The Vision of Triple M Land Farms, INC.
Triple M Land Farms, Inc. (TMLF) was formed in 1989 with the goal of developing the first commercial facility to treat non-hazardous petroleum-contaminated soils by bioremediation land treatment (or landfarming) in the State of Kentucky. In 1990, a location for the operation was chosen in south-central Kentucky at Franklin (Simpson County), just north of Nashville, TN. A facility was designed and a permit application was submitted to the State of Kentucky for review. After extensive review by the State regulatory authorities, and various modifications, a permit was issued in June of 1991. Construction of the facility was completed during 1991 and the first soil was accepted for treatment in the spring of 1992.
The initial permit was issued to TMLF for one year, and was classified as Research, Development, and Demonstration. This permit was renewed twice prior to issuance of a formal landfarming permit in 1994. The formal permit, issued for a term of five years, was granted based on a record of environmental compliance and demonstration that the treatment of this material was feasible.
All contaminated soil received by TMLF is treated through the bioremediation process. Once treated, analytical testing is conducted to ensure State parameters for clean soil have been met. TMLF receives clean soil approval from the Kentucky Division of Waste management and then issues Clean Soil Certificates to the generator or consulting firm responsible for that amount of soil. Much of this treated soil is utilized as backfill on many projects.
Since that time, TMLF has expanded its customer services to accept and treat petroleum-contaminated water and oil/water separator sludge.
F-14 Jet Plane Crash Cleanup
Triple M Land Farms, Inc. was contracted to recycle the soil contaminated by the January 29, 1996 crash of a U. S. Navy F-14 Tomcat in Nashville, Tennessee. As reported by Laura Frank of the Nashville Tennessean newspaper, Tuesday January 30, 1996 issue, the aircraft had just departed from Nashville International Airport, when it plunged to earth killing the pilot and navigator. The jet fighter had a full load of fuel and its impact created a huge fireball that also killed three people in one neighborhood home. Two adjoining homes were also destroyed and the wreckage was strewn over an entire city block.
Following the investigation, Triple M Land Farms, Inc. (TMLF) recycled over 6,000 tons of jet fuel contaminated soil at our bioremediation facility in Franklin, Kentucky. After the soil was cleaned to Kentucky Clean Soil Standards, it was then available for reuse as backfill on future projects; thus proving that landfarming is an environmentally sound alternative to traditional landfill storage.
TMLF would like to acknowledge those contributing to this story
And thank them for their time and effort:
- Mr. John Gibson, for archiving the Tennessean articles
- Mr. Todd Robinson, the contractor’s representative
- Dr. Francis Keenan, for helping TMLF compose this “Interesting Story”