News

At LCM we are always looking for new and innovative ideas to carry out our clients' projects.
Recently we have started to use our new Vacuum Excavator, here's a video of our boys at work.

LCM wins ABB/Exxon Mobils Contractor of the year 2009, that's now three years in a row!

Over the last twelve months LCM have been working continuously on ABB/Exxon Mobils Demolition and Remediation contract gaining many prestigious monthly awards and accolades including several S.H.E awards. The culmination of these awards and our staffs hard work has led to LCM being awarded for the third year in a row ABB/Exxon Mobils 2009 Contractor of the Year award.

Congratulations Gary Vick and the team.

Internal tank sludge is a major problem; old steel tanks will undoubtedly contain a certain amount of sludge that is detrimental to the integrity of the tank. The problem being, is it a case of out of sight out of mind?

Storage facility operators are coming under increasing scrutiny to help preserve the environment around their storage tanks. A possible leak and consequent environmental damage from a sludge-infested tank should be on the top of their list.

The main materials that make up the sludge are deposits of rust, debris that have been left inside the tank following maintenance and debris carried by fuel deposits.

The quantity of sludge found in tanks depends upon the tanks age, the amount of evident internal corrosion, the type of fuel stored by the tank and the amount of fuel that has passed through the tank in its life.

Another main concern and factor involved with sludge is the Bacteria that builds up following years of use.

As a company that has been cleaning and inspecting all shapes and sizes of storage tanks for over twenty years we have seen an increase in sludge levels within tanks. Two principal factors contribute to this:

Additives have been added to fuels to minimize their environmental impact and improve their performance. However as an additive they have accelerated the corrosion of tank surfaces. The corrosion is often seen as small flakes that eventually fall off the tank walls and gather in the tank bottom and consolidate themselves within the sludge

More recently we have seen an increase in the microbial contamination of fuel. These micro organisms require a very small amount of water present in the fuel to survive and live by eating the hydrocarbons in the tank. They multiply at the fuel water interface. Their waste produces water, sludge, acids and other harmful by-products increasing corrosion. If left to its own devises the Bacteria will continue to thrive and eventually contaminate the whole interior of the tank and in turn decreasing the tanks integrity

Sludge build up can lead to:

A thriving environment for Bacteria
Increased corrosion of the tank resulting in damage to the tanks integrity
Clogged filters
Clogged pumps
Clogged fuel lines
Contaminated fuel (decreased performance)

So, how can these problems be solved?

In partnership with Tanknology (UK) Ltd and Petroman Ltd, LCM Environmental has developed a complete fuel management programme to provide peace of mind to all operators of fuel installations. The total product solution is as follows:

BioKlenz, a product developed by Petroman Ltd, destroys the environment in which the Bacteria thrive in, this will in turn destroy the Bacteria. This is achieved by completely absorbing any water within the tank.

With the water eradicated the Bacteria suffocate and the Bio-Klenz/fuel mixture then goes to work attacking and dissolving the actual Bacteria itself. The mixture is then dispensed through the fuel or filtration system cleaning as it goes and is simply burnt off in a vehicles combustion process.

Bio-Klenz is NOT a Biocide but is detergent based and therefore has no detrimental effect whatsoever on the quality of fuel being used or dispensed. In fact it cleans vehicle fuel systems and increases the efficiency of the combustion process.

For the initial treatment of Bio-Klenz and for the best results a mix of 1:500 will be administered directly into the tank through an entry in the tank lid.

Alongside this treatment our new fuel polishing system is used to restore the fuel to its original clean, water and microbe free condition.

Regular internal inspections of the tank using Tanknology (UK) Limiteds Petroscope camera in conjunction with our Petroleum Regulated Tankers to hold and bottom out tanks, ensures the condition of a tank can be monitored at all times and if the condition deteriorates then this will be reported using a qualified corrosion engineer who can provide detailed analysis of the tank condition and make recommendations as to future action.

If sludge is found on inspection then this can be removed and the tank completely cleaned using our new Sludge Removal and Tank Cleaning services.

This service allows tanks to be completely cleaned using remotely operated equipment. Use of Tanknology (UK) Limiteds remotely operated Petroscope camera enables a before and after picture for the client and any external body, whilst LCM Environmentals remotely operated Sludge Removal equipment cleans and de-sludges the internal space of the tank.

To ensure the fuel remains bacteria free a preventative maintenance treatment of 1:1000 is recommended every two-three months. Subsequent maintenance treatments can be administered via the tanks fill points.

Like all valuable equipment, planning inspection and maintenance is essential to ensure reliable long-term performance. Fuel storage tanks are no different. Using reliable partners and top quality products and services are a guarantee that tanks are maintained in optimal condition at a competitive price.

For more details contact our Corporate Development Director, Mark Orr.

LCM Environmental has been actively providing Spill Response cover throughout the UK for the last ten years. Two years ago we decided to enhance the service to provide our ever growing client portfolio services that would provide them with the cover and support they would need should a spill or incident occur occur.

Since then our emergency spill and incident response services have advanced not only in manpower but equipment and knowledge. We have also increased our capability to include more spill response bases throughout the UK to further drive down our response time and save our clients' precious minutes in the aftermath of a spill.

We now provide our spill response services from the following bases:

o    Uffculme, Devon
o    Conwy, North Wales
o    Stowmarket, Suffolk
o    Ramsgate, Kent
o    Kilmarnock, Glasgow
o    Southampton
o    Penzance, Cornwall
o    Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne
o    Montrose, Forfarshire

These new bases now enable us to attend any spill in the UK within four hours of the initial call.

Our range of clients' extends from national response companies, major oil companies, nationwide hire and lease companies, builders merchants, utility companies, Local Authorities to the Ministry Of Defence.

In all cases the principles of our response are as follows:

o    Rapid response with equipped and trained staff to enable containment and immediate mitigation to minimise the extent of the spill and possible harm to the environment and property
o    Trained Incident Manager to co-ordinate response on behalf of client and deal with all agencies involved
o    Minimise cost and impact of spill through appropriate early action and appropriate post spill management
o    Ensure client stays in control and to act on their behalf in handling third parties; Environment Agency, Insurers, Environmental Consultants, Local Authorities
o    Manage any remediation action under supervision of appointed Environmental Consultant

Our spill response number is 01884 841 387, call it 24/7 and see us in less than 4 hours anywhere on the UK mainland.

If you would like more information on our spill response services, please contact our Incident Response Team Leader Tim Bown.

LCM Environmental currently has a fleet of three Petroleum Regulated tankers, 2 vacuums and one multi-pot tanker. This fleet is always busy and to ease the strain and offer our clients something a little special we have ordered a rare Petroleum Regulated four pot vacuum tanker with jet wash facilities from TCL who are building it in Sheffield for delivery to us in February 2009.

This specialist equipment will enable support for our interceptor cleaning work; our increasing work for environmental consultants maintaining wells and other remediation systems; supporting tank inspection and tank cleaning work, working on fuel terminals and supporting our own remediation and site decommissioning teams.

One of our other new purchases from last year our Iveco Stralis tractor unit will pull the new trailer with the pair both being compliant with ADR and all petroleum carriage regulations.

It will be a versatile unit, having four separate chambers enabling it to hold different fuel or chemical types as well as hold dirty product or interceptor washings.

Bookings for this new unit are being taken already and it will be on the road in March 2009.

If you would like more information regarding our Tanker Response services please contact our Tank Cleaning Manager, Les Carroll.

Following a very successful show this year at the BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Managers) Conference held at Keeble College in Oxford, LCM Environmental have decided to become full corporate BIFM members.

The BIFM joins together Facility Managers and companies that can offer their members services to help them manage their facilities. It also keeps their members up to date on relevant news and regulations that may be passed.

As LCM Environmental have been working within the Petroleum Industry for over twenty years we are in an ideal situation to offer our fuel/oil storage facility knowledge and services to the BIFM members.

We have also booked our space at next years BIFM Conference and look forward being part of an inspirational conference, we are especially looking forward to the evening do, which, last year was a blast!

If you would like to arrange a meeting with one of our representatives to discuss what services' we can offer Facility Managers, please contact Mark Orr.

You can find out more about the BIFM on their website.

One of our principal clients is ABB who are the Managing Contractor/CDM-coordinators for the Exxon Mobil demolition and remediation project in the UK. We have worked for ABB for a number of years and have learned from their detailed approach to SHE matters, that everyone is encouraged to work safely and share their learning with others. ABB host a number of safety days each year that are attended by ALL the contractors working on the project. The most recent was held in Swindon, where over 100 attended, ranging from owner/directors to site operatives and labours.

The initial seminar was conducted by Steve Andrew, ABB Senior Project Manager and covered a range of health and safety topics including a review of performance, highlighting examples of good and poor performance over the previous six months.

LCM Environmental had been tasked to present an insight into Garage Decommissioning and Gary Vick, our Project Manager, presented this. During the day break out sessions and workshops took place to discuss in detail particular topics relevant to the project. The workshops were open sessions with heavy participation from all involved. These generated plenty of feedback, identified potential areas for improvement, learning was shared between all the contractors involved and new initiatives developed to promote and continue to ensure safe working along with enforcing the project objective of 'Nobody gets hurt, Nobody!'

We have further increased our capability by purchasing a very smart new JCB 220XD. Our intention is to replace our CAT 318s that have served us very well for the last five years.

With this new larger and more powerful machine, it is perhaps not surprising that the JCB is much quieter, more fuel-efficient and complies with the latest EU emission regulations.

The machine is a joy to use and Dave Stanley; one of our most experienced plant operators is delighted, particularly with the comfort of his fully air-conditioned cab and the power and precise control now available to him.

It has been hard at work since it arrived carrying out many remediation and demolition/decommissioning projects; we are looking forward to completing the purchase of a second JCB later this year.

If you would like to arrange a meeting with one of representatives to discuss what services we can offer you please contact Mark Orr.

As an ISO 14001 accredited company one of the objectives of our Environmental Plan is to reduce the average age of our vehicles, this is done to minimize the environmental impact of the miles they do every year. Whilst we have to use diesel engines to work on forecourts and in terminals we are working hard to have efficient engines that minimize the carbon produced in the 700,000 miles we drive each year.

In June we welcomed our new Iveco Stralis to the fleet. As with the rest of our fleet we ensure that our vehicles are up to standard and are able to carry out their functions with the clients best interest in mind, this being the case we have put our new Iveco through it's Petroleum Regulations. With the new modifications in place the Iveco will be a familiar site throughout the UK pulling our multi pot vacuum tanker.

We also hope that with its large and comfortable sleeper cabin that our Class 1 drivers, particularly Steve Slee and Robin Perry, will be more comfortable as they drive around the UK.

If you would like to arrange a meeting with our Tanker Response Team Leader to discuss what services we can offer you please contact Les Carroll.

Throughout its twenty-year life, LCM Environmental and its staff have worked hard to achieve and exceed our clients expectations. This has been accomplished through introducing innovative products and services to our market sectors, investing in nationally accredited training for all our staff and by adopting a can do attitude throughout the company.

However, LCM Environmentals number one priority has and always will be the safety for our staff and all those who are affected by our work. It is has been our legacy that has been adopted by all members of staff through induction, example, internal training and external training.

Consequently it has been very satisfying for our efforts in these areas to be recognized by three awards received over the last few months:

The ABB/Exxon Mobil awards 2007

ABB/Exxon Mobils Contractor of the Year & Supervisor of the Year

Following twelve months working ABB/Exxon Mobils Demolition and Remediation contract, LCM Environmental submitted nominations for Contractor of the Year and Supervisor of the Year, successfully winning both awards for 2007

The Total Principal Contractors Safety Award 2007

LCM Environmental achieved first place after gaining an overall mean compliance of 94% in all audits carried out by Total UK Engineers and their Planning Supervisors Faithful and Gould. The company was particularly commended on the work carried out on storage tank cleaning, inspections, maintenance and removal, including demolition and remediation.

To assist our clients in the North of the UK, we have opened an office in Conwy North Wales. Our Project Manager, Gary Vick, heads the up office along with several other members of staff.

LCM Environmental has always operated in the North of the country but with this office in place we will be able to provide a higher level of service and more local service to our clients'.

Please use the following details if you would like to contact our Conwy office or arrange a meeting with Gary Vick.

Unit 5
Conwy Business Centre
Llandudno Junction
Conwy
LL31 9XX
 
Tel: 01492 580 947
Email