AboutDavid L. Russell, PE Expertise I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment.
I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad.
I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions
Experience I love work in the third world and developing areas
because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.
Question My husband changes the oil in our vehicles. He disposes of the oil at al local motor repair shop. Recently, a memmber of the family moved the container from its regular indoor location to the yard. When it rain, the container filled with water and spilled with oil on the ground. My question is: Is it enough to remove the patch of the yard that was affected, or should we hire someone. We live in Dayton Ohio. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
LORRAINE
Answer Dear Lorraine:
don't be too concerned about a small patch of oil. Although, I'm sure Mother Nature appreciates your diligence. If you have a compost bucket, toss the oil contaminated soil in there and drop in a 1/8 cup of fertilizer and let nature take its course. You could accelerate the process of degrading the oil if you applied some fertilizer and some manure (dog, cow, horse but not dried chicken manure because its' too high in nitrogen and it's bacterially inactive.). So if you really want to do good, get out your shovel and dig up the soil, mix it with some pooch poop or something else, and a little bit of fertilizer, and set it on some plastic until later this year. If you want to, go back in about 5- 6 weeks and turn the soil over. It's also a good idea to cover the soil so that the rain doesn't wash away the oil, but keep it moist at the same time, just not soaking wet- it's kind of like raising a plant. It needs some water and some fertilizer, but don't drown it.
Hope that helps. you will know that by the fall the soil can be replaced and mixed back with normal soil without consequence.
Good luck and let me know how it goes or if you have any more difficulties.
