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4.2I – Operations and Maintenance – Hazardous Material Management and Emergency Response Plans

Management Measure

  • Provide and maintain appropriate storage, transfer, containment, and disposal facilities for hazardous materials–such as fuel, oil, solvents, antifreeze, and paints–and encourage recycling of these materials to the fullest extent possible.
  • Provide education on alternatives to hazardous materials.
  • Provide a forum that encourages sharing of paint, solvents, and other hazardous materials.
  • Have an emergency response plan on-site, update it annually.

Management Practices

For Marina Owners and Operators

  • Store minimal quantities of hazardous materials. Reduce waste by buying only as much as is needed. Liquid materials should be carefully stored under cover and on an impervious surface. Locate storage and disposal areas for liquid materials in or near repair and maintenance areas for ease of access but away from flood areas and fire hazards, and protect them from rain with a cover and berms or secondary containment.
  • Provide clearly labeled, separate containers for the disposal of waste oils, fuels, and other hazardous liquid wastes. Keeping them separate minimizes the chance of combining dangerous chemicals and makes them easier to recycle.
  • Provide boaters with information on where to dispose of paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters, and other hazardous wastes at a hazardous waste collection facility by providing a list of such services. Call Earth 911 to find a location nearby (1-800-CLEAN-UP).
  • Fuel oil is a hazardous waste and may never be put in the trash, poured down the drain or dumped on the ground. You may have heard it before; a single quart of motor oil spilled in the water can create an oil slick two acres in size, killing marine organisms and fouling docks, lines and watercraft. Proper management/disposal of used oil is essential to keeping marina grounds and waters clean. Your maintenance of an adequate collection and storage facility is key to your boaters’ successful participation in used oil and other waste collection efforts. In addition to the immediate benefits of cleaner grounds, collection of used oil benefits us by reducing our need for virgin oil, because recyclers can re-refine oil to be used again as oil and other lubrication products, or clean it and blend it into fuel oil. Educate and encourage boaters to minimize/prevent impacts from oil changes by using a closed system, oil absorbents to capture oil drips, and drip pans for collection.
  • Encourage the use viable alternatives to toxic materials such as antifreeze, coolants, solvents, varnishes, paint, cleaners, and pesticides. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Resources: Clean Boating Habits, p.6, California Clean Marina Toolkit Boater Fact Sheet.
  • Prepare a hazardous material spill recovery plan and update it as new types of materials are acquired or other changes are necessary. Keep adequate spill response equipment where liquid materials are stored and used. Change engine oil using non-spill vacuum-type systems, and use the same equipment to suction oily water from bilges.
    • Prepare an emergency response plan that provides contact information and directions to the nearest hospital, equipment location and instructions on how to respond to a hazardous waste spill (fuel, oil, solvents, antifreeze, and paints), an up-to-date list of emergency phone numbers, an updated map of important shut off valves, and a map showing the location of any hazardous material storage locations at the marina.
  • Designate at least one person (and a back up person) that is trained and certified in spill management.
  • Make sure to follow Management Measure 4.2C, Fuel and Oil Control.

For Boaters

  • Recycle liquid materials where possible, and ask your marina to provide recycling if it does not already do so. Use antifreeze and coolants that are less toxic to the environment. Propylene-glycol-based antifreeze (with a pink color) is less toxic than the blue-green antifreeze. Recycle the blue-green antifreeze if it is used.
  • Use alternative, less-toxic liquid materials where practical. Minimize the use of solvents or switch to water-soluble choices. Before discarding paint cans, remove the top and let any paint residue dry and harden.
  • Dispose of paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters, and other hazardous wastes at a hazardous waste collection facility. Call Earth 911 to find a location nearby (1-800-CLEAN-UP). Recycle paints, batteries, oil, oil filters, and antifreeze.

Programs

  • California Integrated Waste Management Board, Household Hazardous Waste Program provides information on the location of certified used oil and household hazardous waste collection centers, a directory of products with recycled content, information on products made from rerefined oil, and grant opportunities for demonstration projects related to used oil and household hazardous waste.
  • California Integrated Waste Management Board’s Used Oil Recycling Program develops and promotes alternatives to the illegal disposal of used oil by establishing a statewide network of collection opportunities and undertaking outreach efforts to inform and motivate the public to recycle used oil.
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Safety and Health Topics Pages provide access to selected occupational safety and health information. The subjects of these pages include specific workplace hazards, as well as individual industries. Members of the Editorial Boards evaluate numerous OSHA and non-OSHA references on a given subject to determine which they consider most important in reducing occupational injuries and illnesses. With the continued support of our users, editors, and editorial boards, OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages provide assistance for complying with OSHA standards, enabling employers to ensure safer workplaces.

Information Resources

  • Earth 911, Clean Boating Information provides a database of boating-related recycling and disposal locations in California along with tips and suggestions for clean boating and links to other clean boating programs in California and beyond.
  • Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, Waste Containment and Disposal.

References

USEPA. 2001. National Management Measures Guidance to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Marinas and Recreational Boating. EPA 841-B-01-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Retrieved on March 16, 2008 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/mmsp/index.html

 

(Updated 9/4/08)