Abandoned Underground Storage Tank Location Using Fluxgate Magnetic Surveying: A Case Study |
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| Authors: | Thomas P Van Biersel Bill C Bristoll Robert W Taylor James Rose |
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| Institution: | Thomas P. Van Biersel;is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Science at Southern Connecticut State University (501 Crescent Ave., New Haven, CT 06515;. Bill C. Bristoll;is information manager for the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (3817 W. Mineral Point Rd., Madison, WI 53705;). Prior to this position, he worked for Environmental Systems Consultants Inc. as an environmental geophysicist/hydrogeologist. He has 13 years of environmental consulting experience. He has an M.S. in geology/geophysics from the Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Robert W. Taylor;is a retired associated professor (geophysics) in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201). He has 30 years of experience in the application of geophysical methods to environmental and engineering problems. James Rose;is a project manager with Maxim Technologies Inc. (6333 W. Douglas Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53221;). He was formerly a senior hydrogeologist with Alpha Terra Science Inc., Plymouth, Wisconsin. He has more than 25 years of geotechnical and environmental experience, including tunnel construction, landfill permitting, LUST cleanups, foundation recommendations, and transportation projects throughout the eastern and central United States. He holds an M.S in geosciences from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. |
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| Abstract: | In 1993, during the removal of a diesel and a gasoline underground storage tank at the municipal garage of the Village of Kohler, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, soil testing revealed environmental contamination at the site. A site investigation revealed the possibility of a second on-site source of petroleum contamination. Limited historical data and the present usage of structures within the suspected source area precluded the use of most invasive sampling methods and most geophysical techniques. A fluxgate magnetometer survey, followed by confirmatory excavation, was conducted at the site. The fluxgate magnetometer survey identified nine possible magnetic anomalies within the 18 × 25 m area. The subsequent excavation near the anomalies revealed the presence of five paired and two individual 2000 L underground storage tanks. The fluxgate magnetometer survey, although affected by the proximity of buildings, was able to detect the buried tanks within 3 m of the brick structures, using a 1.5 × 1.5 m sampling array. |
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