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POLLUTION PREVENTION
OPTIONS
Waste Minimization
By initiating a waste minimization program, you can reduce the
costs, liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste
management. Some waste minimization initiatives are:Petroleum-based
fluids from vehicles, including used oil, transmission fluid
and brake fluid, should be collected and recycled.
- Absorbents should be used to clean up minor fluid leaks
and spills which occur during routine vehicle maintenance.
- Coolants from radiators should be collected and recycled.
- Parts washing should be done in a self-contained, recirculating
solvent sink.
- Waste petroleum based fluids, absorbents for clean ups,
coolants and spent solvent should each be collected and
placed in a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved
waste receptacle. These wastes should be recycled wherever
possible. Waste disposal should be in accordance with applicable
federal, state and local waste regulations.
- Use biodegradable cleaning agents and safe alternatives
to hazardous materials.
- Uncovered vehicle storage areas should have a separate
stormwater collection system with an oil/grit separator
which discharges to the municipal sanitary sewer or to a
dead holding tank.
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Best Management Practice (BMP) Identification
Baseline Best Management Practices: After the storm water
assessment is completed, identified sources of pollutants
must be controlled. If possible, baseline BMPs should
be used. They are inexpensive, simple, and include
the following applicable methods:
- Good Housekeeping - Good housekeeping practices are
designed to maintain a clean work environment, reduce
spill possibility, and enhance safety. Good housekeeping
includes routine inspection for leaks or conditions that
could lead to discharges
- Preventive Maintenance - Preventive
maintenance includes timely inspection and maintenance
of pipes, pumps, storage tanks, and storm water management
devices (cleaning oil/water separators or catch basins)
- Visual Inspections - Visual inspections of areas
where spills or leaks have previously occurred, material
storage areas, outdoor material processing areas, waste
generation areas, and loading/ unloading areas, is
an effective means of early detection. Watch for
obvious signs of storm water contamination.
- Spill Prevention and Response - Spill prevention
and response includes the identification of potential
spill sites and their drainage points. This should
include material handling procedures, storage requirements,
and spill clean-up procedures.
- Sediment and Erosion Control - Sediment and erosion
control applies to the identification of those
areas, which due to their topography, activities,
or other factors, have a high potential for erosion.
- Runoff Management - Runoff management includes
flow diversion (channels, gutters, drains, sewers),
exposure minimization (devices used to limit exposure
of storm water to contaminants such as dikes, curbing,
catch basins and sumps), mitigative practices (techniques
to clean up or recover released substances such
as sweeping, shoveling, vacuuming and the use of sorbents
and gels) and other preventive practices (dust
control, routine monitoring of operations, warning signs
and labels, and control of vehicle washing).
Advanced Best Management Practices: In some cases, baseline
BMPs will be insufficient to address storm water pollution
prevention needs. In these situations, advanced BMPs are necessary.
Tailored to the specific needs of your facility, the hierarchy
of advanced BMPs is substitution or process changes, recycling,
treatment, or structural controls.
Additional guidance on advanced BMPs may be found in Chapter
3 (Activity- Specific Source Control BMPs) and Chapter 4 (Site-Specific
Industrial Storm Water BMPs) of "Storm Water Management
for Industrial Activities, Developing Pollution Prevention
Plans and Best Management Practices," U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, EPA 832-R-92-006, September 1992. Always
check with your base Environmental Office to ensure that implementation
of advanced BMPs is consistent with the requirements of other
environmental plans at your installation. |
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