Wenger’s Feed Mill, an agricultural feed processing and distribution company, had a problematic leak coming from a 10,000-gallon liquid fat above-ground storage tank, prompting the need to modify the mill’s existing secondary containment. The tank needed to be removed and demolished, and the remaining secondary containment area required patching and sealing to prevent leaks that could result in Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) regulatory penalties.

RETTEW procured a hot work zone permit for cutting and welding the leaking tank prior to removal, and implemented the necessary fall protection and crane rigging measures to ensure proper safety protocol. Once removed, our team began patching the existing concrete joints and power washing the containment reservoir. However, the process failed to penetrate 35 years of fat buildup, which required a rapid alternative approach. We determined that construction of additional secondary containment was not required, and the existing containment area would still meet PA DEP standards if the exterior was instead sealed and painted. With this redirection, the project not only remained on schedule and within budget, but it saved the client cost and downtime that would have occurred during construction.