Fuels, Lubricants, Wastes and Spills

Logging, road building and other woodland activities require motorized equipment.  Antifreeze, fuels and lubricants can pollute lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater.  Planning for woodland operations should include practices to handle solid and liquid wastes generated in the field.

The following BMPs will help prevent nonpoint source pollution from fuel, lubricants and waste during woodland management activities.

· Maintain equipment regularly.  Check hoses and fittings to prevent leaks or spills.

· Designate specific areas for equipment maintenance and fueling.  Locate these areas on level terrain, a minimum of 100 feet from all streams and lakes.

· Collect all waste lubricants, containers and trash.  Store them in leak-proof containers until they can be transported off-site for recycling, reuse or disposal at an approved site.  Call your regional Environmental Protection Division (EPD) office for more nformation.
For contact information, see Appendix A:  Resource Directory.

· Separate all fluids and materials and keep in different labeled containers to avoid creating “hazardous waste” and expensive waste disposal.  Call your regional EPD office to determine if a waste is hazardous and how to dispose of hazardous waste.

Remember.  It is illegal to dump fuel and lubricants on the land or waters in the State of Iowa. Report spills to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at the 24-hour Emergency Hotline number: (515) 281-8694.

Spills of fluids during woodland management operations can occur as a result of fueling, hydraulic hose breaks, mechanical damage or vandalism.  A spill occurs when a hazardous substance is released into the environment because of its quality, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics.

Proper equipment maintenance will prevent many spills.

The following BMPs are general guidelines for spills of fuel and lubricants used in woodland field operations.  These practices complement specialized training given to persons using pesticides or other hazardous material.

Maintain a spill-containment and cleanup kit appropriate for the materials on the operation.  At a minimum, a kit for petroleum products should include:

* plugs and clamps to control a hydraulic line break,
* a container to catch leaking fluid,
* a shovel and absorbent material such as sawdust to absorb fluid, especially useful in the winter when soil is frozen.

If a spill should occur, do the following in order:

1. Protect yourself and others.  Wear protective clothing and equipment appropriate for any hazardous materials on the operation.  Avoid coming in contact with any toxic drift or fumes that may be released.
2. If possible, stop the leak.
3. If possible, contain the spill and keep it from spreading.  Shovel a dike around the spill. Use absorbent material, such as sawdust or loose soil, to soak up fluid.  Place a                  bucket under a hydraulic hose break.  Keep the spill from flowing into lakes and streams.
4. Isolate the spill material.
5. Report large spills to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at the 24-hour Emergency Hotline number: (515) 281-8694.
6. Contact your regional EPD office for disposal guidance.
   
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