Transcript No Slide Title

Accident Prevention and
Emergency Action Planning
Adapted from Lesson 50 LPES Curriculum
Authored by: Ron Sheffield
North Carolina State University
Presented by:
Mark Risse
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Emergency Action Plans
Basic but thorough common-sense
plan that will help you make the right
decision during an emergency
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.
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.
Safety
Dangerous 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.
Safety
Safety 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.
Prevention
Self-inspection of
lagoon and farm
•Required part of
your GA NMP
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.
Prevention: Lagoon Maintenance
The vegetative cover on the dam should be well maintained.
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
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
Prevention
Example: remote
liquid level monitor
Prevention
Example:
irrigation lowpressure shut-off
switches
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
Pollution in Progress
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Leaking or broken pipe
Cracked pit wall or storage tank
Seepage from lagoon berm
Overtopping lagoon
Tank wagon leak or overturn
Irrigation equipment failure
Pollution Discovered
After the Fact
• Could be the result of the previous situations.
• Enter EAP sequence at the appropriate step
for the situation.
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
Eliminate the Source
• Lagoon/basin overflow–possible solutions
are:
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–
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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.
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)
Eliminate the Source
• Leaks from the manure distribution
system:
– Pipes and sprinklers–actions include:

Stop recycle (flushing system) pump
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Stop irrigation pump

Close valves to eliminate further discharge
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Separate pipes to create an air gap and stop
flow

Repair all leaks before restarting pumps
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?
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
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?
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.
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.
Contact Appropriate Agencies
• Your phone call should include:
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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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Case Studies
• Over-application of Manure
• Manure Transport
• Lack of Storage Capacity
#1 . . . Over-application of Manure
• Dairy in southern
Ohio
• The gasolinepowered 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.
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.
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.
#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
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.
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.
#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.
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.
How Could this Spill have been
Avoided?
• Ensure adequate storage, allowing flexibility
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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.
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 NebraskaLincoln, under Cooperative Agreement Number 97EXCA-3-0642.
The End
Questions?