spill response
• Zipper / trench drains:  Ultra-X-Tex fabric for filtering oils & sediment from stormwater runoff
• Perimeter areas near sensitive oceans or marshes:  Ultra-Filter Socks

A picture is worth a thousand words.  This picture is certainly no exception.  This photo shows what was collected by (50) Drain Guards that were installed in the southern California area after only two weeks!  If this is what is collected in 50 drains in 2 weeks, imagine what is happening nationwide.  This is a tremendous visual reminder that our products are not only helping companies and industry stay in compliance but they are helping to maintain our water ways and stormwater systems.

Deepwater Horizon was one of the largest oil spills in history. But not THE largest! Check out this list of the ten largest oil spills in history

http://www.spillcontainment.com/ten-largest-oil-spills-history