Part 3 - Spill Prevention &
Response
Preventing Stormwater Pollution at Your Public Works Facility:
A 5-Part Workshop Series
Training Modules
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why Stormwater Matters 
What is a SWPPP? 
Spill Prevention & Response
Materials Management
Good Housekeeping
Spill Prevention & Response
• What might spill? How concerned should
we be?
• Preventing spills
• Responding to spills
What might spill?
• Petroleum Products
– Fuel
– Lubricants
– Waste products
• Should we be
concerned?
• YES!
• Contain hydrocarbons
– Toxic to aquatic life at
low concentrations
• Subject to other State
& Federal
Regulations
Above-ground Storage
• State Oil Pollution Control Regulations
• Federal Regulations amended December
2006
– Additional draft amendments under review
12/07
Underground Storage
• RI Rules & Regulations for Underground
Storage Facilities Used for Petroleum
Products and Hazardous Materials (2007)
What might spill?
• Other chemicals
–
–
–
–
Antifreeze
Paints
Paint thinners
Vehicle/equipment
fluids
– Fertilizers/pesticides
Should we be
concerned?
• YES
• Many are toxic
• Fertilizers can
increase algae
blooms
• Reduced oxygen
What might spill?
• Dumpster contents
Should we be
concerned?
• Yes
• Could have any of
above materials, plus
litter, food
What might spill?
• Bulk Materials
–
–
–
–
–
–
Salt
Sand
Gravel
Patching
Sweepings
Bricks/cinderblocks
Should we be
concerned?
• Yes!
• Chlorides can be toxic
to freshwater life
• Materials can clog
gills, smother eggs,
etc
= Fewer Fish
Preventing spills
• Reduce use
• Use safer alternatives
Preventing spills
• Confine potential leaks
– Keep potentially leaky equipment, materials
away from inlets & concentrated flows
Away from concentrated flows
Preventing spills
• Confine potential leaks
– Install berms, dikes or dead end sumps
Confine?
Preventing spills
• Confine potential
leaks
– Use drip pans
– Drain idle
equipment
Preventing spills
• Confine potential
leaks
– Roofing, covers
– Label containers and
check often
Preventing spills
• Supervise all material transfers with
personnel trained in spill response
– Follow standard operating procedures to
prevent overfilling
– Keep away from storm drains, or cover catch
basins
Responding to Spills:
Petroleum or Hazardous
Products
• Oil Pollution Control Regulations
• Rules and Regulations for the
Investigation and Remediation of
Hazardous Material Releases (2004)
Responding to Spills
• Know where your response plan is & what it
says about
–
–
–
–
Who to notify
Evaluating severity/appropriate response
Location/use of spill response kit
reporting
Responding to Spills
• Locate spill response
equipment at all
potential spill areas
– Personal protective
equipment
– Absorbent materials
– Brooms & shovels for
dry cleanup
– Drain covers, sand
bags
Responding to Spills
• Notify supervisor/spill coordinator
immediately Contact: Insert Name Here
• RIDEM Hotline: (401) 222-3070
Responding to Spills
• Contain spill as close to source as possible
Responding to Spills
• Use dry cleanup methods
Responding to Spills
• Following cleanup, dispose of spill
materials properly
Public Works Facility Operations &
Maintenance for Stormwater
Management: Employee Training
Brought to you by:
This program was developed by the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
in partnership with the URI Cooperative Extension RI NEMO Program and the
Rhode Island T2 Center. Funding was provided by the RI Department of
Environmental Management and the RI Department of Transportation under the
Phase II Stormwater Education and Outreach Program.
Exercise!
 What activities are of the greatest concern?
 Can we do a better job at spill prevention?
 Are we prepared to respond to a spill?