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363.738 ClOFP j*tilizer^Pesticide V.5 s^O) CD Pesticide and Fertilizer Spills and Accidents =»."0 H Preventative Measures to Protect GroundandSurface Water 09- -i-£Swf*=*Z> C/> Two pounds of pesticide, evenly distributed in an EmergencyResponse aquifer,couldcontaminate 10milliongallonsofwater.The Atleastonepersonatasitewhereagriculturalchemicals costofcleanup, health concernsandeconomicsare strong are being manufactured, stored or used should be able to incentivestopreventpesticideandfertilizerspills.Everyone initiateandcoordinateemergencyresponseactivitiesinthe •M= =2 OB hopestoneverfaceanemergency.Yet,evenafacilitythatis event there is aspill or accidental release. All employees at > well constructed, well operated and well maintained may these sites should be familiar with waste handling and -< 3 haveproblems. Equipmentfails,peoplemakemistakesand emergencyresponseprocedures. spills or fires may occur. While the timingofthese occur- The initial response toanagriculturalchemicalspill rencescannotbepredicted,awellconceivedresponsetoan should be to determine what has been spilled and the accidentcan keepasmallproblem from turninginto abig safetymeasuresneededtorespondsothatfurtherdamage one.Thereareactionsandbestmanagementplansthatwill isn't caused by an inappropriate response. Contain the CTQ prepareyoutorespondeffectivelytoanemergencysituation spill. Next, theappropriatepersonsoragenciesshouldbe suchasapesticideorfertilizeraccidentorspill. notified ofthe spill. The Montana Department ofAgri- CD culture should be notified immediately at 1-406-444- PreventingSpills 3 2944bythepersonresponsibleforanagriculturalchemi- Prevention,ofcourse,isthebeststrategy.Thefollowing cal spill. The Montana Hazardous Materials Emergency areexamplesofpreventativepesticideandfertilizerspillsbest ResponseSystemshouldalsobecontactedimmediatelyat /manaMgiexmeanntdprlaocatdicecshetmoipcraoltsecatwgaryoufnrdoamndwastuerrfacseupwpaltieers., 1-800-426-9440or1-406-444-6911.TheDisasterEmer- CD gency Service will then notify the appropriate agencyof including wells, ponds, and streams. Also, avoid the spill. The National Response Centershould be con- depressional areas andabandonedwells thathave not tacted at 1-800-424-8802 ifaspill occurs that threatens ^ beensealedproperly. W human health or has reachedsurfacewater. Never leave aspraytankunattendedwhile it is being filled. If the tank overflows, you may end up with SpillReporting contaminated puddles on the ground orchemicals in Whenyounotifyauthoritiesofanemergency,havein thenearestwatersource. mindyourresponseandcleanupprocedures.Thespillreport shoidd includethefollowing: / Maintain application equipment to avoid leaky hose Nameandtelephonenumberofthecontactpersonat connections and worn spots, which could break and thefarm,dealershiporfacilitywherethespilloccurred spillchemicals. / Locationofthespillandifwateristhreatened Clean mixing, loading, and application equipment awayfrom allwatersupplies. Ifpossible, clean equip- Nameortypeofproductspilled o mentoveraconcretepadequippedwithasumptocatch Toxicityoftheproduct rinsewatercontaining pesticides. The collectedwater Estimatedquantityspilled canbeusedasacarrierinfiimrepesticideapplications. / Extentofanyinjuriesorexposure CD Useanri-siphoningdevices,suchascheckvalves,toprevent thetankspraymixturefrombacksiphoningdownthehose Causeofthespillorfire — c/> intoawatersource astream,pond,orwell. Actiontaken tocontrolandcontainthespillorfire </ Consider a closed-system mixer and loader. Closed Planned cleanup procedures, evacuation and other systems meterand transferpesticideproductsdirecdy precautions 1994-5 fromtheshippingcontainerto themixingorapplica- tiontanks, reducingthe riskofaspill. Closedsystems When thespilloccurred often rinse the containers as well, and they provide Windspeedanddirection ifapplicable. greater accuracy in measuring the chemical dosage. RecordKeeping However,mechanicalfailuressuchashosebreaksmay A complete system ofrecords helps prove a facility is »inoccurmorefrequentlywithaclosedsystem.Also,keep wellrunandcouldbeimportanttowardlimitingliabilityin mind that anti-siphoning devices are still essential the event ofan accident. Record keeping forms should, withaclosedsystem. whenever possible, be filled out during the task being ^CAW.fl'''' </ Ifyou use an emulsifier or spreader-sticker, add it performed or immediately after, to keep mistakes to a MONTANA beforethetankisfiill.Thesematerialstendtocreate minimum. Also, the greater the detail provided on each I STATE foamingwhichcouldcausethechemicaltooverflow form, theeasieritwill be to recall theactualevent ifcalled UNIVERSITY onto theground. uponlater. IttflSSffii ExtensionService - Anotherreason forkeepinggood records is for insur- ifthepesticide isastrongoxidizer. This combinatiof ance and liability purposes. Insurance carriers may want presentsapossiblefirehazard.ThelabelortheMateri- records to confirm practices and show how risks were alsSafetyDataSheetforthatproductshouldindicate minimized. whether the pesticide is a strong oxidizer or is highly flammable. SpillResponse Even when proper procedures are followed, pesticide y Donothosedown thearea.Waterwillsimplyspread and fertilizer spills may occur. The way a spill is handled thepesticide, creatingawiderareaofcontamination. dependsonwhethertheproductcanberecoveredandreused / Sweep or shovel contaminated material into a leak- orifthematerialisunusableandthereforeawaste.Spillsthat proofdrum. canbeeasilyrecoveredandreusedaretransferredtoalabeled containerandstoreduntiltheproductcanbeusedaccording / Insomecases,you shouldcovertheareawithacom- tolabeldirections.Spillsthatcannotbeeasilyrecoveredmay poundthatneutralizesthepesticide. Italldependson takelongertocleanupandthematerialcollectedmaynotbe thepesticidespilled,socontacttheemergencyresponse abletobeusedasitwasoriginallyintended.Thismaterialwill agencyorthe manufacturertofindoutwhento usea be considered a waste product and must be disposed of neutralizingcompound. properly. Know ahead oftime what steps to take when a / After removing contaminated material and possibly pesticideorfertilizerspiUoccurs. puttingdownaneutralizingcompound,testthesoil.If Place spill cleanup supplies and equipment in a well the soil is still contaminated, continue to remove marked, accessible location in or near the storage area. contaminated material and put it into a leakproof Sufficientquantitiesofthesesuppliesandequipmentshould drum.Then testthesoilagain. beavailabletocontainandcleanuptwicethevolumeofthe / Disposeofthecontaminatedwaterorsoilaccordingto largestcontainer. Environmental ProtectionAgencyprocedures. ControlandContain theSpill PreventativeMeasuresToProtect Controlthespill,butdonotendangeryourselfbybeing GroundandSurfaceWater inadvertentlyexposedtotheproduct. Personalsafetyisthe Best management practices must be used to prevent mostimportantissue. Propersafetyequipmentmustalways agriculturalchemicalspillsandaccidentsandprotectground —bewornwhenhandlingspills.Putonsafetyequipmentfirst andsurfacewater. thendealwiththespill.Identifythesourceofthespilland y Havean inventoryofmaterialsstored. ccoonnttrroolllietd,,prceovnetnatiinngifttwiritthhersapidlilkagee.oOfnscoiel,thseansdpi,llchhaesmbieceanl y Haveafacilitycontingencyplan forprocedures to be absorbents,granulesorbooms.Itisparticularlyimportantto followedintheeventofafireorcatastrophicevent.Give notallowanyproducttogetintoawaterchannelorbodyof thelocal firedepartmentacopyofyourplan. water,includingstormsewers,sanitarysewersorseptictanks. y Clearlylabelexitsandemergencyequipment. CleaningSpills / Educateemployeesontheplanandpreparethemfor The final phase in an emergency response plan is to anyemergencies. implementcleanupprocedurestoremovethepesticideand y Intheeventofapesticideorfertilizerspill,emergency fertilizer from groundand/orsurfacewater andto remove responseactionsmustbe implementedimmediately. anycontaminatedmaterialsorsoilfromthesite. y Under certain circumstances, you should report the y Contain the pesticide or fertilizer spill as soon as spill to theproperauthorities. The decision to notify possible. authoritiesdependsonthesizeofspill,whatpesticideor y Notifytheproperagencies. Cleanupandremediation fertilizer was spilled, state regulations and potential proceduresshouldbeimplementedpromptiy. threats to htunan health or the environment. For MSU HeidiHart, ExtensionAssistant instance, notify state and local authorities ifthe spill MSU reaches a stream, pond or other water source. To JeffJacobsen, ExtensionSoilScientist determine when you must notify authorities, check withyourlocalemergencyresponseagency. y Always keep materials for containing a spill close at TheprogramsoftheMontanaExtensionServiceareavailabletoall hand.Knowaheadoftimewhattodotocontainaspill peopleregardlessofrace,creed,color,sexornationalorigin. oftheparticularpesticideandfertilizeryou'reusing. Issuedinfurtheranceofcooperativeextensionworkinagricultureand / Ifyouhavespilledaliquidpesticide,coverthespillarea hthoemUe.Se.coDneopmaircst;meancttsooffAMgariycu8ltaunrde,JAunnedr3e0a,P1a9g1e4n.kIonpfc,ooApsesroactiiaotnewViitche completelywith a material thatwill absorb the pesti- Provost forOutteach and Director Extension Service, Montana Stat^ cide: activated charcoal, adsorptive clay, vermiculite, University,Bozeman,Montana59717. pet litter, sawdust or specialized pesticide-absorbent Fundingprovided bytheMontanaAgricultural Chemical Ground WaterProtectionActand FertilizerCheckoff.Additional information materials. Use enough material to soakup the liquid. may be found in the General Agricultural Chemical Ground Water However,donotusesawdustorsweepingcompoimds ManagementPlan(GMP).