Accident Prevention and Emergency Action Planning

1. Accident Prevention and Emergency Action Planning • Adapted from Lesson 50 LPES Curriculum • Authored by: Ron Sheffield • North Carolina State University Presented by: Mark RisseBiological and Agricultural Engineering

2. Emergency Action Plans Basic but thorough common-sense plan that will help you make the right decision during an emergency

3. Why have an Emergency Action Plan? • If it is written down, you will use it. • Plan before potential emergencies. • To protect you and others against environmental damage • Murphy’s Law: accidents happen • It is a required part of your GA-NMP.

4. Manure Spills • #1 cause of agricultural fines throughout the U.S. • Other emergencies should be considered but focus of this presentation on manure related issues.

5. SafetyDangerous Gases and water quality: • Dangerous situations can be associated with gases that are produced in livestock and poultry buildings and manure storage structures. • Manure can contain pathogens that could impact human health if consumed by accident or through contaminated drinking water.

6. SafetySafety Precautions with Manure Storage: • Construct or utilize lids, railings or fences and signs to prevent intrusion or falls into storage areas and structures. • “Keep Out” or “Danger” – “Manure Storage” signs. • Get help before attempting to rescue livestock that have fallen into a manure storage structure. • Ventilate when agitating and avoid flames in confined manure storages.

7. Prevention • Self-inspection of lagoon and farm • Required part of your GA NMP

8. Prevention: Lagoon Maintenance • Proper lagoon liquid level management should be a year-round priority. • Maximum storage capacity should be available for periods when the receiving crop is dormant or when there are extended rainy spells. • Staff gage is essential for recording levels.

9. Prevention: Lagoon MaintenanceThe vegetative cover on the dam should be well maintained.

10. Prevention: Lagoon Maintenance • Weekly Inspection of Embankment • Look for: • settlement, cracking, or holes on embankment and around pipes • slumps or bulges on side slope • wet areas on the back slope • erosion due to wave action • rodent damage • tree damage

11. Prevention: Piping Inspections • When inspecting waste inlet pipes, recycling pipes, and overflow pipes, look for: • separation of pipe joints • cracks or breaks • accumulation of minerals • overall pipe condition

12. PreventionExample: remote liquid level monitor

13. Prevention Example: irrigation low-pressure shut-off switches

14. Imminent Pollution or Emergency • Storage capacity about to be exceeded • Potential runoff from application field • Weather • Hurricanes or tropical storms • Seasonally heavy rainfall • Flooding • Catastrophic animal loss

15. Pollution in Progress • Leaking or broken pipe • Cracked pit wall or storage tank • Seepage from lagoon berm • Overtopping lagoon • Tank wagon leak or overturn • Irrigation equipment failure

16. Pollution DiscoveredAfter the Fact • Could be the result of the previous situations. • Enter EAP sequence at the appropriate step for the situation.

17. Sequence or parts of an EAP • Eliminate the source • Contain the spill, if possible • Assess the extent of the spill and note any obvious damages • Contact the appropriate agencies • Clean up the spill and make repairs • Prepare and submit summary report

18. Eliminate the Source • Lagoon/basin overflow–possible solutions are: • Stop all additional flow to the lagoon • Pump wastes to fields at an acceptable rate • Make sure no surface water is entering lagoon • Add soil to berm, increasing elevation of dam • These activities should be started when your liquid level has exceeded the temporary storage level.

19. Eliminate the Source • Runoff from application field–actions include: • Immediately stop manure application • Create a temporary diversion or berm to contain the manure on the field • Incorporate to reduce further runoff • Evaluate and eliminate the reason(s) that caused the runoff (application rates, equipment failure, time of application)

20. Eliminate the Source • Leaks from the manure distribution system: • Pipes and sprinklers–actions include: • Stop recycle (flushing system) pump • Stop irrigation pump • Close valves to eliminate further discharge • Separate pipes to create an air gap and stop flow • Repair all leaks before restarting pumps

21. Contain the Spill • Know your topography: Where will a spill in a given location go? • Where can it be contained? • What do you need to contain it? • Berms and diversions can be preventative tools. Can sediment basins or existing ponds serve as containment?

22. Contain the Spill • Leakage from base or sidewall of lagoon or earthen storage structure: • Dig a small well or ditch to catch all seepage, put in a submersible pump, and pump back into lagoon. • If holes are caused by burrowing animals, trap or remove animals, fill holes, and compact with a clay-type soil. • Seek engineering assistance

23. Assess the Extent of Spill • Did the manure reach any surface waters? • Approximately how much was released and for what duration? • Any damage noted, such as employee injury, fish kills, or property damage? • Did the spill leave the property? • Does the spill have the potential to reach surface waters?

24. Contact Appropriate Agencies If spill leaves property or enters surface waters… • Call local EMS (or similar emergency response agency), instruct EMS to contact local Health Department. • Contact CES, local SWCD office, and local NRCS office for advice/technical assistance.

25. Contact Appropriate Agencies If spill leaves property or enters surface waters… • If local health or environmental agencies are not available, call 911 or the Sheriff’s Department and explain your problem to them. Ask them to contact the appropriate emergency response agencies.

26. Contact Appropriate Agencies • Your phone call should include: • Your name • Facility name • Telephone number • Details of the incident • Exact location of the facility • Location or direction of spill movement • What corrective measures have been undertaken

27. Contact Appropriate Agencies • Operator is required to make immediate oral notification within 24-hours to the local EPD District Office and notify the Division in writing within five (5) working days of the discharge from the facility.

28. Contact Appropriate Agencies The discharge notification shall include the following information: • Description of the discharge: type contents, and its cause, including a description of the flow path to the receiving water body and an estimate of the flow and volume discharged. • Time of the discharge: the period of non-compliance, including exact dates and times, the anticipated time it is expected to continue, and steps taken or planned to reduce, eliminate and prevent recurrence of the discharge.

29. Clean up Spill and Make Repairs • Implement procedures recommended by technical assistance agencies and regulatory agencies: • Rectify the damage • Repair the system • Reassess the manure system operation and NMP to keep problems with manure release from happening again

30. Prepare and Submit Summary Report • Review of events leading up to spill or accident • Summary of impact • Description of action taken • Check with EPD to verify required information.

31. Community Response Plan • Coordination of livestock producers and local agencies to better respond to farm accidents and spills • Sharing of necessary equipment • Manure Response Teams and Drills • Local Emergency Assistance • Livestock Producers

32. EAP: Special Considerations • The emergency action plan should include provisions for emergency spreading or transfer of manure from all waste storage structures in the system. • This may include emergency pumping or spreading during periods when the soil or crop conditions are not conducive to normal application. • EPD and possibly GDA should be contacted for guidance in the land application of manure, as this emergency application is not normal under the accepted NMP.

33. EAP: Special Considerations • The emergency action plan should be available to and understood by all employees at the facility. • It is the responsibility of the owner or manager of the facility that all employees understand what circumstances constitute a danger to the environment or health and safety of workers and neighbors.

34. EAP: Special Considerations • Insure that someone who speaks English is always present. • Human health and well being takes precedence! NEVER PUT YOURSELF OR AN EMPLOYEE AT RISK TO PREVENT DAMAGE.

35. The Emergency Action Plan -Quick Review • How to develop the plan - Part I • What types of emergencies are possible? • Spills, Fires, Accidents, Hurricanes, etc. • Consider drainage patterns from your farm. • Manager on duty can often correct minor problems. • For major emergency, know where you will get help.

36. Quick Review • How to develop the plan - Part II • Consider the people who could offer assistance. • What type of equipment will you need? • Get access agreements to enter neighboring properties. • Write the plan down and put it by the phone. • Train all employees • Example Plans available.

37. Quick Review • Main Steps of an Emergency Action Plan • Eliminate the source • Contain the spill, if possible • Assess the extent of the spill and note any obvious damages • Contact the appropriate agencies • Clean up the spill and make repairs • Prepare and submit summary report

38. Case Studies • Over-application of Manure • Manure Transport • Lack of Storage Capacity

39. #1 . . . Over-application of Manure • Dairy in southern Ohio • The gasoline-powered drive engine on a traveling gun irrigation system ran out of fuel while the irrigation pump was still running. • Excessive amounts of liquid manure were applied to a level, untilled field.

40. Result: • Manure leached down to a tile system and drained into an open drainage ditch. • The water quality was impaired by low dissolved oxygen levels downstream in the drainage ditch and adjoining stream. • The farmer observed discolored water and foam discharging from the field tile into the open drain. Response: • State water quality officials responded to an anonymous call. • Water samples were taken to identify the source of contamination. • Discolored water and foam were found discharging from a field tile outlet into the drainage ditch.

41. How Could this Spill have been Avoided? • Check engine fuel and oil levels before each “pull” on a travelling gun irrigation system. • Delay manure application until field tiles stop flowing. • Inspect irrigation systems during application events. Ensure that drive engines and turbines are operating. • Check soils for their “antecedent” moisture condition before selecting application rates and pumping duration.

42. #2 . . . Transport Accident • Poultry layer sludge, SE Virginia • Tanker failed to check for oncoming train • Slow-moving train severed tanker, releasing 8,500 gal of sludge. • Startled but unharmed driver immediately contacted supervisors and fire department

43. Result: • Lagoon sludge released from the tanker flowed directly into a nearby stream. • Fish were killed downstream of the spill. Response: • Contractor contacted state water quality agents. • Stream was dammed to contain the spilled sludge and contaminated water. Vacuum tanker, already on site, pumped and applied the material to the application field. • Due to the company's quick response, which mitigated the spill, the contractor received only a warning.

44. How Could this Spill have been Avoided? • Special care should be taken when transporting manure and sludge on public roads. • Minimize transport of manure in areas of high traffic, high speeds, or railroad crossings.

45. #3 . . . Lack of Storage Capacity • Dairy, southern Pennsylvania • Farm’s manure storage basin was overflowing into a field • An irrigation gun and tank wagon were used to apply manure on a bottomland field of wheat stubble. • Nighttime application rates of 7,200 gal/acre were reported but were believed to be higher by investigators.

46. Result: • Manure from the overflowing basin entered a nearby field tile, which drained into a ditch, crossed the property line, and then into a neighbor’s stream. • Liquid manure entered the ditch via a tile blowout and open catch basins, eventually contaminating two in-stream ponds on the neighbor’s property. Response: • The stream was temporarily dammed to prevent further movement of manure-laden water downstream. • The producer pumped contaminated water from the stream and applied it to adjacent fields under the supervision of state investigators. • Producer paid a fine with no contest.

47. How Could this Spill have been Avoided? • Ensure adequate storage, allowing flexibility in application due to weather. • Do not apply manure when soil is nearly saturated from snow or rain. • Inspect fields regularly, especially before manure application, to ensure tile blowouts are repaired. • Monitor tiles during and after manure application. • If a problem occurs, notify your state water quality agency as soon as possible.

48. Funding This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Agriculture Assistance Center; and the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, under Cooperative Agreement Number 97-EXCA-3-0642.

49. The End Questions?