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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
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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; and
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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